Age is Just a Number: Keys to Successfully Leading More Experienced Professionals (M4.4) Sofia Montes, M.Ed. Senior Associate Registrar University of Texas.

Age is Just a Number: Keys to Successfully Leading More Experienced Professionals (M4.4)

Sofia Montes, M.Ed.Senior Associate RegistrarUniversity of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio

Roadmap Objectives

Institution Profile

Office Profile

Diversity

Challenges

Practices re: Leadership

Opportunities

Learning Outcomes

Evaluations

Objectives Expand our understandings of diversity

Discuss the concept of leadership

Think about the concepts as they inform the practice

Reconsider the challenges

Embrace opportunities

Promise transparency

Commit to evolve

University of TX Health Science Center – San Antonio

HRIFive SchoolsNo Provost; VP for AFSA insteadDecentralized ModelEight application services~3600 students~800 May graduates

Institution Profile of UTHSCSA

UTHSCSA Office ProfileThree divisions

Diverse staff

17 staff including one vacancy, and six with supervisor responsibilities

Top heavy?

Managers' Meeting

Leadership Meeting

Split Admissions

Curriculum

No Scheduling…yet.

DiversityWhat might it look like in the office?

DiversityReligion.…Race….Ethnicity…Experience….Age….Employment History….Orientation

Four male staff members

One homosexual staff member

Five staff members <1 yr.

All others >5 yrs.

2 >= 29 yrs.

Banking, recreational sports, social work, technology (AV), military

ChallengesWhat’s tough about leading veteran staff?

What’s so hard about it? First, what’s “more experienced?”

Shoot-out at the OK Corral

Perceptions They’ve done their time They’ve been there, done that It won’t work. It doesn’t work that way. Maybe they didn’t get the job.

So do you “put them in their place?"

NO

PracticesSo how do you navigate that territory?

Practicing Leadership Give credit….where credit is due.

Acknowledge the commitment.

Encourage collaboration.

Buy-In How? Engage your office.*

Do your homework.

Data.

Best practices.

Transparency.

Mitigations.

Plan strategically with collective input.

Successful decision-making BUY-IN Do your homework Make the product look official and professional Keep your alliances in your back pocket. Believe in it! …example

Confidence Buy-In

Successes

Must be earned; not false

If you want others to believe in you….you have to believe in yourself!

OpportunitiesWhat can we do with the environment we work in?

What do we walk away with?

A sense of pride in transparencyFewer followers and more leadersGreater confidenceUnityA successful team

Finally, do NOT forget about yourself.

Time Out! …record your successes …record your mistakes and lessons learned …update your resume monthly!

“You can fall in love with the people, but don’t fall in love with the place.”

Learning OutcomesWhat have we learned?

Breaking it Down “They” have a point.

You have to put in your share of time and effort, too.

At ALL times, strive to be the best leader.

Be transparent.

Commit to evolve.

Make a commitment to yourself.

Resources Maxwell, John C. 5 Levels of Leadership. New York City: Hachette Book Group, 2011.

Maxwell, John C. How Successful People Lead. New York City: Hachette Book Group, 2013.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?

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