23 Things I’ve Learned as a Professional
Or Simply as a Human Being Trying to Help Others Flourish
I’m transitioning to a new role soon. I have been reflecting on a few things I have learned in my first decade as a higher ed professional. These lessons come from a myriad of faces and places. They remain great reminders and prompts for leading and serving others well. Maybe they’ll be helpful to you, too.
1. Listen.
There’s a reason the word “listen” uses the same letters as the word “silent.” Listen to understand, listen to care, then listen to respond. Be it students, staff, or faculty. Good listeners are in short supply.
2. Say Yes.
The best way to be trusted with more in your role is to say yes to opportunities that stretch your skillset and acumen. Act with agency by taking on new projects. Don’t be scared to fail or make mistakes. Deep learning requires friction.
3. Focus on Improving, Not Proving.
Have a growth mindset. No one expects you to know everything about everything all the time. Work with a posture of humility. Be teachable and ask for help. By making it your goal to improve, you’ll never have to prove anything ever again.
4. Get to Know People.
It’s likely that nearly 1/3 of your life takes place around your colleagues. Know them deeply. Ask about their families, their hobbies, their favorite things. The adage is true: People won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.
5. Follow Through.
Following through builds trust, maintains accountability, enhances your reputation, minimizes errors and delays, and, ultimately, brings about positive results. Your habits will make or break you. Make it a habit to follow through.
6. Your Network is Your Net Worth.
Make an effort to grab coffee or lunch or drinks. Network upward, horizontally, and downward. Sometimes it’s who you know rather than what you know. Be a Rolodex.
7. Set Goals and Seek Feedback.
Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals are goals that get accomplished. Ask for feedback early and often — make your annual or quarterly review redundant.
8. Make Yourself Replaceable.
Counterintuitive? Nah. Create systems and processes so efficient and seamless that aspects of the role are plug and play. It frees you up for higher-level thinking and makes transitions so much easier.
9. Time Away Benefits Everyone.
Taking time to refresh and recharge is productive. If burnout is the enemy of productivity, then balance is the enemy of burnout.
10. Make Money Matter Less.
Think of money as a tool rather than a reward. Rewards lose their shine, tools have long term utility. There is no life more empty than one void of passion, purpose, and people. Fulfilling work matters.
11. Parsimony is a Virtue.
Cogent communication is crucial. Tell the people what they need to know. Clear articulation is a practiced skill, and excellent practice leads to excellent execution.
12. Learn to Manage Up.
Develop a productive rapport with your supervisor by adjusting to their working style, identifying roadblocks, and taking things off their plate. Anticipate their needs. Never surprise your boss.
13. Culture Drives Behavior.
A bad culture reaps bad behavior. Mission alignment comes before mission accomplished. Lead and serve in a way you’d like to see others lead and serve. Cultivate a culture worth investing in.
14. Know Your Priorities.
Maximize your impact by knowing which tasks are most important, most urgent, and most time consuming. There is no better return on investment than knowing your priorities.
15. Perception is Reality.
Perception shapes how we interpret and interact with the world around us. Successfully navigating the perceptions of others requires flexible heuristics that acknowledge varying outcomes — intended or otherwise.
16. Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast.
I learned this working in a restaurant — but I’m pretty sure the Marines coined the phrase. Regardless, it continues to be true and has served me immensely well. Efficiency and speed result from deliberate action. Do things the right way the first time.
17. Know Your Blindspots.
And if you don’t know what they are, ask someone — they’ll know. Situate yourself around others that can wisely inform and ameliorate your blind spots.
18. Read, Read, Read.
About your field, your discipline, your environment. Read about leading others and being led. Read to enhance your skillset and to inform your work. The difference between being good and great is often reading more.
19. Be an Illuminator.
Author David Brooks writes about cultivating empathy and curiosity when meaningfully connecting with others. Illuminators make others “feel bigger, deeper, respected, lit up.” Amplify others as a way of life.
20. Be Prepared.
Benjamin Franklin said failing to prepare is just preparing to fail. Regular preparation brings a calm response, not a chaotic one, during crisis. Outline tomorrow’s tasks today. Start off not only on the right foot, but in the right direction.
21. Relentlessly Focus on Time.
If you’re early, then you’re on time. Value others’ time and they will value yours. Be wary of nefarious time wasters — if you’re not careful, the things that consume your time will begin to consume you.
22. Small Wins Make a Big Impact.
Weick writes that small wins are “concrete, complete, implemented outcomes of moderate importance.” Although small wins may seem insignificant on their own, a series of small wins communicates a pattern of success.
23. Be a Mentee and a Mentor.
Glean from the wisdom of those a few steps ahead — professionally, personally, spiritually. Then keep the pipeline going. Model excellence for others.
Bonus: Have some fun.
We probably take ourselves too seriously most of the time. I know I do. Work can be, and should be, life-giving. We were created for work. Make sure its something you love.
As I advance in my career, I hope I look more and more like the lessons learned above. It’s a tall task, but one to be excited and passionate about. I am convinced that persistence in pursuit of these lessons will pay dividends long term.
