Finding the leader in you!

1. Finding the leader in you! Lori Vedder, Director of Financial Aid University of Michigan-Flint 2018-19 NASFAA National Chair

2. Finding the leader in ourselves can be easier than one may think. By nature, everyone wants to be part of something bigger than themselves… To get what we’ve never had, we must do what we’ve never done.” – Anonymous With the right attitude, willingness, energy and mindset, we can accomplish almost anything. Mentors can play a very important role in helping to get us where we want to be – got yours? Just like companies have market value, so do people. Our market value increases with the more we know and more we do. “You cannot get what you’ve never had unless you’re willing to do what you’ve never done.”

3. How well Do you know yourself ? Your own strengths and weaknesses. • Typical interview question, goes far beyond that What do you want, how far do you want to go? • What is your end goal? • Your 3-5 year goal? • What support do you have? • What support are you willing to accept? • How far are you willing to try and go outside your comfort zone?

4. How well do you know your role? How does your job fit into the overall goal/workings of the office? • It’s like a spider web What you don’t know, do you know? • Sounds like an oxymoron but it is true! • You need to recognize and come to grips with what you don’t know • Figure out how and where you are going to learn it for future growth

5. Do you know… What is important to your supervisor? • What is important to you may not be to the boss • Need to strike a balance What is important to your institution or organization? • Are you part of an Enrollment Management (EM) team? • You are not just the OFA – OFA critical to campus • Regulations and funding How your office fits into the larger organization? • Especially in an EM model THIS IS KEY KNOWLEDGE!

6. Rules of the game WRITTEN: (it’s a given) • Campus wide Standard Practice Guide (SPG) • Office and institutional policies and procedures • Any guidelines internal such as expected dress code, vacation policies, etc. UNWRITTEN: • More important than one make think • Examples: cell calls, texting, poor meeting etiquette, inappropriate dress, wearing emotions on your sleeve

7. Unwritten rules – more common sense than not… Shouldn’t have to say it, but… • Show up on time – don’t be late • Do your job – help others, take on leadership roles when appropriate • Don’t eat, take calls, text, watch your phone in meetings or with a student • What are pet peeves in the office, with staff? Communication tips • Answer emails and calls promptly • Monitor your tone, emotions – how do we sound to others around us? • Don’t get too comfortable – watch office politics (aka gossip)

8. Unwritten rules continued… Meeting Etiquette • Arrive on time, actually a little early whenever possible • Be prepared – do your research, bring the facts, numbers, story, tools • Be attentive • Send agenda items ahead of time if appropriate • Get to know how others operate • Know when to go “off-line” • PARTICIPATE don’t just show up

9. Ohhhh the politics… • Every office has them • It’s not all bad • Know who has the power • Understand how and why things get done internal and external to your office • Realize moving up may mean more politics, just a different level (again not all bad) • Understand chain of command (this may be a generational topic) • Leaders learn to address it if need be

10. Top 10 career killers (not in any certain order!) 10. Complaining and whining (on and off line) 9. Expecting and/or requesting “exception after exception” 8. Ignoring suggestions, not being receptive to feedback or evaluations 7. Discussing your performance reviews or compensation with other staff 6. Campus gossip, or nose in everyone’s business 5. Failure to follow through 4. Inability or refusal to see larger picture 3. Resisting change or a new direction 2. Ignoring the chain of command – going over supervisor’s head 1. Allowing supervisor to be blindsided – failure to communicate

11. Top 10 career builders (not in any certain order!) 10. Developing a plan for your career path 9. Being reliable, dependable, showing up in all forms 8. Taking on responsibility 7. Continual learning – credentials, webinars, regulations, training events, professional development 6. Be a team player 5. Understanding office/campus priorities and acting accordingly 4. Innovative thinking – share your ideas 3. Show initiative and energy – deliver more than is expected 2. Share information learned 1. Know when to stay silent

12. Other suggestions • Attitude matters as much, if not more than aptitude • As responsibilities increase connection to individual tasks may decrease • Delegation at this point becomes more important • Relationship building is important – staff, other departments, supervisor • Everyone has someone to manage, even if it is ourselves

13. Always remember • Supervisors talk to each other • Be careful of seemingly idle chatter at conferences or around campus • If you are looking for a job we probably know it – sometimes best to enlist support • If job seeking is local, hiring supervisor may seek an “informal” reference • Someone always knows someone, so be kind to everyone but keep it real

14. We are always building our reputation • Be real, keep it real, be professional • Check your work habits, communication style • Meeting conduct, trainings • Professional development • Emails, letters, texts – internally or externally • Social media habits

15. Go that extra degree • At 211 degrees a pot of water is simply VERY hot • At 212 degrees that same pot of water is boiling • GO THAT EXTRA DEGREE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO!

16. HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT? Enough to… • Pay your dues? • Further your education (formally/informally)? • Maybe sacrifice some free time in the evenings, weekends • Change offices? Organizations? Regions? States? Campuses?

17. Take time to say thank youtake time to meet someone newtake time to improve your own self • Find a mentor, be a mentor • Give of your time with all your heart • Volunteers have the biggest hearts of all • Learn from others, don’t be a know-it-all, they don’t really exist • Step outside your comfort zone • Step outside your campus, state, region • The only boundries are the ones you create!

18. YOU GOT ThIS!!!! • No excuses – just do it! • Go that extra degree! • Think market value! • Go where you have never been! • If serving is below you, then leadership is beyond you! Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the one you did do!