Empower Yourself
Everyone complains about the slowness of higher education and one of the most common excuses I hear is that people don’t feel empowered to make decisions and take actions.
Let me ask you this: Has anyone specifically told you that you CAN’T make decisions and that you CAN’T take action? If they have, I would consider looking for a job at a place where you’re a trusted and respected employee. If they haven’t, then stop making excuses and empower yourself. Start making decisions. Start DOING things instead of talking about them on your blog.
What’s the worst that can happen? Is the sky going to fall? Is it going to be the downfall of your institution? Sure, you might catch hell for it but that’s about the worst of it. But if you do, take responsibility. Stand up and say “Yes, I did it, this is the reason I did it and I would do it again in a heartbeat!” No one is going to be right all the time. I’m far more impressed when people fall down hard but had built a good basis to be able to stick by their work than people who have great ideas but don’t have the balls to try them.
There are all sorts of day-to-day things that don’t need to be run by committee and that you are the best person (with the most expertise) to be making decisions about them. Just do it and deal with the consequences later. I think most of the time, you’ll find that it’ll really be OK.
August 27th, 2008
You mean like creating a College-specific Flickr pro account without taking it to a committee
August 27th, 2008
This is something I definitely need to work on.
So thanks Karlyn for making me feel terrible about myself.
August 27th, 2008
@Eric - exactly…little stuff like that, who really cares?
@Nick - from what you’ve told me about standing up to your boss, you’re doing just fine
K
August 27th, 2008
That’s all fine and dandy until you are meeting with HR. Then, from experience , I would say you better have planned ahead.
Which is all ‘fun and games’ until you have a family to support and you have to explain that you got let go with no references because you took a risk and happened to fall hard.
Secondly, let’s say worst-case scenario. You tried something in admissions, it failed and your institution’s budget is way off (let’s say 20 -50 students) because you didn’t make your numbers. That money is coming from somewhere and it may be your “ex”-salary.
August 27th, 2008
Jamie, as I clearly stated, if you aren’t a trusted and respected employee then its time to find a new job. Please don’t talk to me as if I haven’t been there and just don’t understand.
If you want to coast and never take risks, that’s fine - but don’t ever let me hear you complain about the situation you find yourself in.
August 28th, 2008
I’m saying that unless you have a family to support or have been the situation where you started using Flickr and then had to meet with your two supervisors, a VP, and HR (like I did) then it’s easy to say, “quit” and “just go ahead and do it”
Why would I quit?, my boss likes and respects what I do. However, she has to answer to the Provost, and he has to answer to the President.
It’s not so simple as, “Stop being scared and just do whatever you feel you should be able to”