The other thing I've learned over the last year is that professional development is a muscle. I think all of us as leaders have had moments where we get frustrated because we'll put together a professional development plan, or a seminar, or a day of team building and a portion of the staff isn’t engaged. You end up constantly trying to figure out, how I make this better. Eventually, many of us just say, "You know what, I'm going in a different direction, this is not beneficial."
We've been really intentional about our professional development, and I have seen that muscle/skill grow. So, when we get 60 or so people together for our external retreats, it has been fun with each of those either biannual or quarterly meetings, to watch the people that in the first meeting, that were struggling to get engaged, struggling to be open and transparent, to see them improve. Because it's not new, that muscle has grown, and they've started to see the benefit of it. I would encourage anybody in our industry, don't be frustrated if the first couple times don't go right. Understand that you're training a skill, and your people will come around if your programming is right. Look for incremental gains, not wholesale approval right away.
Great insights Chris! You've been in the university sector your entire career. What is it about the collegiate atmosphere that you enjoy the most?
My favorite part about college is, it's a growth industry. You're working with 18 to 22 year olds who are growing every day. I love watching an 18-year-old that comes in and is confused, and struggles, is trying to find themselves both on the court and off the court. And then watching them graduate as a senior and finish their athletic career, and finish their academic career, and they're this well-rounded individual.
College sports, from a professional level, from the administrative level, I've always approached it as a growth industry as well, and we have the opportunity to work around 18 to 22 year olds that are growing in incredible ways, and becoming adults and eventually leaders.
But sometimes you forget about growing the staff that you have inside your department, and I feel like that's the most rewarding part of this job.
Nothing is more rewarding than watching a young professional get a promotion, or watching a young professional grow into a leadership position, whether that be in your organization or another.
I love working with college students. Students and young professionals have a zillion questions, it's always fun to share our experiences with them and help them get ready for their career. And if they can just take one or two pieces of that advice, it's really exciting to help them along.
Well, there is nobody in a sports organization that is going to turn down more help from a student that is pushing to learn new things and be a good teammate. You don't turn down those offers. Now sometimes there may not be a project that is available immediately, but I promise you, that the person that you offered up your assistance to, will remember that the next time something pops up.
The other thing I've learned over the last year is that professional development is a muscle."
Nothing is more rewarding than watching a young professional get a promotion, or watching a young professional grow into a leadership position, whether that be in your organization or another."
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