Leadership Lessons
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One of the first lessons you learn in leadership is that
when you are in the middle of a storm, look for points of light.
That is, even under the worst of circumstances, given the diversity of human behavior, there usually is a person, a team, or a manager who is beyond surviving and even thriving. That's not to laud superhuman work. No way. It just means that someone has found a way to make the set of conditions - which are- just as shitty for them as they are for you-- work.
I was just talking about a leader in Higher Education that I've spotted that is doing that.
He's bucking the trend.
With most schools decreasing in enrollment, this dude has double digit increases in enrollment.
And this road is not an easy one. When I first learned of him, it was by reading an article that said he had let go 26 faculty in August 2020. A year later, many of the department heads and bosses that were at the college had gone on to other jobs (TRANSLATION: QUIT). I quietly asked some workers who had nothing to lose, "What happened?" They said that basically, they wanted traditional jobs and he was not offering those. He was offering high risk but tremendous reward and a completely new vision for the college.
Even the town the college is in (HEADS UP: NEW ENGLAND TOWNS: known for being close minded and elitist. READ: SALEM WITCH TRIALS) bucked up and said that
they were unhappy that any growth out of the college was now going to be online and NOT in the form of building buildings.He simply replied that online was more environmentally friendly.
This gamble of his was BEFORE the hard punch of the pandemic.
Then the pandemic hit.
And his plan became gold.
He had plenty of room to expand. The traditionalists were gone (presumably in some other town washing hands, wearing masks, and going back into the classroom). The US mindset had moved even MORE towards environmentalism. People stuck at home had more time to:
- look at how much trash they generated,
- think about the gas they weren't burning in commutes
- reuse that reusable water bottle
- get groceries in bulk rather than in little trips with large amounts of food waste.
In short, students wanted to cuddle their dogs and cats AND go to school. They want the respect that comes from knowing what they know AND being able to continue to be the best versions of themselves whether that was photographer, board paddler, or tree hugger.
So, when students find a private school (READ: tuition is one price for all) out of state that would allow them to both get the respect of a degree AND stay home, they bought in and they're bringing their friends.
It's really tough to look at a small town and say, "It's not quite for me...there is more out there" and then follow through. This leader did the follow through.
And he's beginning to reap the benefits.