The clouds that hang over American higher education can appear dark and foreboding at times as we face uncertainty in our economy and nation.

With so many things in our lives seeming to be unstable and unpredictable, i.e., basic food and gas prices, housing values, retirement portfolios, social values, political campaigns and more; there is an uneasiness about life which is carrying over into the workplace.  This uncertainty is having an impact on the fabric and culture that exists on college and university campuses today.

Higher education leaders not only need to provide encouraging, motivating, and directional leadership but they need to reassure faculty and staff about job security and new job creation.

Today's higher education leader will have a new focus…job creator and economic development director.

Senior leaders need to address two areas:

• future hope
• job creation

First and foremost is creating a campus culture which has an ethos marked by optimism and hope.

Three ways leaders can instill future hope:

1.        Plan the future.

• Dream big.
• Cast vision.
• Map out a strategy.

2.        Talk about the future.

• Talking about the future builds hope and optimism.
• Talking about the future gives direction and clarity to actions.
• Talking about the future helps build momentum and unifies efforts.

3.        Share successes.

• Good news lets everyone share in the victory.
• Success breeds organizational excitement and commitment.
• Success stimulates more success.

Second, leaders today must constantly be talking about job creation as a way to grow, as a way to contribute to our overall economy, and as a way to overcome employee uncertainty and job insecurity.

Three Ways Leaders Can Stimulate Job Creation

1.        Promote Research and Innovation

• Develop a culture of innovation with incentives for new ideas.
• Steer research toward job creation as an end goal.

2.        Promote Collaboration and Partnerships

• Partner with outside organizations with similar or complementary goals to stimulate growth.
• Stimulate internal collaboration and partnerships through new alliances.

3.        Promote Growth through the Three R’s

• R1 – create revenue growth through revitalizing current programs or introducing new niche programs.
• R2 – create revenue growth through commercial enterprises which complement and strengthen academic programs.
• R3 – create revenue growth through a university-wide management approach to fundraising.

1. Speak positive language into a person's life.
2. Find special moments “to build up” or encourage a person.
3. Recognize each individual’s unique strengths and contributions to the organization.
4. Always take time to thank each individual for work completed.
5. Engage each individual, taking time to listen first before setting expectations or making a request.
6. Cast vision for each individual as well as the organization.
7. Use powerful and emotional-laden language to motivate individuals and groups to achieve greatness.
8. Encourage people to try new things.
9. Give employees the freedom to handle important areas of responsibility. Trust them to be successful.
10. Cheer your colleagues on to victory.

Positioning yourself for professional growth and upward mobility is important.  If you don’t take time to plan your career, you could end up not fulfilling God’s purpose for your life.

God orders our steps by providing each of us with unique gifts, talents and abilities; furthermore, He expects us to make use of them.  Therefore, in order to be all God desires for us, we need to have faith and work hard to get there.

So, how do we maximize our talents for God’s glory?  We begin by prayerfully asking God to help us discern our skill set.  Then, we make use of the many tools available such as career assessment, gift inventories, strength assessment, and even personal counseling.  Continual evaluation, also, requires intentional periodic times of reflection, planning, and adjusting.

Taking timeouts from the fast-paced demands of both our personal and professional lives is important.  Are we taking a breather to consider how we’re doing and where we’re headed?  Are we taking the necessary time for personal reflection to set future direction?  Are we mapping out a professional plan?  Are we taking time to pray and listen to God?  Are we keeping our priorities in life – God, family, and then work?

Just as organizations are careful to reflect and create a brand in the market, we, also, should build a personal brand. Doing so, can help us stay focused and true to what God is leading and calling us to do. 

“Build Your Brand”

1.         Know your strengths

2.         Establish direction

3.         Create a professional growth plan

4.         Be willing to make changes

Know your strengths.  Leaders should play from their strengths.  We can do much more if we utilize the unique strengths and talents God has given.  Instead of spending time improving and developing skills we’re not wired for, we should look to enhance, improve, and magnify those in our gift range.  True success then becomes something natural and we are in step with how God has designed us.

Establish direction.  We all want to know where we are going.  It starts with knowing our calling and areas of passion.  We each have a higher calling to live for Christ as well as a vocation.  Our giftedness defines us and leads to a vocational calling.  God does call us to a vocation (Eph. 4:1), and He desires that we walk worthy of our calling.  Our career is a gift that He wants us to enjoy (Ecc. 2:24, 3:13).  This realization can be motivating, daunting, and humbling because it causes us to rely on Him and seek to please Him in all we do (Eph. 5:10).  Listening and praying about God’s leading and calling will keep us on a trajectory that produces peace and personal satisfaction. 

Create a professional growth plan.  It is important to establish goals for professional development including plans for education, plans for networking with other professionals, plans for attending professional conferences, and plans for mentoring relationships.  Taking time to ensure we are improving and growing is important to our long-term career aspirations. Finding mentors who are willing to meet and discuss leadership and professional development is essential. Seek out individuals who will openly share so you can gain input and feedback.

Be willing to make changes.  The most important thing we can do is be willing to change.  If we desire to grow, we need to listen, learn and implement leadership changes that will help us maximize our giftedness and strengths.  One of the best ways to get better as a leader is to listen to frank assessments from a mentor.  It may not always be easy, but being open to critique can help us stay within our strength zone.

If we truly desire fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives, then taking time to position ourselves for the future is important.  And, if we want to achieve God’s best for our lives, then we need to maximize our strength zone to further His work on this earth.