A very important, and often neglected, activity for us as leaders is to pay attention to our own professional development. I was reminded of this fact last week when I had the opportunity to attend the Luoma Leadership Academy.
One of the highlights of the week was a visit by Chancellor Steven Rosenstone. He talked about the recently released draft report on Charting the Future of MnSCU. We were challenged to read the report and provide thoughtful feedback. In addition, he challenged us to think carefully about our development goals. As a leader, the Chancellor said that he is intentional about his own continued learning. I know from discussions with our Vice President of Human Resources that he also holds his direct reports accountable for their ongoing development.
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day necessities of our jobs. My time at Luoma reminded me that it is equally important to focus on broader issues that influence my ability to contribute as a leader in our system. Every participant left with a development plan for the year. This focused effort will help us all to be stronger leaders.
One of my development goals for this summer is to read the Charting the Future report and inform myself about the issues it discusses. Spending an hour or two on this activity will help me create training that focuses on important issues for our future.
How could you spend a few hours in the next month to support your professional development?
Dee Anne Bonebright
Higher EDge 