Leadership in the Leadership in the Financial Aid Office: Financial Aid Office:

Reality TV Style Reality TV Style

Heather Boutell, Heather Boutell, Bellarmine University Bellarmine University

hboutell@bellarmine.eduhboutell@bellarmine.edu

Definition of LeadershipDefinition of Leadership

According to Merriam-Webster –According to Merriam-Webster –

– Leadership = the office or position of a leader; Leadership = the office or position of a leader; capacity to lead; the act or instance of leadingcapacity to lead; the act or instance of leading

– Lead = to guide on a way especially by going Lead = to guide on a way especially by going in advance, to direct on a course or in a in advance, to direct on a course or in a direction, to direct the operations, activity, or direction, to direct the operations, activity, or performance of ; to have charge of; to go at performance of ; to have charge of; to go at the head of;the head of;:: to be first in or among  to be first in or among

Famous Leadership QuotesFamous Leadership Quotes

““Leadership: the art of getting someone else to Leadership: the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he do something you want done because he wants to do it.” wants to do it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower – Dwight D. Eisenhower

““You’re only as good as the people you hire.” – You’re only as good as the people you hire.” – Ray KrocRay Kroc

““In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein

Other Great Sources for Use!Other Great Sources for Use!

Reality TV!Reality TV!– American IdolAmerican Idol– SurvivorSurvivor– Amazing RaceAmazing Race– Big BrotherBig Brother– Fear FactorFear Factor– Dancing with the StarsDancing with the Stars– SuperNannySuperNanny– Project RunwayProject Runway

Lesson #1: Don’t Be Afraid to Sing Lesson #1: Don’t Be Afraid to Sing Your Song! Your Song!

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

Always be excited to share your message Always be excited to share your message and take every opportunity.and take every opportunity.

Be proud of your message of access to Be proud of your message of access to higher education.higher education.

You may be misunderstood.You may be misunderstood.

Others may find you a bit weird. Others may find you a bit weird.

Keep smiling. Keep smiling.

Lesson #2: Follow the RulesLesson #2: Follow the Rules

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

Hire staff that understand you have to follow Hire staff that understand you have to follow the rules.the rules.

Regularly go over the rules in staff Regularly go over the rules in staff meetings, in creative ways.meetings, in creative ways.

Be aware of changes to the rules!Be aware of changes to the rules!

Adjusting the rules does bring risk. (PJ)Adjusting the rules does bring risk. (PJ)

Understand that presenting the rules to Understand that presenting the rules to students may bring anger and resentment, students may bring anger and resentment, and consider the “music”. and consider the “music”.

Lesson #3: Make Sacrifices for the Lesson #3: Make Sacrifices for the TeamTeam

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

Do Your Best for the Team – work hard to Do Your Best for the Team – work hard to overcome the obstacles.overcome the obstacles.Once something goes your way (default Once something goes your way (default rate, enrollment, literacy event), give credit rate, enrollment, literacy event), give credit to everyone involved.to everyone involved.If on the team, say thank you to those who If on the team, say thank you to those who acknowledge you. acknowledge you. Be able to do the functions of those you Be able to do the functions of those you supervise. supervise. Watch for the ones who want to be first. Watch for the ones who want to be first.

Lesson #4: Admit when you make Lesson #4: Admit when you make mistakes! mistakes!

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

Mistakes are going to happen based on Mistakes are going to happen based on the complicated level of our field.the complicated level of our field.

Build confidence of employees if they Build confidence of employees if they occur.occur.

Admit your mistakes.Admit your mistakes.

Fix your mistakes.Fix your mistakes.

Remember mistakes are replayed, but Remember mistakes are replayed, but good moments can be fleeting. good moments can be fleeting.

Lesson #5: People are watching!Lesson #5: People are watching!

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

As a leader, others see your actions. You As a leader, others see your actions. You are being watched!are being watched!

Actions really do speak louder than words.Actions really do speak louder than words.

Ethical decisions – will they stand up to Ethical decisions – will they stand up to the newspaper test? the newspaper test?

Generational differences mean varying Generational differences mean varying generational expectations. generational expectations.

Lesson #6: Do Things You Don’t Lesson #6: Do Things You Don’t Want to do! Want to do!

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

New regs, new rules; change can be tough New regs, new rules; change can be tough to swallow.to swallow.

Take on responsibilities you don’t want to Take on responsibilities you don’t want to do – others will follow your lead. do – others will follow your lead.

Realize your fears inside.Realize your fears inside.

Conquer the fears. Conquer the fears.

Lesson #7: Ask Others for Help! Lesson #7: Ask Others for Help!

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

Ask for help from others and rely on your Ask for help from others and rely on your FAA friends.FAA friends.

Know whom to ask and be willing to share Know whom to ask and be willing to share openly. openly.

Realize that diverse solutions can bring a Realize that diverse solutions can bring a win to your office.win to your office.

Pay attention to your challenges and try to Pay attention to your challenges and try to stay on course.stay on course.

Know where the playground is. Know where the playground is.

Lesson #8: Let Your Leadership Lesson #8: Let Your Leadership Reflect Who You Are! Reflect Who You Are!

Practical AdvicePractical Advice

Let your office and leadership style reflect Let your office and leadership style reflect you. you.

Make sure your creativity is relevant. Make sure your creativity is relevant.

Watch and see what the judges think. Watch and see what the judges think.

Remember you are not designing for you, Remember you are not designing for you, but for others – students, your staff, but for others – students, your staff, families. families.

Reality TV and Leadership…..Reality TV and Leadership…..

PridePride

Diligence Diligence

SacrificeSacrifice

HumilityHumility

TransparencyTransparency

CooperationCooperation

Reliance on OthersReliance on Others

Good luck with your Good luck with your leadership skills – leadership skills –

tune in and tune in and ““channel” them channel” them

whenever you can! whenever you can!