I recently read an article titled "Volunteer vs. Career: The Real Reason We Are Losing Firefighters." It’s written about the fire service specifically, but the more I sat with it, the less it felt like a fire-service problem. Swap a few nouns, and it could just as easily describe higher education, government or any private-sector team I’ve worked with.
Over the last few weeks, I have been celebrating high school graduations with my son and daughter. Right behind those celebrations came the stress and excitement of enrolling and registering for college classes. Watching that transition unfold reminded me how much effort goes into preparing for what is next, not just what is immediately in front of us. It reinforced an important lesson. Preparing for the future requires intentional effort, and it often brings both uncertainty and discomfort.
One of my favorite songs, “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack, carries more than melody—it carries wisdom. Lines like “I hope you never lose your sense of wonder… Never settle for the path of least resistance” remind us that leadership is not just about direction, but about perspective.
The University of Tennessee has appointed longtime public servant and former university leader Jim Thomas as interim vice president of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS), effective Oct. 1, and launched a national search for the institute's next permanent leader.
What do people actually say about me when I’m not in the room?
That question stayed with me somewhere between sessions, networking, coffee refills and trying to look like I had everything under control.
I've been deep in leadership development mode lately: facilitating TBEDC and back-to-back leadership trainings, because apparently, I looked at my calendar and thought, "Yes. More."
But somewhere in the middle of all the madness, that question just landed and wouldn't leave.
What is my leadership brand?
During a recent meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, someone commented on the cold weather and the need for a warmer coat. A colleague from Vermont replied that they had a saying, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!”
Over the years, I’ve been in numerous weather situations where someone in the group was unprepared for unexpected inclement weather. When this happens, sometimes the result is temporary discomfort. Sometimes, though, being unprepared can be life-threatening.
The University of Tennessee Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS), an agency of the Institute for Public Service (IPS), has announced the selection of the inaugural cohort for PULSE TN: Strengths-Based Leadership Intensive, a new statewide leadership program with a simple mission to amplify the beat of local leadership for a stronger Tennessee.
Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right. ~ President Theodore Roosevelt
In today’s climate, public service can feel increasingly complicated. The work itself has not become less important, but the atmosphere around it has become more strained. Disagreement feels sharper. Assumptions come faster. And too often, people working to support stronger communities are viewed not as partners in progress, but as something to be questioned, resisted or dismissed.
