There are moments in every career when the path ahead is clear, familiar and well planned. And then there are moments when life presents us with something we never anticipated — an opportunity, a responsibility or a challenge that arrives unexpectedly and asks more of us than we imagined we were prepared to give.
I’m fortunate to have worked with many outstanding leaders — and a few, well, not so great.
The truth is, I really believe that with one or two exceptions, they all were doing what they thought was best for the organization, its people and for the customers they served. In other words, their intent was for good even when the execution, outcome or impact may have been lacking. Much the same could be said for most leaders I know or know of.
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.
