A Message from Ujima Donalson, POD Executive Director
As the University of Washington continues to evolve, so does the challenge of leadership. Spring is typically a time to turn our attention to what’s new; however, as the official start of spring approaches this year, my head is in a different place, and I get the sense many of my colleagues are in the same situation.
Much of our current leadership challenge is bridging the old and the new. Many of us are still trying to find our footing in the wake of change—and at the same time we know we are still facing some uncharted waters and also need to ensure that our staff feel supported. In the midst of these realities, we and our organizations are challenged to be agile, innovative, creative, and cutting edge.
Needless to say, that’s quite a tall order.
Before you start to feel that there’s no way you can meet current leadership challenges, I will offer a thought. I believe one of the greatest leadership follies is not being planful but being responsive. Of course, leaders must be responsive, but if we get caught up in responding to every problem, every employee, and every question in the present moment, our ability to respond to change, to future challenges, and to long-term needs will be severely impaired.
My call, my challenge, to you is to carve out space in every week where you have the freedom to lead.
I have discovered that part of what works for my leadership style is being creative. If I don’t have that, I feel like something’s missing and I think my team feels it too. To ensure I have the space to fulfill this need, I have taken to spending part of the day each Friday both taking stock and looking ahead. I’ll catch up on any backlogged email and then see what’s coming up next. As I consider what’s on the horizon, I ask myself what’s being required of me, how I can be creative and innovative, and who I can partner with.
With leadership, we get to enjoy the privilege of leading but to sustain our effectiveness it’s essential that we tend to our needs and development. It’s just like the beauty and the burden of gardening. If we don’t make time to survey our garden and anticipate needs, weeds may flourish, thorns may prick us unexpectedly, or things may grow that we didn’t plant or intend.
