Our commitment to fostering employee growth is reflected in this year’s professional
development theme: “Cultivating success through service, strength and community.”
Monica Burnette, vice president of student services, discusses the importance of prioritizing professional
development. “As the Division of Student Services, we pride ourselves in deep care
for our students and fostering positive collaboration through communication, service
and support. We continue to prioritize and invest in professional development because
we highly value employee success and strive to build a legacy of leaders. Student
Services professionals are essential in addressing students’ holistic well-being,
and a focus on professional growth is vital for employee engagement and critical for
maintaining the quality of student support services.”
Based on insights from the 2024 Employee Satisfaction Survey, we remain dedicated
to prioritizing professional development. Why? Because it’s essential for employee
engagement, crucial for maintaining the quality of student support services and a
cornerstone for building a legacy of leaders.
The Power of Strengths-Based leadership
Professional development is most impactful when it focuses on what individuals and
teams do best. Our division partnered with Rachel Wainer, Gallup-certified strengths
coach, to focus on strengths-based leadership. Rachel explains the significance of
this approach, “Strengths-based development unleashes the full potential of individuals
and teams by focusing on what they naturally do best. It’s a transformational approach
that fuels both personal growth and professional impact.”
In practice, strengths-based leadership helps individuals thrive while enhancing the
collective impact of teams and organizations. Leaders who adopt this approach are
better equipped to inspire, motivate and develop those they serve. The ripple effect
of this leadership style can be seen in higher employee engagement, stronger teams
and a more positive impact on the communities they support.
Myles Douglas, EOP student success advisor, shared the transformative experience with
strengths-based development, noting how identifying and leveraging their interpersonal
strengths led to significant professional and personal improvements. Douglas stated,
Notably absent from my strengths profile were behaviors reflecting self-prioritization.
This realization prompted me to reflect on strategies to address this gap. I implemented
a small but impactful change in my routine, dedicating at least two hours each week
to focused, uninterrupted work. This adjustment has not only enhanced my productivity—reducing
the time required for tasks that previously demanded twice the effort—but also encouraged
students to explore alternative campus resources when I am unavailable. This shift
has fostered greater independence among students and underscored the reciprocal benefits
of establishing healthy boundaries.
This experience highlights the mutual benefits of strengths-based development—staff
grow, and so do students.
Creating a Culture of Excellence
By leaning into their strengths, our staff are creating stronger, more cohesive teams
and bringing renewed energy and creativity to their roles. As Rachel Wainer explained:
Strengths-based development doesn’t just help staff grow—it equips them to better
serve students. When individuals work from their strengths, they bring more energy,
creativity, and connection to the student experience and when teams work from their
talents, they create a culture of excellence that students feel in every interaction.
Additionally, Rachel shares these sessions for Student Services are designed as an
“ongoing journey, not a single destination. Multiple sessions allow us to dive deeper,
connect strengths to daily work, and see real transformation over time.” As a result,
they not only grow individually but also contribute to a culture of excellence that
impacts the student experience.
Nicole Giglia, associate dean of students, shares her experience with Rachel conducting
workshops for the Residence Life department,
The Residence Life team has been working with Rachel on a number of workshops rooted
in strengths-based leadership. These workshops have given us tools to not only streamline
our work but also a shared language to improve our team communication. The focus on
positivity and our talents has been a refreshing and motivating take on professional
development.
A Shared Vision for Growth
Professional development is about more than individual success; it’s about fostering
a thriving community. Through our workshops and initiatives, we are building teams
that are motivated, engaged and united by a common purpose—to support students holistically
and create transformative experiences.
As we continue this journey of cultivating success through service, strength and community,
we are reminded that professional development is not a one-time event but a continuous
process. Together, we are building a legacy of leadership that will inspire generations
to come.
By investing in our staff, we are investing in our students and our future. This year’s
focus on strengths-based development is a testament to our dedication to fostering
success through service, strength, and community. Together, we are not just addressing
the needs of today—we are building a legacy of leadership for tomorrow.
Categories:
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