MOR Associates

Behind every successful team are individuals contributing their unique strengths: innovation, influence, integration, impact, and insight.

When asking teams to take on more, use respectful language, discuss priorities, adjust expectations, rebalance work, and show gratitude.

Setbacks, failures, and disappointments are unavoidable and often painful. Greater danger is in self-blame, rumination, and judgment that can follow.

Universities must pivot to lifelong learning models, demanding flexible tech infrastructure and strategic IT leadership to stay relevant and future-ready.

Real leadership means making tough calls with kindness and integrity, not just seeking to be liked or avoiding hard conversations.

Perhaps we can collectively take a deep breath this week, and take back some control to finish the year with intentionality, toward a successful 2026.

Leading with kindness transforms teams, fosters growth and trust, and is a superpower that elevates leadership, coaching, and collaboration.

People are under stress and feeling threatened. Show appreciation, offer positive feedback, and talk openly.

We often take on more. While we must acknowledge the challenges, consider a different perspective: a new way to make a more significant impact.

One of my big takeaways from my high school was to “show you math.” Working through a problem, showing reasoning, is a learning opportunity.

You made a significant investment in yourself if you fully engaged and participated in a MOR program. The growth of your investment is up to you.

Talent management is about taking care of people. Offboarding can be difficult. How you treat those departing and those remaining shapes culture.

Today we focus on workforce issues, concerns, and strategies to consider when financial constraints make it urgent to update a talent management plan.

This is a moment to make a compelling case for change. A more integrated organization will optimize resources, improve services, and enhance security.

Leverage tech, rethink processes, and foster collaboration to take meaningful action to boost efficiency and innovation amid ongoing challenges.

In challenging times, it’s crucial to lead from where you are. You can enable staff to lead from where they are. Focus on possibilities and take action.

Deliver strategic impact. Minimize operational costs via efficiencies, choose the most pressing strategic needs, and provide high-impact results.

Lee Corso was a member of ESPN’s College Game Day program. After 38 years, he retired this past Saturday. Here are five lessons I take from Lee.

Successfully integrating administrative organizations across a university is as much about people and culture as technology and budgets. The real key to success lies in a clear purpose, an inclusive process, principled decision-making, and robust communication. MOR’s expertise helps institutions navigate both the technical and human challenges, ensuring that changes are not only implemented but embraced.

Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Christian Schmieder, Assistant Director for Data Governance at the University of Wisconsin-Extension and a MOR program alum.  Christian may be reached at [email protected] or via LinkedIn. A friend recently gushed about the benefits of incorporating cold showers into his daily routine. I was intrigued – and maybe a little envious. […]