Leadership Reflection

I started wall climbing. I was surrounded by people far better me. I was the worst in the class. This was the perfect place.

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Peggy Huston, Leadership Coach at MOR Associates.  Peggy may be reached at [email protected].]   What makes a great leader?  I posted this question in a Google search and received a long list of important traits for a great leader, such as integrity, good communication, agility, influence, empathy, courage, respect, knowledge, etc. […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Brian McDonald, President of MOR Associates.  Brian may be reached at [email protected].]   During the past month different MOR cohorts have had the opportunity to hear leadership lessons from several accomplished program sponsors. Their insights seemed well worth passing along so others could benefit from these thoughtful reflections.  1. Self-Acceptance Is an […]

Gratitude makes us feel good on both the sending and receiving side. However, it goes further: expressing gratitude at work can make us healthier.

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Marcia Dority Baker, Leadership Coach at MOR Associates.  Marcia may be reached at [email protected].]   “I describe my career path as a zigzag, not a career ladder.” Denise Morrison       I recently gave my leadership journey during a MOR Leaders program workshop. As a facilitator I was on […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Bill Wrobleski. Bill is currently on a trail somewhere in rural France. Need to find him? Check billonthecamino.com or email him at [email protected].]   Tomorrow, I head out on a 1,000-mile pilgrimage across France and Spain. For over seventy-days, I’ll be walking the Camino de Santiago, a series of well-worn trails […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Molly Sharp, Service Management Programs Director at Stanford University. It is a reflection on what she is learning as a current MOR program participant.  Molly may be reached at [email protected].]   Over the months since I began the MOR program, I’ve been evolving my thinking about the purpose of the […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Mark Askren, MOR Associates Leadership Coach, and former Vice President for IT at the University of Nebraska. Mark may be reached at [email protected].]   As leaders, we’re always on stage. Our staff, colleagues, campus stakeholders, clients, and the people we report to are paying attention to our work behaviors. What we […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Susan Washburn, Program Leader and Leadership Coach at MOR Associates.  Susan may be reached at [email protected].]   Recently, I pushed the rewind button on my Leadership Journey.   Looking back at the lessons we have learned is one of the most powerful activities in the MOR Leaders Program.  My journey is […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Michael Humphrys, Director of IT Strategy & Innovation, Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. It is a reflection on what he is learning as a current MOR program participant.  Michael may be reached at [email protected].]   Of the many lessons learned through my MOR experience, one that has […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Jesse Voigt, Associate Director of Infrastructure, Macalester College. He is a current MOR program participant.  Jesse may be reached at [email protected].]  The Problem   One of the most frequent frustrations I hear from leaders is that they struggle with balancing their lead/manage/do ratio.   We fall into the trap of […]

The Paradox of Presence [Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Mark N. Goedert, Director of IT Planning & Strategy, University of Illinois Chicago. It is a reflection on what he is learning as a current MOR program participant.  Mark may be reached at [email protected].] My MOR leadership journey is very much like a puzzle.  The first […]

This week we’re going to do something different and start with the results of last week’s survey.   From Last Week  Last week, we asked: Which of these practices is most important to you? 41% said building relationships 27% said weekly planning 19% said owning your calendar / defensive calendaring 13% said delegating whenever possible […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Vijay Menta, CIO of Middlebury College.  Vijay may be reached at [email protected].]   MOR has taught many important leadership lessons that are often repeated by many of us and sometimes used as a mantra in our everyday conversation.  One that is often repeated: feedback is a gift.   While I firmly […]

What Would Donna Do?  [Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Beth Holtz, Senior Manager for Strategic Initiatives and Administration in Research Computing, Princeton University.  She is a MOR alum.  Beth may be reached at [email protected].]   I have a tendency to over commit. Not only am I a people-pleaser, but I also get great satisfaction contributing […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is by Dr. David Sweetman, Executive Director, Infrastructure and Technology, at Michigan State University.  David is a MOR alum and consultant.  David may be reached at [email protected].]   It was my first full-time job out of college.  I worked as a systems administrator.  I enjoyed my job and adored working with my new […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Amanda Sarratore, IT Director, Academic IT Services at the University of Notre Dame. She is a MOR alum. Amanda may be reached at [email protected].]   I find joy in working with my partner areas to build relationships, and I am grateful for my position. I feel lucky that most days, […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Susan Foster, IT Business Manager at Bowdoin College. She is a current MOR program participant.  Susan may be reached at [email protected].]   In reflecting about coaching and mentoring recently, I walked through my career experience recollecting which experience was momentous. Was there one that made me realize I was in a […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Ron Kraemer.  He is currently retired.  Ron previously was Vice President for Information Technology and CIO at the University of Notre Dame. Ron may be reached at [email protected].]   A few months ago, I was doing some research concerning distinction in leadership. I scoured dozens of leadership websites, read a […]

[Today’s Tuesday Reading is from Eva Dale, Web Services Director for the College of Arts and Sciences at The Ohio State University.  She is a BTAA MOR alum.  Eva may be reached at [email protected].]   We human beings are funny creatures. In prehistoric days, if there was a scary shadow in the distance then it […]