The Importance of Professional Development

In the Division of Student Services we understand that professional development is not just a benefit-it's a necessity. 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: Education

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