Your leadership Trajectory Deans Institute April 15, 2019 Dr. Jennifer Vega La Serna, Vice President Academic Services, College of the Sequoias; Region 5 representative CCCCIO Dr. Kathie Welch, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President Instruction, Cabrillo College; Secretary CCCCIO Kelly Fowler, Assistant Superintendent/Vice President Instruction, Merced College; President CCCCIO

What is your Leadership Path What has your path been leading to being a dean? What is your career goal? What is your timeline? What can you do professionally to make this goal a reality?

What do you want to get out of the deans institute? What is your goal for the institute? Why are you here? What do you hope to gain? How can you get there?

Goal Setting How do you set your vision or goal? How do you get started on the pathway?

Opportunities to take advantage of … What opportunities are available? Making connections… Finding mentors…

Career Paths Respect career paths, but look for other bridges…. Academics versus student services Dean’s role out of your area of expertise Temporary or acting roles Choosing the right committees and task forces Note: President-track leaders rotate through management level assignments in different functional areas such as academic affairs, student services, development, admissions, technology and so on (reference: Who gets promoted, who doesn’t and why: Don Asher)

Career Paths can vary It is easier to go from large to small, in other words… It’s easier to move from Big and Famous to Small and Striving than the other way around It is easier to move from a high salary area to a low-salary areas, in other words.. It’s easier to move from the city to the country than the other way around.

Perception vs. reality Perception IS reality Especially in a organizational setting so make sure that your perception is promotable. Marketing yourself No one will do it for you! Volunteer and shine On-campus committees Off-campus programs Outreach Statewide opportunities

Building your reputation Keep a brag sheet and an internal resume going at all times, password protected. Get the good work out! Find reasons to let others know when you or your group has a win Praise is a Trojan horse for exposure; no one complains about being copied in on a praise email Share credit if you are in charge, but differentiate yourself if your on a team (but be careful) Look the part (this is non-negotiable). Tough truth: if you do not look right, you’re not promotable not matter how good your work is. Business writing skills are highly valued Presentations (internal or external) are big opportunities for exposure Sometimes silence is a virtue (especially in faculty meetings)

Manage your review process Annual reviews are the history of your performance so manage the process! Before the annual review begins, provide your supervisor with the entire content of the review Dust off your brag sheet, and leave no good deed unreported. If you have to admit weakness, tell how your are improving on that issue. Learn how to spin the story.

Reach across boundaries Don’t be a hero just in your own department – need a bigger playing field Get the word out: other departments, upstairs, nationally Cross boundary assignments Teams or task forces Orientation, convocation, commencement Search committees Admissions trips or fairs New faculty/staff orientation Conferences

Respect hierarchy Do not go over your supervisor’s head without permission, ever… (how do you do this gracefully) Ask your boss for permission

Top Ten concepts Timing is more important than talent You have to get noticed Lifelong learning is required All business is sales You need an ascension plan Always make your boss look good Suction, or, why it pays to stand next to talent Develop guardian angels and benefactors Move! Stop being a regionalist! Find the right mix of prepared and lucky

What’s next What are your next steps? What is your personal trajectory plan? How can you institute the ten keys concepts?