The Dean's List #1

How do you make sure nothing falls through the cracks?

I mean, this is really the thing: they do. What I do is perseverate about the fact that they might, and overthink it, and worry about it. But things do, and people are pretty forgiving. I know how to write a pretty good apologetic email, saying, ‘I lost track of this ...’

But the paper calendar is really my thing. I continue to have that.

I'm doing [some professional development] and they asked what would be a good time for us to meet again--this big group. I didn't respond immediately. Maybe I responded the day after, but it felt like a really long time in my head. And when I responded, he wrote back and said, “Thank you for the really prompt response.” I thought, you know, that's always who I am. I'm the person who thinks I [messed] everything up, and I'm a week ahead of everybody else. I think people like that probably make really good deans, but it's also really hard because you're always thinking something's going to happen, that you’re not the best at it, you know?

What’s the best process or system you’ve set up for yourself or your department/office?

This is gonna sound kind of dopey: I think probably the best overall process isn't a specific one, but is to kind of read the room and base the system on them, on the individuals. What’s the best process with them, you know? Some people don’t really need to meet a lot, and they’ll cc me on the things they want me to know about. And some people really want to communicate about a lot of stuff--and even though that’s kind of exhausting for me, I’m happy to do it.

I mean, when I realized I couldn't have one system, what I really learned is, people just communicate better if you kind of do it around them. And I realized I could be more flexible. Even though that requires a certain kind of resilience on my part, it's actually easier than trying to make everything fit into that little box, you know?

When you have too much going on, do you have something you say to get yourself back on track? A mantra?

What really has to happen now?

I try to get that stuff out of my head and onto paper, because in my head, it's 100 times worse, and I can't prioritize. So if I write it down, then I’ll realize, oh yeah, this thing doesn't ever need to happen, really. It’s something I’ve tortured myself with, but if I never did it, it wouldn’t matter.

Book, podcast, content recommendations?

Before it was popular, I remember showing people some Brenee Brown videos. Anything that’s about telling the truth and being vulnerable. Because if you think of the job, it’s easy to go to the opposite of that. In those really difficult conversations you’re having … If I can sort of relax my body and try to just be present, it makes the whole thing easier for everybody.

https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=en