How my doctorate led to etiquette and now a blog newsletter.
My terminal degree is in Educational Leadership. This meant years and years of reading research studies on leadership - typically leadership in higher education. I was radiology faculty when I started the degree and was a dean of students when I graduated with the doctorate of education (Ed.D.)- five years later. Picking up a specialist in education (Ed.S.) in community college administration along the way. All to say, I’ve read a lot about leadership! My next journey was business etiquette trainer licensure through the Emily Post Institute. This added a significant layer of understanding the expected behavior of leaders.
The leadership framework that I adopted for myself was The Leadership Challenge. I did not seek out this framework on my own. It wasn’t even my idea to adopt a leadership framework. The thought had never even occurred to me. Up until this point, I had always been an engaging faculty member and followed my clinical handbook policies - those had been my frameworks for professionalism. Then I was interviewed by Dr. Sandra Massey, chancellor, for the dean of students position. She shared her chosen leadership framework with me and gave me a copy of the book. I was blown away by her professionalism and class. This set me on the path to finding my own framework. This was the first of many wonderful leadership behaviors that I was blessed to witness from her during my time in that position.
This experience came during a time when I was narrowing the research topic for my dissertation. This requires exhaustive hours of reading research studies and other published dissertations. I began looking at dissertations that had used a structured framework assessment. Though I read many, I found ONE. The one. The one that I adopted as my personal leadership framework. The one that I used for my own research methodology. The one I defended before graduation. The one that set the foundation for all the leadership courses and programs I’ve built. Most importantly, it is the one that is based on daily behaviors.
Yes, I said it. Daily Behaviors! The Leadership Challenge framework is based on the consistent daily behaviors of great leaders. It isn’t based on style, theory, personality, color, or inner spirit animal. It is focused on how you behave each day and how you treat the people around you. I used to begin many of my leadership presentations with a slide that said “Leadership is People Work”. It’s the truth. Ask any leader and they’ll tell you that the majority of the position is spent interacting with people. More time building and repairing relationships than the technical aspects of the job. Those technical aspects often come easier than the people work. Interesting once you realize that the “soft skills” are often the hardest.
Daily behaviors of consideration, respect, and honesty are the pillars of business etiquette. It became so obvious to me once I saw the significant overlap. Yes, most people often think of etiquette as the stuffiness of formal events and worrying about which fork to use. Those are only a small portion of every day business etiquette. The focus on daily behaviors in role modeling, communication, and showing appreciation are my favorite things to teach. I want everyone to be equipped with skills that can be started immediately - with the next interaction you have.
The world of leadership style and theory can be daunting for many. The assessments can provide only a sliver of insight and faking it will only get you so far. Whether you are starting on your leadership journey or have been rocking and rolling for a while - sharpening your daily behaviors and an understanding of what actions you can take today to strengthen relationships is the definition of success for any leader.
Truth be told, I have several degrees and careers floating through the “cloud”. Writings, notes, ramblings, and quotes all ready to be shared in hopes they will enrich your daily behaviors.
Bye Now.
