SEAHO Report - Summer 2019 - 12

SEAHO Feature Articles
me that people want to help because they care, so let them. Long story short, be kind enough to offer the help
where it's needed and be willing to receive the help when it's offered.
* Give a (genuine) compliment to someone. Compliments make people feel noticed, they are little gifts of love
that aren't asked for but they are powerful gifts for the giver and receiver of them. Also, it's important to note,
if you are the receiver of said compliment please receive it graciously, perhaps even with a smile (see benefits
of smiling in bullet 1).
* Be present. In every situation. Allow yourself to fully enjoy time with others be it personal or professional.
Actively be engaged. Lean in. Make appropriate eye contact, give all the positive cues that show you are there
and with them. Be mindful and appreciate the time spent in community with others.
* Support someone in any way you can. Pretty self-explanatory, when you can as often as you can, support
others in your words and actions.
As you can imagine, this list could seemingly go on and on because there are relatively easy ways to be a
positive force in someone else's life. Even when that thought is the furthest thing from your mind. Fighting the
good fight and doing good for others inevitably makes you feel better.
Another way to positively influence the lives of others is through actively encouraging them. When in doubt,
be an encourager.
"When you encourage others, you boost their self-esteem, enhance their self-confidence, make them work
harder, lift their spirits and make them successful in their endeavors. Encouragement goes straight to the heart
and is always available.
Be an encourager. Always" Roy Bennett.
If encouraging others does not come naturally to you, set a goal and work on it. Those around you, personally
or professionally, will thank you for it. Being told you are appreciated is one of the simplest yet most incredible
things a person can hear. Strive to find ways daily to spread love and joy to others.
Nugget of Wisdom...Your legacy is not shaped at the end of the road but rather the moments shared, decisions
made, actions taken and even the mistakes overcome through the many phases of your career.
One of the biggest mistakes I have seen professionals, especially those in supervisory roles make, is not taking
care of their staff team. OK, maybe it's not that they aren't taking care of their staff but that they are not taking
the time to create a relationship with their team or get to know people on an individual basis, which tends to
cause other issues to arise. The art and science of our work is in the relationships. As a supervisor, you get
things accomplished through other people because try as you may, you seemingly cannot play every position
on the court. So, do yourself a favor and take care of your people. Try your best not to overcomplicate this
very simple task. There are truly some basic things we can all do, for example, work to create a positive work
environment where staff (paraprofessional up to professional) live out the tenets of Servant Leadership, show
gratitude and appreciation to others, practice humility and promote healthy conflict management and not
passive-aggressive avoidance. The essence of true team building and following the stages of team development
are often not done because as professionals we don't make the time for it. Developing and taking time to orient
and build a team goes a long way into learning what it means to take care of your people individually. The
continued legacy of not taking care of your team or ineffective leadership is a hard pill to swallow. Challenge
yourself to consistently check in with your folks to make sure you are providing them with the resources
and tools to do their work and make sure you are supervising them effectively. If you receive an unfavorable
reaction ask what you can do better, fight the urge to be defensive. We are only as strong as our weakest
professional skillset and it will always remain weak unless you work at it and strengthen it.
SEAHO Report Summer 2019

SEAHO Report - Summer 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Summer 2019