As Josh referenced in the previous “Minute with the Board,” the beginning of the year is often filled with educational programs and industry conferences for our undergraduate members. As those programs conclude, I hope you are feeling a sense of accomplishment with the newly formed friendships and competencies that often makes these experiences worthwhile.
In the coming weeks and months, you will likely perform after-action reviews with your colleagues. The AFA Board did the same when we recently reviewed your AFAAM feedback during our January board meeting – and that feedback will generate an even stronger Annual Meeting experience during our time together in Las Vegas!
As you are reviewing results with your immediate team, you may find yourself wanting to benchmark with others. So, in the spirit of ‘creating community’ (one of AFA’s four strategic pillars), I would encourage you to discuss your programs with professionals outside your current campus or headquarters. The exchange doesn’t need to be formal. In fact, unstructured conversations might serve you better. If your experience is anything like mine, you will gain immense value from the words spoken in the seams.
Hopefully this next comment isn’t blasphemous, but I’d also suggest that we go outside of fraternity/sorority life and higher education when soliciting feedback. Building professional communities that are completely detached from our work can be one of the most impactful ways to invite creativity and demonstrate relevance. If you are only speaking with colleagues or other professionals in your own industry, then you will eventually find yourself in the doldrums of yet another echo chamber.
I’ll share one personal example:
This year, my current employer, Delta Sigma Phi, launched a three-day “Career Accelerator” program. Our educational sessions had nothing to do with undergraduate chapter leadership, in fact, 15% of our participants were alumni. Instead, we discussed topics like “managing up”, “resiliency at work”, and the “impact of artificial intelligence”.
This program was a result of conversations with multiple stakeholder groups, but the idea gained traction when we reached out to professionals in human resources, talent development, and performance management – people who have never spent a day working in higher education. Yes, it was fraternity/sorority life professionals who identified the market opportunity, but it was another community of subject matter experts who shaped our content.
In short, thank you for all the coordinating, traveling, and facilitating that you’ve completed to start the year. When you’re ready, jump into a reflective conversation with one of your many communities. Naturally, one of AFA’s 1,280 members is a good place to start. Reach out today—start a conversation with one of our community collectives, regional directors, connect with fellow First 90 Days participants, or revisit the Annual meeting schedule and reach out to a presenter that made you challenge your own practice. You have support beyond your immediate staff, and you’d be surprised how many of your fellow AFA members would like to connect and share their insights with you.
