Update from Sue

The election is now over, and it is alright to reflect upon what you might be experiencing. I enjoy the uniqueness of ASR and its employees, so it is understandable everyone might be going through different emotional experiences right now. Remember to focus on what needs to get done and think about how to accomplish those tasks. We, in ASR, have been through a lot this year and continue to stay focused on our mission. I am so proud of the work all of you are doing. I am sharing a piece of the MOR article I read earlier this week that resonated with me. I have always said that I enjoy the openness of staff and the curiosity that has enabled our unit to perform at its best to help with student success.

Respect and Appreciate Alternative Views

“Lastly, to help us all move forward, put a focus on respecting and appreciating views different from our own. As leaders we need to create an inclusive environment. Despite a divisive backdrop, we want to have our teams adopt openness as a norm. When people have such contrasting views it is helpful to be curious. Seek to understand. We do not need to agree with every view on the team, but we do need to create the physiological safety where people are free to share them. The future is going to need a heavy dose of innovation; we will not get there with closed mindsets. Practicing this openness today with questions and curiosity will help model the behavior we would like to see become the norm.”