Nothing More Than a Skinned Knee
Recently I had the chance to hear our ACUHO-I President, Jill Eckardt, speak to the attendees at the Association of Intermountain Housing Officers (AIMHO) annual conference. She was there to be recognized with the highest AIMHO honor – the AIMHO Sage award. As part of her Sage address, she shared her top 10 list for housing professionals. Her number one word of sagely advice was in regards to taking risks and being okay with making mistakes. “Take risks and continue making bigger and better mistakes” she went on to add. During this discussion I couldn’t help but shake a vision from my head.
Picture, if you will, a young child who has been christened with their very first bicycle sans training wheels. Are they scared to get on it at first? Most likely.
Are they smiling from ear to ear in anticipation for the chance to ride a big kid bike? Yes.
Is there a good chance that they will fall off a time or two in the ever challenging attempt to master the art of the bicycle? You better believe it.
If this was your child would you limit them this experience or would you nudge them forward? Chances are, each of us would give them their helmet (and most likely padding for their knees, elbows, wrists, ribs and spleen) and push them along their merry little way. We would do this knowing, all to well, that they most likely will fail at first. Even though they will most likely fall off a time or two, can you envision them sharing their story of “riding” that bike with their friends and showing off the battle wounds?
Now, picture yourself as the leader of a staff, group or a department. It’s time to push forward and step out and take a risk. Can you picture this group in the same way you picture that young child getting ready to tackle the art of bicycling? I bet you can. Your job as their leader is much like that of the parent with the child. You need to give them the tools and resources they need to give it a go, but you also need to give them an environment that is conducive for taking that risk. Your support of their risk taking comes in the form of empowering them with the freedom to fail. Much like it would be easier to not purchase a bicycle all together, it is very easy to avoid taking risks – especially in these uncertain economic and political times. But then where do we find ourselves: sheltered, stagnant and stunted. The freedom to fail, and always seeking to make bigger and better mistakes, is what pushes us forward. An environment that supports such risk taking is what pushes our profession forward. Ultimately, it is a progressive profession that continues to enrich the experience of the students we serve.
So I challenge you, much like Jill Eckardt challenged everyone at AIMHO. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let the fear of failure keep you, or those around you, from experiencing that bigger and better mistake. Don’t stunt your own growth, or the progress of your department, out of a concern for failing. Chances are you will only walk away with a scraped knee, and a wealth of stories to share.
Tags: Risk