Change is constant. Our worlds are constantly shifting and so are we… but that doesn’t make change any easier.
Between COVID’s impact on our work environments (shifting from in-person to remote work), student enrollment declines (and therefore budget deficits), legislative proposals and codification of major political issues, restructures and reprioritization within organizations, and closures of institutions, it is a promising and challenging time to be an educator or education-adjacent staff member. How do you stabilize when the foundation of your career continues to shake without warning?
There aren’t easy ways to navigate organizational change. However, there are several tips you can utilize to continue to remain rock steady in your role.
Know Your Integrity, Values, and Core of Your Practice
How do you hope to practice as an educator? Who do you serve? Regardless of where you work, how do you hope to show up in relational practice, and how do your identities help you navigate your institution(s)?
Find Mentors and Circles of Support
Mentorship is multidirectional and can help provide perspective as you navigate political landscapes. Mentors can share their own experiences, reflect your thoughts back, help you develop tools, and also help connect you with other professionals who can be supportive. Can you connect with your colleagues and be strategic about what is happening? Discuss ways to support one another, if possible.
Know and Use Your Privilege
Certain people with privileged identities might be able to find more comfort/stability within changing organizations. Build a coalition and use your power for good. Strategize what information is necessary to help you make the best decisions for yourself, your colleagues, and community. Speaking to power is a key tactic in navigating institutional change.
Prioritize
What are the most important aspects of your life? Work is 40–50 hours for most people—and we often have other important priorities in our lives. What happens when work isn’t the center of your life? Can you recognize the ways that work can only be so important? Shifting your energy to understanding what you can and cannot control might help you reprioritize and sustain yourself in unclear situations.
Be Ready for Change
Organizations are always changing. I worked at an institution that navigated three major shifts within two years. It was dizzying. At one point, I reviewed my job description, functional areas, and the potential constants in my work: budget management, policy, and supporting students/staff. Keeping this in perspective helped me remember that even in change, my work was still important and needed within the organization.
Be Clear and Transparent (As Much as You Can)
If you supervise students or staff, attempt to be as transparent as you can to help employees feel like they understand the organizational changes and the rationale behind them. Sometimes you aren’t able to share all of the information you might want, but you can let staff know that. Make some allies in human resources who can also help you discern what you can and cannot share.
Organizational change is not easy. It can be swift, shocking, and disorienting. It can also be grounding and clarifying in terms of purpose. Change isn’t always bad—in fact, it can help us become better professionals in the years to come.
In solidarity,
hc lou (she/her/hers)
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