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Discovering Your Leadership Potential

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Brad BarnettJames Madison University

Nathan R. Basford Jr.Florida State University

Michael J. BennettSt Petersburg College

St Petersburg College

32,500 students, 9 campuses

Established 1927, Florida’s First Community College, first to offer 4 year degrees (25%)

70% Independent, 30% Dependent70% Independent, 30% Dependent Financial Aid Applicants – 35,100

Financial Aid Recipients – 22,041

% of Enrolled Students Receive Aid - 67%

Disbursed – 153 million dollars (Stafford 92)

52 full-time employees

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Four Objectives

Examine the meaning of leadership

To learn how to develop leadership skills and use various leadership styles within your office and professional organizationprofessional organization

Examine how to be a “change agent” on your campus and in professional associations

To encourage you to Volunteer for leadership roles!

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What is a Leader?

Someone with a vision and passion.

L d h th bilit t i fl Leaders have the ability to influence and motivate others to do their best to accomplish any task, goal or project.

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Difference between a “Leader” and a “Manager”

Leader

Has Vision, thinks globally

Inspires co orkers

Manager

Administers

Relies on control Inspires co-workers

Empowers people

Questions established procedures

test

Uses established policies

Is problem solver

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Leadership Traits

Personal Responsibility

Clarity of Thought

Integrity of Action – Do Goodg y

Foundation for the Future

Pay the Price

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What Makes Us “Special”

Leadership Qualities

Passionate Curiosity

Battle Hardened Confidence

Team Smarts Team Smarts

A Simple Mind Set

Fearlessness

The Corner Office, Adam Bryant

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James Madison University

Approximately 19,000 students, of which 17,500 are undergraduates

Primarily 18-21 year olds who graduate high school and enroll full-time in college

Male = 39% & Females = 61% Male = 39% & Females = 61%

In-state = 71% & Out-of-state = 29%

Minority students = 13%

22 full-time employees

1 part-time employees

6 peer counselors

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Advantages of Leadership

Opportunity to help others learn and grow

Creative Expression

Friendship and Affiliation (social aspects Friendship and Affiliation (social aspects extremely rewarding)

Power (influencing, persuading and controlling others) and Responsibility

Prestige and Status

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Some Disadvantages

Constant strain and stress to produce

Need to always be at your best

Having direct responsibility/accountability for Having direct responsibility/accountability for your organization/area’s actions

In Professional Associations – challenge of juggling the responsibilities of your “real” with your volunteer leadership responsibility

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Responsibilities of Leadership - BB

Vision – Future oriented, focus on change, progress, and growth

Communicate – Articulate your vision

Motivate/Influence – Treat others withMotivate/Influence Treat others with dignity/respect. Find out what motivates those you lead and be open to using different motivational methods for different individuals

Accept Responsibility for your own actions and those of your group

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Leadership Styles

Participative -With the participative style you try to provide an appropriate background on the decision to be made, and include as many people in the decision making process in order to make the most informed decisions and foster teamwork and ownership. p

Servant Leadership - You, the leader, views themselves as a “steward” of your association’s resources and the leader serves and helps others while staying focused on achieving results in line with the association’s values and integrity.

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Being a “Change Agent”

Persuasion

Negotiation

Consensus Consensus

Involvement

Know your Supervisor

“Change Agent” in your Profession

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Promoting Your Office/Yourself

People who do not work in financial do not understand what we do or the daily pressures of working in this profession

This is why there is closeness among us at y gfinancial aid conferences/meetings

We need to demystify financial aid whenever we can to as many people as we can

Mike shares insight

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Reality...

There are two financial aid offices on campus...

The one where you work, and the one everybody else sees you working in.

And they aren’t the same!

Perception IS Reality!

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Three Steps To Ensure Success

Manage the President and Superiors (Administration).

F di t l ti hi ith th ffi Form direct relationships with other offices.

Develop a “marketing” strategy that includes outreach.

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Don’t Forget the Small Things

Send follow-up “Thank You” notes when and where appropriate.

Don’t be afraid to communicate your successes, no matter how small.

Notify or copy the administrative person in the president’s office on financial aid impact items.

Mike shares insight

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Manage the Administration

Invite them to meetings.

Ask them to speak at FAO-sponsored events.

Provide them periodic reports with information relevant to them

Zero-in on initiatives important to them

Join committees on campus. 18

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Mentoring – Find One!

Being a mentor is like being a Personal Trainerat an athletic club. We play the role of trainer giving the mentee access to the equipment (contacts, friends, presentations, our expertise) … after that, our job is to be demanding. We need to , j gmake sure our mentees are exerting themselves. We need to make the time to praise them when they deserve it and celebrate with them. We also need to tell them honestly when they have it in them to work harder …

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Our Role

Most important, we need to let them know how to judge for themselves how they’re coming along. Our job is to teach colleagues how to see their minds growing in the same way as they can see their muscles grow in an athletic club when they look in the mirror.”

Paraphrased from The Last Lecture

Randy Pausch

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Florida State University

40,838 students Main Campus

4 Campuses Financial Aid Applicants – 62,581

Financial Aid Recipients 33454 Financial Aid Recipients – 33454

53% of Enrolled Students Receive Aid

$315,253,516.82 Total Funds Disbursed – (This includes all types of aid)

52 full-time employees

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The Current Financial Aid Leadership Landscape Nathan Basford

In both regions/states:

ballots for leadership roles with candidates running unopposed

less diversity and sector representation.

Void in many states/regions:

developing and maintaining of new leaders/volunteers

Staff not permitted to participate in committee/leadership roles by their boss

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Roadmap to Involvement

How Do I Get Involved?

Determine your areas of interest and expertise; and examine the organization of the associations:

State

Regional

National

See where you might best contribute.

Contact your State Association President and other officers to express

your interest and commitment.

Ask how you can help!

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Roadmap to Involvement

How Do I Get Involved? If you don't have time for a very involved

assignment:

volunteer for small projects:

i ti t f i t ti d k iti assisting at a conference registration desk, writing an article for the State or Regional Newsletter

Present or Moderate a Conference Presentation.

These efforts are very much appreciated!

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How to Avoid Road Blocks

Talk to the person in the position you are considering.

Understand your responsibilities:1. the time commitment involved

2. any expenses to you or your institution before you accept a volunteer positionaccept a volunteer position.

Secure your employer's approval and your family's support. Make sure both understand the time commitment involved.

Periodically update your employer on your activities within the association.

Mike shares insight.

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How to Avoid Road Blocks

Incorporate meeting dates in your schedule early and plan to attend all of them.

Be dependable; follow through completely and promptly with all committee tasks.

Be Accessible: encourage members to call or email you with their concerns or ideas.

If you're not selected at first, continue to direct your energy towards positive action and keep trying; sometimes the current focus of activities doesn't align with your skill set, but that changes over time.

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Nathan BasfordRepeat Offender

FASFAA – State Association President

President-elect

VP of Training

Regional Representative

Conference Chair

FASFAA President

Membership Chair

Coordinator of Regional Activities

Presenter & Moderator

SASFAA – Regional Association Executive Board Member

Annual Conference Committee Member

Presenter & Moderator

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Nathan Basford

NASFAA – National Association

Other

Volunteer of the Year Finalist (Tallahassee)

Volunteer for Big Bend Cares (AIDS O t h)

FASFAA President

(AIDS Outreach)

Sunday School Teacher (Grades 3, 4, & 5)

Presenter at Financial Aid Nights

College Goal Sunday Outreach

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Brad Barnett VASFAA – State Association

Past President

Representative-at-Large

Executive Board Member

By-Laws Committee Chair

New Century President Council Chair

Member of Various Committees

SASFAA 2011-12 President

SCHEV Team Member

Presenter at Numerous Conferences

SASFAA – Regional Association 2011-12 President

Secretary

Executive Board Member

Conference Chair

Presenter at Numerous Conferences

Summer NAOW Curriculum Coordinator

Summer NAOW Instructor

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Brad Barnett NASFAA – National Association

Annual Conference Chair

Presenter at Numerous Conferences

Year Round Pell Webinar Presenter

Board Member (as SASFAA President)

Local Arrangements Volunteer

Annual Conference Committee Member

SASFAA 2011-12 President

Other Accredited Financial Counselor

Member of Various JMU Committees

High School Guidance Counselor Workshop Coordinator & Presenter

Speaker at Numerous Conferences

Personal Financial Education Advisory Board Member

Interviewed By Various Television, Print, and Web Media Outlets

Department of Education Regulatory & Legislative Update Non-Federal Trainer

Teach 3 Credit Hour Personal Finance Course30

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Michael Bennett

President - New Jersey Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators –1993-1994

Board of Directors (1996-2003)

Association Governance, Chair (1993-1994)

Constitution and Bylaws Committee (1998)

The College Board:• 1995-1997 - CSS National Council

Community College Advisory Board(1998)

Early Awareness Committee, Chair (1993)

Nominations and Elections Committee, Chair (1995)

Training (1986, 1988, 1991)

Representative-at-Large (1987)

Conference Committee, Chair (1986, 1988)

Conference Presenter (1981-1999, 2003, 2004)

Community College Advisory Board• 1998-2001 - Middle States Regional Council• 1994-2001 & 2003-2006 - Power-FAIDS

Advisory Board• Power-FAIDS Conference Presenter • 1986-1987 - MICRO-FAIDS National

Conference, Chair• Institute of Financial Aid 1980College Goal Sunday – 2006, 2007• Wrote two Lumina Foundation Grants and

was awarded a total of $119,250• Designed College Goal Sunday web site• Statewide Coordinator.

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Michael Bennett National Chair - (NASFAA) – 2007-2008

Board of Directors (1997-2001, 2005 –2010)

Commission Director (2003) Conference Presenter (1999, 2003) Awards Committee (2005, 2010) Association Governance Committee

(2003, 2006, 2007, 2008) Best Practices Task Force (2002, 2003)

El t i I iti ti C itt

President EASFAA 1999-2000

EASFAA Council (1993-1995); 1996-2001)

Conference Committee (2003, 2004)

Non-Traditional Concerns Chair (1994-1995)

Electronic Services Committee (1996-1997)

Designed EASFAA Website (1996)

Conference Presenter (1988, 1992, 2000, 2003

Electronic Initiatives Committee (1996,2003

Finance & Audit Committee 2008-2009 Journal of Financial Aid Editorial Board

(2003) Research Committee (2003) Strategic Long Range Plan (2000) Student Aid Transcript Editorial Board

(2003) Created and maintained a bi-weekly

National Chair Blog

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A Road Map for Professional Involvement

I understand my current position

I am proficient in my current job

I attend state, regional and national conferences. I participate in the sessions and enjoy the social and meal functions

I seek permission to volunteer as a committee member, moderator, and when the conference is in my locale, I help with all the many conference duties and activities

I offer my expertise by submitting session proposals (Hint: Team up with a seasoned professional – it makes the first time easier)

I will locate and fill a professional niche within my state

All roads lead where you want them to go – will you follow or lead? State, Regional, National – it’s up to you!

Moderator Committee member Trainer Presenter Committee chair Author Member Participant Officer

My personal goals include: Personal: Office: Professional: