Talking Stick - July/August 2008 - (Page 54)

Conversations all of this in a time when the economy is taking a hit and we are charged to be creative and innovative in how we address these challenges. As we face this challenge as a profession, it is important that we embrace our professions’ interdependence. I would offer that we utilize the resources we have across the globe to rise above the standard our constituents expect, that we seek out opportunities to initiate engaging thinktank conversations after the conferences are over, and that we intentionally draw upon the strengths of our housing colleagues as we think innovatively about the service we provide for our students and the direction we move our profession towards in the future. It will take all of us to be committed to this, however, because as we all know once we return to our home campuses, our day-to-day routine can easily take priority, so I would beg the question: What strategies have you found to be successful in maintaining these professional networks while attending to your day-to-day responsibilities? currently using such sites. If you are still uncomfortable with this technology, e-mail is the best way to go. And don’t forget to use that land-line collecting dust on your desk. It never hurts to pick up the phone and call sometimes. I try to schedule one day a month on my calendar to call and e-mail colleagues. Brown: Like anything else, it takes commitment and time. Professional relationships have to be maintained through communication. Simply connecting a couple of times a year, even through e-mail, is enough to keep the connection alive. I will go out on a limb here and say that social networking sites have become an invaluable tool for me to keep up with my professional colleagues. A year ago you would have never heard me say that. In the past I have been very much opposed to using social networking sites because of the potential for misuse. However, I changed my mind a few months ago and have found it is possible to have a professional profile that allows me to stay connected with colleagues as well as to meet new ones. In fact, I have been very surprised at the number of student affairs professionals Beth McCuskey: I think it’s all about balance – and we balance so many things in our work that this becomes one element of the bigger picture. In the practical sense, it’s everything from scheduling deadlines prior to or after traveling so that things don’t hit while I’m gone; designating staff to be “in charge” while I’m out of the office so that if anything major arises, we have it covered; and staying in touch while I’m out with my Blackberry. In some respects, it’s the renewal I need to be effective, and when I come back I’m typically tons more CONTINUES 64 http://www.mackeymitchell.com http://www.mackeymitchell.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - July/August 2008

Talking Stick - July/August 2008 Contents Online Now Vision Just In Your ACUHO-I Transitions Res Life Facilities Business Calendar When Politics Come to Your Town Support System Conversations First Takes Reporting Out New Members Snapshot

Talking Stick - July/August 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.