Build a Community Successful managers at Lehigh strive to build a community where individuals feel valued, connected, and motivated to perform at their best. | - Are open and accessible to their staff
- Encourage open discussion and debate
- Take the time to get to know their staff, find out what motivates and interests them, and identify their strengths and areas for improvement
- Respect, appreciate, and encourage diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and opinions
- Solicit feedback from staff members and act on that feedback when appropriate
- Demonstrate genuine care and concern for staff members and colleagues
- Celebrate milestones and achievements
- Create opportunities for people to come together to learn or build relationships
- Involve staff members in resolving problems by defining the direction to take and determining alternatives to achieve solutions
- Encourage involvement and collaboration with other work groups when appropriate
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Set a Strategic Vision Successful managers at Lehigh develop and communicate a vision that meets the needs of the university within their area of responsibility. | - Determine what is needed to align their area of responsibility with broader institutional goals and strategy
- Communicate a clear and understandable vision to staff members
- Translate the strategic vision of the university into operational goals the staff can understand and act upon
- Set short and long term goals that enable the department to successfully accomplish its role within the university
- Motivate and inspire staff members to achieve their goals, providing support and resources as necessary and appropriate
- Help staff members understand how individual and departmental goals link to the goals of the institution
- Participate in university-wide initiatives that promote the needs of the university, not just the needs of their own department
- Step back from the tactical details and everyday issues to review situations from a broader perspective
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Manage and Facilitate Change Successful managers at Lehigh understand and embrace change at the university and help staff understand, adjust, and adapt to those changes. | - Help staff members understand the need for change by openly discussing the short term and long term implications for the department and the University
- Establish structures and processes to plan and manage the orderly implementation of change
- Encourage staff to develop and contribute ideas and new approaches to support and facilitate change
- Identify any concerns regarding change or resistance, and help staff members address them
- Facilitate change by acting as a role model throughout the change process
- Anticipate questions and concerns and proactively address them to lessen anxiety
- Understand Lehigh’s traditions and history and build upon them to effect change, without being bound by past practices or events
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Coach Staff for Excellent Performance Successful managers at Lehigh set clear work expectations for staff and coach staff members to ensure excellent performance. | - Set and discuss expectations with a focus on results and excellence in work process and outcomes
- Ensure expectations are clear at the onset of any work year, project, or new assignment
- Hold self accountable for ensuring staff accomplishes goals and responsibilities
- Share credit with staff for successful accomplishments and accept responsibility for failures
- Encourage people to stretch their knowledge and skills and move beyond their personal comfort zones
- Tailor coaching to individual needs and learning styles
- Collaborate with staff to improve department and functional processes and outcomes
- Empower staff members to make decisions by delegating to them responsibilities and decision making authority
- Encourage staff to work outside department silos
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Foster a Learning Environment Successful managers at Lehigh encourage continuous learning, prioritize staff development, and enable each staff member to develop in his/ her current role and future career at Lehigh. | - Support staff’s learning and development in day-to-day activities and processes, as well as through formalized training, course work, or seminars
- Set challenging goals and encourage staff to pursue stretch opportunities
- Offer constructive feedback to staff members to assist them in achieving their development goals
- Evaluate staff members’ strengths and weaknesses and assist them in creating development plans to maintain strengths and enhance opportunities for improvement
- Provide staff members with the time, resources, and opportunities to focus on development activities (e.g., training classes, on-the-job learning, committee participation)
- Mentor staff members in and outside of their department
- Focus on cultivating and building a strong pipeline of future University leaders by identifying leadership potential among staff and helping them grow
- Seek feedback on own performance and search for opportunities to enhance personal development
- Learn about new technologies, tools, and systems and apply them actively in own work where appropriate
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Communicate to Ensure Effectiveness Successful managers at Lehigh understand different communication needs and styles and tailor their communications to maximize the effectiveness of their staff. | - Communicate with staff regularly, on both an informal and formal basis
- Readily share information with staff in a timely manner using the most appropriate method and in a clear, understandable style
- Encourage open dialogue with staff and colleagues
- Are appropriately open and forthright in their own communications, while respecting confidentiality
- Enhance staff’s understanding of the big picture by illustrating important linkages to their work situation
- Understand the different communication needs and styles of staff members and adjust communication as needed
- Provide the appropriate level of detail by considering the audience, the situation, and the purpose
- Listen carefully to ensure understanding and ask questions to ensure accurate understanding
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