Always Out Front

My leadership journey began as an intelligence analyst and paratrooper in the U.S. Army. Why a paratrooper? What 17-year old from Roundup, Montana could turn down an extra $100 per month for hazardous pay?!

The motto of the U.S. Military Intelligence Corps, ALWAYS OUT FRONT, is reflective of the forward location required for gathering intelligence information. The key, flash, and sphinx symbolize the fundamental categories of intelligence: human, signal, and tactical. The regimental insignia pictured above was worn on our Class A uniforms.

Jumping Out of a Perfectly Good Airplane

One of the most profound leadership lessons I’ve experienced took place at Ft. Benning, Georgia while attending Airborne School. Airborne school is an intense 3-week infantry school. A typical day started with physical training including 30-40 minutes of intense calisthenics, guerilla/grass drills and a 3.2 to 4 mile formation run, followed by 7 hours of rigorous training. Check out this 5-minute video to get a glimpse of the training:

The goal of the first week, “ground week” (AKA hell week) is to eliminate the weakest performers, so those remaining have a high likelihood of graduating. If you fall out of formation while running (“falling out”), you are automatically eliminated from the school. There were lots of hills on the course, and we ran in combat boots.

Falling Out

At the end of the first week, I began to notice sharp pains in both of my shins. By the end of the second week, the pain had become severe. I successfully completed two jumps. My sergeant airborne noticed my limp, but I was hesitant to say anything because in military culture admitting pain is a sign of weakness, and I knew they would kick me out of the class. He was persistent, as he was worried about me. After describing the pain, he told me if I were to jump even one more time, I would be taking a risk of shattering my legs.

On the run to the drop zone for the third jump, the pain overcame me, and I fell out of formation. Automatic elimination. No one gets kicked out in week three…that’s what week one is for! I was devastated and felt ashamed that I wasn’t strong enough to keep going. I felt as though I’d let my sergeant airborne down, as well as my fellow soldiers. Worst of all, I would be up for world-wide assignment instead of getting assigned for Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

The Encounter

For two weeks, I waited for my new orders and recovered from two stress fractures in one leg, and one in the other. One day I was sitting quietly and sadly by myself in a hallway. A sergeant walked by and asked how I was doing. I said “fine.” I must have been pitiful. He didn’t for one second believe my response. He inquired about my situation, and I shared my story with him. He listened intently. He looked me in the eyes and said, “I can get you to Ft. Bragg, where you can complete your last three jumps and graduate there after your legs have healed.”

He asked me directly if I’d like for his assistance. Yes, Sergeant! I politely smiled and thanked him, thinking…yeah right. YOU have the power to change my military trajectory. Looking back, and as an aside, it reminds me of the behind-the-scenes magic that university classroom scheduling staff have over the campus. Who knew THEY were so powerful.

Leadership in Action

A few days later, I received my orders to Ft. Bragg. Apparently, I had crossed paths with one of the soldiers who worked in the administrative office responsible for issuing orders. What are the odds?! A one-time encounter with a stranger who ended up putting me back in the game. He provided me with a pathway to success. What a tremendous example of leadership in action! The soldier:

• practiced emotional intelligence – he made a decision to engage in contact; listened actively; asked questions, sought to gain understanding, and showed empathy;
• articulated a vision and his willingness to assist me toward the end goal;
• followed through in a timely manner; and
• demonstrated integrity – his words and actions aligned.    

The Happy Ending

Six months after arriving to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, I completed my last two jumps. The last one happened to be with a brigadier general. He and I were the only jumpers. He pinned my wings on me and gave me a general’s coin!

Twenty years later, while I still enjoy adventure and finding that perfect vantage point, I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. Yet, I remain humbled by this experience. Indeed, a small act of kindness helped shape my core characteristics: integrity, respect, discipline, and excellence.

Reflections

Where did your leadership journey begin? What moments have had the largest impact on you? Where ever you’re at right now, remember to always be out front – lead by example, have awareness of the people with whom you interact, and proactively find ways to serve others each day. Small gestures can make a huge difference. ALWAYS OUT FRONT.

Nicole Schultheis is an innovative executive in higher education hailed by institutions as “Collaborative…Forward-Thinking…a Thought Leader.” With more than 20 years of leadership experience at large research universities and the U.S. Army, and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, Schultheis is known for her leadership in student success, organizational effectiveness, information technology, and enrollment services. When Schultheis is not being a very busy and sought after administrator, she enjoys traveling, exercising, and experiencing nature.

Something STINKS!…Moving Beyond Who and Why

Expect the unexpected.

Last week, my husband and I were on our way home from a late night walk with the dog. It was about 10:00 p.m. and we were walking through our small town’s historic cemetery, as it is directly on our routine walking route. Lexi, the beagle, made good use of her 220+ million scent receptors and the hound howl was well underway. He and the dog made their way off the main pathway, into the cemetery around the tombstones. A few minutes later, they returned - ushering in with them an offensive and nauseating odor. The skunk took a brief ride on Lexi’s back. Thankfully, she was able to shake it off quickly. The odor…not so much. 

Two humans and one Beagle were left to deal with the situation at hand. Quick! Hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, dish washing soap, and tomato juice. Check. Let the 2-day cleansing process begin.

Organized chaos is the new norm.

As professionals, we are certain to encounter difficult situations. These might include:

•       pressure associated with accomplishing more with fewer resources;
•       dealing with difficult staffing situations;
•       working in an unhealthy work environment;
•       adverse media coverage;
•       change in leadership and/or a leadership void; and
•       situations that cross the line in the sand as it relates to your personal beliefs, values, and norms.

Often when faced with a challenging situation, people become distracted by details, caught up in being busy (vs. being productive), anguishing over the “why” it occurred, or worrying about who did it. This tends to occur when we lose sight of the big picture…what it is we are trying to accomplish. We lose sight of the outcomes we are trying to achieve and get bogged down in how we’re going to get there. We can become paralyzed, unfocused, and ineffective. We can feel stuck.

Strategies for Shaking the “Skunk” off Your Back

When you want to refocus your energy on what you are trying to achieve, consider the following strategies for moving forward with confidence and strength.

Enjoy the balcony view. Imagine your situation as though it’s a play and you are viewing it from a balcony. The balcony offers us a higher, more strategic vantage point. Do you see yourself? What are you doing? What are you not doing? Use the balcony view to stay focused on the big picture.

Be calm. Develop your emotional intelligence by observing yourself in action, actively listening and asking questions to seek understanding, elevating to a cognitive level so you are able to exercise choice, and selecting a personal strategy (e.g. create a different mindset, anticipate the situation and alter behavior, harness the emotions).

Practice Cybernetic Leadership (Birnbaum, 1988). When faced with a problem ask “what is within my power to do to solve this problem that will not create more serious problems moving ahead?” Focus on what can be done, as opposed to what you’re unable to do.

Start with the Facts. Circle back to objective information. What do the data say? Do you know or do you think you know something to be true? Check your assumptions. Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you, will give you honest and direct feedback, and can offer a perspective different from yours. Diversity of thought can be a powerful tool to have in your toolkit.

Lead from Where You Are. You don’t have to be the leader in order to be a leader. Regardless of where you are within an organizational structure, you can lead from where you are. Leadership is giving your best and bringing out the best in others. Leadership is about taking action!

The Easy Button

There is no easy button. There is no one-size-fits all strategy for dealing with challenging situations. Often times a multi-faceted strategy is required. Remember to stay focused upon what you are trying to achieve and the balcony offers the best view.

What’s an example of a time when you experienced a “skunk” on your back? What was the situation? How did you respond? What did you learn?

References

Birnbaum, R. (1988). How colleges work. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Stuck On An Escalator - Take Action . (2012, January 1). . Retrieved August 21, 2017, from <www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrSUe_m19FY>

Nicole Schultheis is an innovative executive in higher education hailed by institutions as “Collaborative…Forward-Thinking…a Thought Leader.” With more than 20 years of leadership experience at large research universities and the U.S. Army, and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, Schultheis is known for her leadership in student success, organizational effectiveness, information technology, and enrollment services. When Schultheis is not being a very busy and sought after administrator, she enjoys traveling, exercising, and experiencing nature.

Establishing Direction and Sustaining Positivity

Where are you and where would you like to be?

Everyone has a story. We all encounter difficult situations. Whether it's losing a job, dealing with a toxic environment, being declined a promotion, or job burnout...whatever the situation, we get to choose how we respond. Personal leadership is the ability to lead yourself by taking responsibility for defining a direction for all aspects of your life and moving in that direction with clarity and consistency. How does one find ways to learn and grow, whilst building up others? 

Take Charge! Leadership in Action.

• Focus upon what is important in life: make health and wellness, family, and friends a priority. 
• Have a toolkit for dealing with toxic people: https://goo.gl/ni9b9i.
• When we're too comfortable in a job, we can lose our edge, our ability to push ourselves and challenge ourselves in a meaningful way. Sometimes, it takes something extreme to occur in order to to force us outside of our comfort zones. Use these moments as catalysts for staying agile, learning new things, rebranding oneself, and adapting to change.
• Build your own resiliency by serving others. When you serve others with grace, love, and humility, you bolster your own strength, focus, and wellness: https://goo.gl/EeFQan.
• To clear the noise in your mind, listen intently to each sound around you. Be in the moment: https://goo.gl/voQhcP.
• Be thankful for what we have. Each day is a gift! How will you use your gift today? How may you be of service to others today?
• When you go through a crisis, it becomes clear who your true friends are. Consistently and persistently devote time to building and maintaining relationships.
• Even when you feel downtrodden, others still see your strength and beauty, and rely upon it. Shine for them!

Lead Yourself.

What do you need to focus upon improving? Consider selecting one or two ideas to explore further, reflect upon, or practice. Please feel free to share your ideas, an aha moment, and updates. 

Nicole Schultheis is an innovative executive in higher education hailed by institutions as “Collaborative…Forward-Thinking…a Thought Leader.” With more than 20 years of leadership experience at large research universities and the U.S. Army, and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University, Schultheis is known for her leadership in student success, organizational effectiveness, information technology, and enrollment services. When Schultheis is not being a very busy and sought after administrator, she enjoys traveling, exercising, and experiencing nature.