Hyatt~Fennell Education Services

One Essential Career Lesson from Die Hard It’s an annual debate: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Ink has been spilt, countless blogs have been written, and heated discussions held around the water cooler. (https://bit.ly/3Viv0O3) “It’s obviously a Christmas movie, you have only to see Bruce Willis’ Santa hat to understand that,” some argue. “Just because a movie takes place in late December, doesn’t make it a Christmas movie, with the themes and trappings we expect in a true Christmas flick,” comes the retort. Here’s the career lesson about defying categories: we’re still talking about Die Hard, so clearly it did something right—whatever genre it is. When you change fields or switch from the private sector to education, not everyone will understand. Some will disapprove. But, if you are driven and strategic, your success will be recognized universally. Professionals who change industries bring perspective and experience that stand out from the status quo—just as many of us are happy to enjoy the action and adventure of Die Hard after a stream of sentimental Christmas movies. If you’re considering a career shift, our team at Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search is happy to be a sounding board. Reach out today.

“The bird rises against a strong head wind, not only in spite of the wind, but because of it. The opposing forces become a lifting force if faced at the right angle.” —L.B. Cowman #MMM

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” —Henry David Thoreau #MMM

Office Party Do’s and Don’ts Your behavior at the next holiday party can follow you into your next job—and the next one after that. Behave! Here are some tips for making the most of your office celebration: (https://bit.ly/4fCLhpb) Do Attend. Do accept your company’s invitation and enjoy the celebration they are throwing. Go and stay for at least an hour: making a sullen, perfunctory appearance can be worse than not going at all. Dress appropriately. This is a party, but it’s a work party. Your outfit shouldn’t look like just another workday, nor should it look like a night at the club. Dress in conservative but festive attire. Have fun! Don’t just talk shop all night. Remember that it is a holiday celebration and enjoy yourself. Make use of the chance to get to know your coworkers and their interests better. Don’t Say anything you’ll regret. Loose lips sink ships. Don’t vent about office politics or gossip. Avoid off-color humor. It can be easy to let your guard down, but don’t say anything you wouldn’t want your boss (and the rest of the office) to hear. Drink too much. An open bar and the awkwardness of socializing with coworkers can be a potent combination. Don’t be tempted to overdo it on alcohol. Keep it to one or two drinks max. Make a plan beforehand of how much you’ll drink and stick to it. Overstay your welcome. While you want to enjoy the party, you don’t want to shut it down. Stay for a reasonable amount of time and then head home.

Three Colleagues to Thank This Week November comes replete with reminders to practice gratitude. Reminding ourselves of the many gifts in our life has profound advantages to our mental-health and professional outlook. You can extend the benefits by not only feeling gratitude, but expressing it to others. Take just a few moments to share your thanks with these 3 coworkers: The colleague you always turn to. When you’re blindsided by a setback or you get news of a project’s success, who do you tell first? Share your gratitude with your coworker. Thank them for always being in the trenches with you, shouldering your burdens and relishing your victories. The colleague who does unseen work. Who are the members of your team or support staff who do thankless jobs that enable your individual projects and departments as a whole to be successful? Take time to offer your genuine thanks and assure them that their contribution is noticed and valued. The colleague who inspires you. There are people in your institution who model the values, practices, and skills that you emulate. This might be someone you know well or appreciate from a distance. Take a moment to let them know that the way they order their professional life encourages your own development and ambitions. 

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie #MMM

Inaugural Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences Siena Heights University, a private, Catholic university located in Adrian, Michigan, seeks nominations and applications for the position of Inaugural Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Reporting to the Provost, the Inaugural Dean is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the Nursing and Health Sciences programs of the University. Duties include evaluating faculty members, evaluating, improving, and creating academic programs, ensuring that they meet academic standards, accreditation standards, and program learning outcomes. The Dean must ensure that the clinical programs meet the requirements of the Michigan State Board of Nursing, as well as CCNE accreditation. The Dean also ensures compliance and integrity with the pre-licensure, RN-BSN, and MSN programs, while looking to grow Exercise Science as well as launch other allied health programs. The Dean oversees the coordination of student clinical placement and experiential learning. (https://bit.ly/3AHJQH1) Learn more about this role and browse our other open positions on our website. 

“May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.” — Peter Marshall #MMM This Veterans Day and beyond, may we continue to honor those who gave their all by doing what’s right in your sphere of influence.

Four Ways to Express Thankfulness for Your Employees Thanksgiving instills an excellent rhythm of reflecting on the many ways we are blessed. In the workplace, appreciating employees is something we all know we should be doing, but with so much vying for our attention, it can become an afterthought—if we think of it at all. Effectively valuing employees boosts morale and can result in better work performance and employee retention. Monetary appreciation is important, but it isn’t the only way. Bonuses can often fall flat if they are the only way you are rewarding your employees. Below are four ways to show how grateful you are for your staff. (https://bit.ly/4hzaTou) 1.     Value their development. Show you value your employees by investing in their growth. Make yourself available for questions. After a large project sit down with them to review ways their strengths shone and ways they can be even more effective next time. Introduce them to collaborators that can assist in projects. 2.     Value them in the public eye. There is a reason the employee-of-the-month parking spot is a classic. Recognizing your employees in a group context cultivates a positive and affirming culture. This can be something as official as a parking spot or it can be as informal as recognizing key contributions verbally in a meeting. 3.     Value their input. Often it is more expedient to make unilateral decisions and not explain, but this can breed discontent in your staff. Including employees in decisions conveys respect. This isn’t practical for all choices, but even when you make a decision alone, explaining your process and rationale helps employees feel included. 4.     Value their rest. If you expect your employees to work hard, you should also realize the importance of time to unwind. After a large project, reward your employees with a paid day off. You could even throw in a gift card to a local restaurant for them to enjoy while they relax. How do you appreciate your staff? Have you ever had a supervisor do something for you that made you feel valued? Share your best ideas!

"Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others." —Cicero #MMM