YTC LEAD

The College and our surrounding environment is constantly changing. I have said many times that we must continuously evaluate the way we do business in order to thrive in today’s economy. The reVIEW program and the Operations Excellence (OpEx) program both support our efforts to evaluate and improve our business processes. We all have a part in the improvement process! However, in order to truly transform the organization into the best it can be, we must transform ourselves into better leaders. We all have the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference. One of the many books I have read, The Leadership Challenge, summarizes the patterns of behavior in individuals who exhibit exemplary leadership.

• Model the Way – Establish principles concerning the way people should be treated and the way goals should be pursued
• Inspire a Shared Vision –Passionately believe you can make a difference
• Challenge the Process – Search for opportunities to change the status quo
• Enable Others to Act – Foster collaboration and build spirited teams
• Encourage the Heart – Recognize contributions that individuals make

Regardless of your position in the organization, I believe we can all work on the behaviors mentioned above in order to Be Real, Be Bold, and Be Better – for ourselves, our coworkers, our partners, and for our students! To assist in this endeavor, we launched the YTC LEAD program in December and will be offering a leadership speakers series for all employees in the near future. The YTC LEAD inaugural cohort includes Jyron Baxter, Ivan Lowe, John McGill, Mike Brumbach, Jamey Abercrombie, Chris Cimino, Nikisha Dawkins, Brenda Odom, Ginger Dewey, Michele Wells, Michael McAllister, and Stacy Scott. I’d like to thank Edwina Roseboro-Barnes, Kathy Hoellen, Monique Perry, and Laura Sturgis for helping develop the YTC LEAD program.

Just as a reminder, one of our strategic themes, Organizational Development, resulted from the 650 inputs received from faculty and staff. I believe the YTC LEAD program, among other professional development opportunities, will help better support our efforts to be better than we have to be. Remember – organizations do nothing, technology does nothing, PEOPLE do everything!