Tag: decision making

Is College Right For You?

Posted on by Tatiana

 

 

The value of college degrees is no longer what was thought in the past.

Is College right for you?

 

As an academic coach, I feel strongly about empowering people to make good decisions. I always encourage my clients to be honest with themselves and set up clear objectives. The truth is that even if you earn a college degree, it no longer guarantees a job or a certain amount of income. That doesn’t come as a surprise to those of us who have been in academia for a while. What excites me, however, is that the public is finally catching up by asking some tough questions. What is a college degree good for? Who needs it and why? Where does its value lie, and what does it contribute to our professional success?

Two recent events from last summer underscore these questions. 

On June 26, 2020, then-President Trump signed an executive order overhauling government practices so that skills will be valued higher over degrees in federal hiring regulations. In short, if you have the skills and experience, you will no longer be automatically disqualified by government agencies on account of lacking a degree. (Source: USA Today) 

At about the same time, Google announced its Certification Program that requires no previous degrees or experience. Translation: you don’t need to go to a fancy university to work for Google. 

Notwithstanding how these new developments will unfold in the future, I am excited to see a trend towards relevant and appropriate skills. And while a college degree will continue to be meaningful for specific professions, it is good to see some spotlight on its value and meaning.

 

On Leadership and Questions of It

Posted on by Tatiana

 

 

“Before you can lead, learn how to follow.”  The Book of Changes, 17. Following

On leadership

 

I was coaching a middle-school student through the new application process for our local magnet school last month when we encountered the “leadership” question. Naturally, the student was at a loss as to how to answer. Few of us have the presence of mind to navigate that question even later, at more mature ages. 

If you find yourself in a similar situation, here is what you can do. 

 

First, create an answer

Take some time to reflect on the great leaders of the world you admire and what qualities they possess. Write them down and create a generic answer around them.

For instance, you may consider kindness, responsibility, and competence to be a great leader’s essential qualities. Then, write down an answer that begins with a generic transition, includes those qualities, and ends in a way that can apply to many questions. Here is an example.

“I believe a great leader should possess kindness, be competent, and always act with responsibility for people who rely on him or her. I aspire to develop those qualities in myself and to demonstrate them as best as I can in a position of leadership.”

 

Next, fit the answer

What is left now is to practice your delivery.  Then, you will have a starting point when someone asks anything related to leadership. You may have to tweak it a bit here and there to fit different questions in different situations but the gist of it will remain. 

If you think preparing such an answer in advance sounds awkward, think of it from this perspective. Having a general answer to the leadership question allows you to have control over the conversation. You determine the terms and the direction of the discussion. In the process, you also demonstrate to your listeners or readers your confidence, your thoughtfulness, and ability to lead. 

 

Some day you will become the leader that you aspire to be.  And it will probably be different from what you currently imagine it. You do not need to wait until that day, however, to speak boldly and passionately about your convictions.  

 

 

Making a Decision

Posted on by Tatiana

 

 

“Sleep on it over a night or a couple of days. If it is the right decision, it will come to seem the only decision.”

[Accepting/Rejecting a Job Offer]

Making a decision

 

As much as we worry about having no choices, in practice, more frequently than not, we actually face the dilemma of too many. So, how do we know if the choice we made is right?

Here is a link to Prof. Jon Wilkins One Page Guide on Accepting/Rejecting a Job Offer 

Check out the “Moment of truth” paragraph towards the bottom of the page. My absolute favorite is this:

“… Sleep on it over a night or a couple of days. If it is the right decision, it will come to seem the only decision.”
Accepting/Rejecting a Job Oer https://www.asc.ohio-state.edu/wilkins.5/onepage/accepting.html (https://www.asc.ohio- state.edu/wilkins.5/onepage/accepting.html)

Sadly, Prof. Wilkins is no longer with us, but his wisdom endures and his sage advice continues to be relevant.