“Short Skirts, Scrapes & Secretive Scars,” was my first post on this blog. I originally wrote it on LinkedIn, two years ago, after Brock Turner’s light slap on the hand for being convicted on three counts of felony sexual assault.
Now, two years later, how far have we come? As a society, we are shaming and blaming the victims of sexual assault.
I am sitting here fully aware of my own contribution to rape culture. When I was younger, I thought I’d asked for it by the clothes I wore, my outgoing, flirtatious personality, the fact that I was a dancer, etc.
I undervalued myself. I under valued you, but didn’t even know I was doing it. I know it now and now is what matters.
I’m thinking that in 5779 , we will need to be extra resourceful and creative. Thus far, 5778 has been okay, but fraught with steep challenges. (I won’t delve into politics, grief or human rights violations in this post.) I like to think of 5778 as, “paying our dues in research, development, patience and strategy.” Continue reading “May our New Year be sweet, creative & strategic:”
Over the past several months, since my colleague, ORT Chicago director, Barbara (Barb) Statland announced her retirement as our region director, I’ve tried to sit down to write about her.
Each time I’ve tried to write almost anything about Barb, (and I have tried countless times), several things happen:
The Beach Boys’ Ba ba ba ba ba Barbara Ann runs through my head, but instead of “Ann,” I change it to “Jan.” Barb’s middle name is Jan, so it obviously works great. It repeats and repeats in my head and drives me totally nuts.
Still, I riff a little bit with the whole, Ba ba ba ba ba Barbara Jansong idea. I create a sketch in my head about “The Teach Boys” singing the song for our Barbara Jan. Instead of being on the beach, the band, along with ORT students and educators sing and dance in an ORT 21st Century Classroom.
Picture The Teach Boys singing Ba ba ba ba ba Barbara Jan in the classroom at an ORT School in Israel. Welcome to my head.
Now, I start to get teary because Barb is kind of like family to me. I’ve grown accustomed to her face, her attention to detail and her Fuji apples and peanut butter at 11:16 AM each day. I think, “What will it be like not to hear her cutting apples? How will I know it’s 11:16 AM?”
I stop trying to write because I get emotional and even nostalgic. I am generally not a nostalgic person, but Barb and I have walked through a lot together. Side note: I also happen to be a very ugly crier.
Now, I am not crying. Oh good. We are making progress.
Here’s how I see my professional partner in crime and friend, Barbara Jan Statland:
Barb has been one of my best educators.
Her attention to detail is superlative.
If she wanted to, she could be a theater director and/or theater teacher.
She could also do voice-overs. Great voice.
Heck, she would make a fine actress.
She is one of the biggest reasons I was hired by ORT America. Thank you, Barb.
She has more patience than any colleague I have ever worked with, anywhere.
She is extremely creative and incomparably tenacious.
She loves ORT and its people very deeply. (P.S. ORT = People)
She is hilarious even when she’s not trying to be.
She is a powerful communicator.
She is reasonable.
Her commitment to and her belief in ORT programs never, ever wavers.
Barb’s leadership has sustained our region where most others would have failed.
I have never heard anyone better on the phone. Yes, she knows I eavesdrop.
There’s a lot more to Barb than what I’ve stated here. It has been my privilege to partner with and to learn from her.
The love goes both ways. ORT loves Barb so much, there’s a wholeORT International Seminar for Leading Educatorsdedicated to Barb, in honor of her retirement. This seminar, (which I believe starts TOMORROW!), is a key part of the ORT Teachers Fund which is a fund dedicated to the professional development of educators. A few words from Barb about the ORT Teacher’s Fund:
So many ORT students are motivated, passionate, knowledgeable and creative BECAUSE of their teachers. Their teachers instill these traits within their students. ORT knows that this is key and provides a network of peers for their teachers to whom they can turn for support and to share ideas. This Teachers Fund will provide so much – including training in the areas of digital technology, physics education and Bio Research, learning technologies training, math and English. Collaboration is key in all of these initiatives. — Barbara J. Statland
Barb has been around ORT for 30-ish years. She’s been an employee for 13 years and a region director for the past five or so. Most of us see Barb as a lifetime ORTist.
If you’d like to honor Barb’s Herculean leadership at ORT, and/or you seek to invest in professional development for educators, and/or you want to witness my ugly crying because thanks to you, we have raised our $40,000 goal, please stop reading this post and click on Barb’s photo below!
The tenacious, beautiful, and dedicated Barbara J. Statland
Thank you for reading this, and of course, for your investment in Barb, ORT, teachers, students, me and all who make a positive impact on our world.
May we all draw strength, knowledge and courage from Ba ba ba ba Barbara Jan.
*OTHER OTHER OTHER DISCLAIMER, or, DISCLAIMER CUBED: Great leaders only ace the leadership test if they do NOT seek credit for acing the test.
Without appearing old and crusty, I’ve been around. I’ve learned a thing or two about a thing or two. Perhaps more than most people, I have walked through a diverse and wonderfully colorful career path.
I have adored some career choices more than others. To date, (and no, I don’t enjoy dating, but that’s a different article), I am wholly in love with and immersed in learning from the good, the bad and the ugly of pretty much everything.
For whatever reason, and I will mention some of what I believe are the reasons, I have often evolved into a leader, even though this is something I have fought against for much of my life.
While I have sometimes felt pressured to accept a leadership position or be fired, I think I am starting to understand what I believe are extremely valuable (essential) qualities of very strong leadership. Here goes: (Also, don’t forget my disclaimers, okay?)
A great leader does not need to take credit or receive much in the way of applause
A great leader never considers a brilliant idea stolen, and nor does she/he become offended, when a colleague claims idea as her/his own, but rather views it as a positive that collaborative systems are working well
A great leader meets people exactly where they are and implements actions based on realistic factors (I struggle with the second part of this one!)
A great leader, while always seeing a holistic view, creates and develops accessible systems in order to raise up all individuals and the organization as a whole
A great leader takes calculated risks and accepts the heat when they don’t fly
A great leader is appropriately transparent and accountable, internally and externally
A great leader elevates others and recognizes that this estimable action improves the leader as a leader!
A great leader knows that the very best ideas and systems are successful only through collaboration
A great leader has a healthy sense of boundaries, but NEVER buys into hierarchy
A great leader celebrates victories but does not claim victory as her/his own
A great leader takes it on the chin for the greater good of the team and proceeds to shift the group, into a positive direction
A great leader is either organized, or wise enough to locate all aspects of organization in order to run things well
A great leader has vision, compassion and clarity
A great leader needs help and asks for it
A great leader plays to strengths and helps stretch weaker muscles, in her/himself and others
A great leader values and fosters professional development for all
A great leader almost always finds the calm within a storm
A great leader is realistic and accepting about her/his own weaknesses and is selectively and strategically transparent about them, in order to elevate the collective group and organization
A great leader celebrates being a part of something far bigger than her/himself. (A great leader is right-sized)
A great leader is strategic and tactical or, is surrounded by others who are strategic and tactical (which is an excellent strategy.)
A great leader implements and follows an accessible, realistic organizational strategic plan
A great leader is hungry to learn from others and invariably, does
A great leader is responsible and enthusiastic about mentoring other great leaders
A great leader is many times, not located at the top of an organizational chart, and doesn’t really care
Whoa. There’s more, but I’m exhausted.
I have observed outstanding leadership on a few occasions, but not as often as I’d like to. Egos and/or arduous work to hide a leader’s weaknesses, lack of systems creation and/or implementation gets in the way. Many times, leaders who are labeled as leaders, can feel burdened by or anxious about their title, so they define and focus on what they think a leader is supposed to look like, rather than keeping her/his eyes on what’s really essential.
I am interested in learning from great leaders and also from the not so great leaders. In fact, I really love and embrace both facets of professional growth as they are invaluable lessons on what to do and what not to do.
Maybe that’s why I might be a leader at my core, as much as I prefer standing behind other leaders.
I hate to even mention this, but since I’ve written a few articles about it and I sort of never shut up, there has been A LOT I haven’t liked about #GivingTuesday.
I don’t mean to be the cranky Jewish “Scrooge” of philanthropy, (Scrooge-stein?), but for me, unless #GivingTuesday is implemented in a uniquely creative manner that sets an organization apart, most nonprofits appear like they’re standing in line, waiting for a #GivingTuesday number at a busy deli, I kind of can’t stand it. Continue reading “Doing What I Loathe Out of Love”
In my professional life, I take comfort AND yield countless benefits, from approaching things as a hungry collaborator who doesn’t know more than you do, no matter what the organizational chart says. I internally (and sometimes externally) overtly identify as a neophyte (with extensive experience in leadership behind me), on a wide variety of subjects. I find this tactic not only propels my openness to learning and growth, but helps me perform with my ego checked at the door long before a project actually begins. (The more egos that can be checked at the door, obviously, produce fun and successful teamwork.) This often creates a level playing field, and an empowered ensemble that implements great work. Continue reading “The Expert Neophyte”
Throughout most days, I find myself happiest when I feel like a kid playing in the sandbox with my friends. I often feel this way at work.
Sometimes, I get sad because I usually like to build BIG sandcastles and share my shovel and pail with everyone. Others don’t always want to build and share like I do. If I’ve had enough sleep and a good meal before I play in the sandbox, I tend to move right through these conflicts. If I am hangry, I periodically feel like throwing sand and stomping off in a huff because people won’t build and share nicely the way I do. Continue reading “Shards of Glass in the Sandbox”
This week, I spent Monday morning with 96-year-old, Dyna Wise and her grandson, Lawrence Burley. The time I spent with these two extraordinary human beings, was not only the highlight of my week, but one of the most significant experiences of my entire nonprofit career.
This article was originally published on June 23, 2016 on LinkedIn and was inspired by a public speaking/volunteer workshop I created and facilitated for the stellar advancement staff at University of Chicago.
Because I am going to be speaking publicly this evening, already feel like puking and have already mulled over the 868 total bullshit reasons I could give for bowing out at the last minute, it seemed appropriate to post again with a few updates.
Pamela Klier-Weidner (PKW) 