鈥淧olitics is just networking and relationship building in disguise,鈥 said Sheri Kallembach of DeVry University during the session "Navigating Campus Politics" at the 秀色直播 Annual Meeting.
鈥淲e should continually ask, what鈥檚 in the best interest of the student and the student experience? It just boils down to being nice to one another.鈥
So instead of thinking about politics as a destructive force, perhaps engaging in politics is merely facilitating the group decisions that move schools forward.
鈥淚f you want to get things done, you need to engage in campus politics, said Jennifer McClure of Elgin Community College. It allows you to take an active role in bridge building and gain political currency.鈥
鈥淵ou need to have folks in leadership positions as your allies and understand the consequences of either action or inaction鈥攚hen to engage or not engage,鈥 McClure added.
The secret then, becomes identifying the intersection between politics and ethics in order to engage people effectively. Following are 鈥10 Tips鈥 that will help you along the road.
- Diplomacy matters.
- Map the political terrain.
- Try not to guess at ulterior motives.
- Learn to say, 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry.鈥
- Know thyself. Be true to yourself.
- LISTEN.
- Cultivate natural allies.
- Support others.
- Know the history of the issue.
- Commit to your school. Show enthusiasm for your mission.
So, remember that squirrely guy (the one that doesn鈥檛 return your emails despite typing URGENT! into the subject line) whose car you鈥檇 like to have towed because you鈥檙e buds with the ex-marine that runs parking services? Well, simply look to these 10 tips at Pilates next week when you鈥檙e considering tampering with his cable machine.
鈥淩ecognize that campus politics exist and aim to learn the skills necessary to navigate these waters effectively,鈥 said Kallembach.