Leadership Conference Connections

As a conference co-chair I am wrapped up in the big picture and small details all at the same time. However, there are moments when that is put aside and I can focus on what the conference can bring.  There was one such moment last week when my friend and former co-worker called me with a question.  Immediately I was transformed, I had a chance to connect with a friend and professional in the field.  We chatted about the conference but then quickly turned to playing catch up, talked about the holidays, recent snow storms and mutual friends that we’d had contact with. 

The friendship I have with her started many years ago when our work overlapped for two years at the same institution.  The relationship started like many others you might have, as professional.  She was a hall director with me and we needed to rely on each other for duty issues, programming questions, student follow-up, and consistency.  As an RA I am sure this sounds very familiar, you rely on your staff members for many of the same things. 

But as the semester and year went on we began to develop a stronger relationship, learning each other’s goals, pushing each other to achieve them, listening when the other had a bad day, offering to cover duty and not ask for the same in return.  This is when you know you have a solid team, when you are connected to the whole person and looking to make sure that everyone is taken care of, not just yourself.  It is this connection that will make sure your friendship lasts even when you are no longer working at the same school or even in the same state.

I want each of you to take a look at your fellow staff members, either in your building or as a whole.  Who have you connected with?  Are their friendships that can be strengthened?  What do you know about your floor partner or senior staff member aside from their year, major and that they are a student leader?  Take the chance to learn more.  That connection will bring you closer together and will help to ensure a friendship past your time on staff together.  You never know when you’ll get a phone call to reconnect and end up taking a stroll down memory lane.

You may be wondering how the call ended with my friend, we have tentative plans for the Sunday after the conference for lunch and shopping in NYC. 

- Michelle Eichengreen, Manhattanville College Leadership Conference Committee Co-Chair