Blog from Dwayne Kwaysee Wright, Assistant Professor, Higher Education Administration; Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives, GSEHD
One of the hardest tasks one takes on as a leader can be the internal struggle to utilize what one is good at today while simultaneously working toward being better at other things tomorrow. While reflecting on my GWALA experience this test has begun to crystallize a bit as I thought about how much I have learned, unlearned, and relearned during my time with my cohort. One thing I will take away from this year it is that leadership is a team sport. Thus, for my blog I thought I would borrow from the wisdom of some sports legends to organize my thoughts around the journey that we took together this year and the further destinations to come.
“Setbacks motivate me.” — Lindsey Vonn
When I was first accepted to GWALA, I was told that I should pick a project that I would work on for the year. The challenge excited me as the parameters for the project were broad enough for me to allow my imagination to range a bit surveying the types of activities that I could devote my time to. Unfortunately, my ambition had to meet my schedule and I became frustrated with the many setbacks and delays my project had.
I remember our very first session back in September which focused on setting Leadership intentions. We talked about values and visions. One thing that I valued about GWALA was the space to re-explore why I was doing my work in the first place. Through these explorations I have learned how to begin to allow setbacks to motivate me as much as victories. Hearing the stories of my fellow cohort members helped me to understand I was not alone in facing many of the challenges that I was endeavoring and that has made me better prepared to face new challenges in the future.
“I'd rather regret the risks that didn't work out than the chances I didn't take at all.” – Simone Biles
One the most valuable things that I appreciated about our monthly GWALA meetings was the space to express what I was really thinking at any given time. I never felt that I couldn’t tell the truth in the room. The ability to be candid and take candid feedback is an important part of being a leader and was re-enforced every time we would meet and hear from campus leaders and each other. This led to conversation that was rich, fruitful, and always informative. I will honestly say I will miss our monthly “Academic Therapy Sessions”, but I am confident that the friends that I have made along the way will be a life line for many years to come.
“Change equals self-improvement. Push yourself to places you haven’t been before.” – Pat Summitt
One of the most challenging, yet rewarding, aspects of GWALA was out unit of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence has never been my strong suit and much of what I thought I had known about it I had to unlearn as new information was gifted to me. This is the most important unit we engaged in as it has benefited me both personally and professionally to expand my EQ. Certainly not a “master” yet, but I am certainly going onto this Summer a little more “black boy magic” because I took the time to put the work in.
“I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.” – Mia Hamm
My main takeaway from GWALA is that, for better or for worse, leadership is a team sport. We thrive together and/or we fail together. We laugh together and, when necessary, we cry in communion as well. Although I appreciate all the speakers that came to talk to us, and the skill training given to us, priceless from this experience is the excellent network of people that I have encountered along this journey.
This outstanding group of scholars, practitioners, and researchers inspired me once a month to break my “no meetings before 10” rule to hear their wisdom, wit, and vision for academic excellence at GW. They inspire me and I cannot wait to see the great things this group has in store for the academy and beyond. If I am a better leader after this process, it will be because I have had the privilege of learning how to be better from and with them. Together I am confident we will shape today into a better tomorrow. One in which an ever growing number of us will have the opportunity to…Raise High.