For five years I have served on the Boards of my children’s high school sports, soccer and field hockey. This means that for five years, I have been privy to the behind-the-scenes challenges, personalities and conversations that occur by text year-round, all hours of a day. This fall, my role on the field hockey board included organizing two events: Senior Night, in which the senior players are honored at a game, and the end of the season formal banquet for 130 people. Throughout the experience, I couldn’t help but think about the leadership, project management, change management and communication skills needed to make the season a success. A few lessons learned:

• Managing projects in a professional setting is different than in a volunteer setting. As Malcolm Knowles promised in Andragogy, adult learners do in fact bring all personal experiences to the situation. This can look like heightened emotions when it involves their children, bias from previous years on the team, their own personal busy schedules, and “but we have always done it this way.”  In a professional setting, there are a few more guardrails around expected behavior that assist in managing these characteristics.

• Asking clarifying questions does not ensure clear communication. They help, but it may take trust over time and evidence-based proof for people to tell you the whole story.

• Leadership includes knowing when to say “when.”  My priorities have shifted, and I am no longer joyful about serving in a sports leadership role. And, it is not fair to show up resentful and annoyed in a group of other adults who are simply helping to make the sports experience better.  It is time for me to contribute to the team in a different way.

There is no comparison or replacement for the positive experiences, deep friendships and life changing lessons learned through the years of sports – for my children, and for me. With those year round texts, I also celebrated successes, laughed continuously, and created support systems.

Yet, I never thought of the volunteer experience as a professional accomplishment. It was simply a way in which I could connect with my children and serve in the community. Now, I see the impact this has had on both my personal and professional growth. What activities are you involved in from which you can learn?

I recently learned the word "philomath." What a fun word! Curious Mind Cafe describes it this way." 

"You’re interested in a wide range of topics, including science, history, philosophy, art, and a variety of other topics.

1. You enjoy pushing yourself. You’re willing to tackle difficult topics and concepts, even if they’re difficult to grasp.

2. You do a lot of reading. You enjoy reading books, articles, and other materials that help you learn and understand new things.

3. You enjoy discussing and debating ideas. Even if you don’t always agree with others, you enjoy having thoughtful discussions and debates with them.

4. You place a high value on education. You value education not only for practical reasons, such as getting a good job, but also for personal growth and development."

☑️ I check every box. 

I recently read a job description that included this: "You will lead a high impact team...ensuring every externship is anchored in....cognitive load best practices..."

YES (enter fist bump here)! The concept of cognitive load is definitely not new, but it is new to job descriptions I have seen and roles I have experienced. I am thrilled at the idea of this becoming mainstream in the corporate environment.