Faith + Work + Life

Today marks the end of an era for me as I transition from my administrative role as associate vice president for academic affairs, back to being a full-time faculty member. Knowing it’s time to move on doesn’t necessarily make it easy, but I’m confident I am moving in the right next direction for me.

Part of what makes this transition most challenging is moving on from the true partnership in work I experienced with my Chief Academic Officer the last four years. Working together as a team was an overwhelmingly positive experience, and his confidence in my work and openness to my thoughts and feedback were a good reminder to me that I am smart and capable. Including being capable of things I didn’t even imagine I’d be asked to do!

It was a good era to remember that we are sometimes “side called” to things that weren’t on our radar. I am confident taking this role was the right thing at the time, and just as confident that returning to my path as professor, researcher, and consultant is my larger calling.

No doubt you can find a myriad of articles, advice, and warnings about not being friends with your boss. It’s probably the “right advice.” But in this case, somehow, being friends worked for us, and I am grateful as our paths diverge to our next callings that we have that foundation of friendship to continue. Part of why it worked was I always knew he’d fire me if it came to that, and he always knew I was working really hard to be sure it never did.

Together, we’ve worked to make the transition for our next CAO and the team we leave to continue this work as smooth as possible. We’ve developed a transition guide that outlines details and leave behind a highly digitized, shared file structure with a team task solution (more here). It matters to both of us that we end these roles well and leave the team in the best shape possible. Some things we’ve focused on for the team:

• Document and digitize files, instructions, guidelines, tasks, etc.
• Risk overexplanation – more information is truly better here!
• Find solutions on what you can solve before you go – without setting the next leader up to be in a tough spot.
• Check in on your people and ensure team leads are doing well, have what they need, and know they can come to you for clarity and reassurance.
• Set outgoing boundaries – be clear with your team and executives what you can be available for after your job ends (especially if you’re staying at the same organization!)

On the more personal side of leaving a role, be sure you have:

• Saved contact information for key contacts or people you hope to maintain friendships with moving forward.
• Saved work product (if allowed) that demonstrates solid work for your portfolio.
• Connected with colleagues and expressed thanks for their good work.
• Prepared your team well for your move.
• Followed up with any necessary HR and payroll steps.
• Given yourself space to be a human – transitions are hard, even when they’re right! (Personally looking forward to a meal from a favorite restaurant and time to embroider this weekend!)

I’m sure there’s more thorough advice out on the interwebs, but these are some of the steps I’ve found most helpful in this transition back to the world of teaching and research. I have lots of teaching to do this summer and early fall and then look forward to re-focusing my research later this year while on a teaching break.

Wishing all of you in career quandaries or transitions the best – kindness and grace to self and others is vital. Flexibility in the minutiae will serve you well!