In This Section
Chapter 13: Professional Leadership
Developing Your Leadership Style
The Servant Leader Model
Core Principles:
- • Students first
- • Team empowerment
- • Continuous growth
- • Ethical decisions
- • Community impact
Daily Leadership Practices:
- • Morning team check-in
- • Open office hours
- • Process observation
- • Coaching moments
- • Recognition activities
Leading Without Authority
Influence Strategies
Building Influence:
- 1. Expertise: Become the go-to expert
- 2. Relationships: Invest in connections
- 3. Results: Deliver consistently
- 4. Innovation: Bring new ideas
- 5. Service: Help others succeed
Influence in Action:
- • Volunteer for committees
- • Lead training sessions
- • Share best practices
- • Mentor newcomers
- • Solve problems
Change Management
Leading Change Initiatives
Change Framework:
- 1. Create Urgency: Why change now?
- 2. Build Coalition: Who will help?
- 3. Form Vision: What's the future?
- 4. Communicate: Share constantly
- 5. Empower: Remove barriers
- 6. Quick Wins: Celebrate progress
- 7. Consolidate: Build on success
- 8. Anchor: Make it permanent
Common VASCO Changes:
- • New systems implementation
- • Process improvements
- • Policy updates
- • Team restructuring
- • Service expansion
Chapter 14: Strategic Planning
Developing Your Strategic Plan
Vision Development
Vision Statement Framework:
"To be [aspiration] providing [value] to [beneficiaries] through [differentiators]"
Example Vision:
"To be the nationally recognized leader in veteran student success, providing seamless benefit administration and comprehensive support to student veterans through innovative technology, exceptional service, and strategic partnerships."
Strategic Objectives
SMART Goals Framework:
- Specific: Clear and defined
- Measurable: Quantifiable metrics
- Achievable: Realistic targets
- Relevant: Aligned to mission
- Time-bound: Deadline driven
Sample Strategic Objectives:
- 1. Increase retention rate to 90% by 2025
- 2. Reduce processing time to 24 hours by Q3
- 3. Achieve 100% compliance score by year-end
- 4. Launch mentor program by fall semester
- 5. Implement new technology by spring
🔗 Read More: Strategic Planning for VASCOs - Develop your strategic roadmap
Resource Management
Optimizing Limited Resources
Resource Allocation Matrix:
| Activity | Impact | Effort | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automation | High | Medium | Do First |
| Training | High | Low | Do Now |
| New Program | Medium | High | Plan |
| Nice-to-Have | Low | Any | Defer |
Budget Justification Strategy:
- • Link to strategic plan
- • Show ROI clearly
- • Compare to peers
- • Highlight risks
- • Propose phases
Partnership Development
Strategic Partnership Framework
Partnership Evaluation:
- • Mission alignment
- • Resource contribution
- • Mutual benefit
- • Sustainability
- • Impact potential
Key Partnerships to Develop:
- • Employer partners for hiring
- • Community colleges for transfers
- • VSOs for support services
- • Technology vendors for tools
- • Other institutions for best practices
Chapter 15: Professional Excellence
Personal Brand Development
Building Your Professional Reputation
Brand Elements:
- • Expertise area
- • Communication style
- • Professional presence
- • Network strength
- • Thought leadership
Reputation Builders:
- • Publish articles
- • Present at conferences
- • Lead committees
- • Mentor others
- • Innovate publicly
National Engagement
Contributing to the Profession
Professional Involvement:
- • NAVPA membership and leadership
- • Conference presentations
- • Published articles
- • Webinar facilitation
- • Best practice sharing
Building National Networks:
- • Attend conferences
- • Join online communities
- • Participate in studies
- • Share innovations
- • Collaborate on projects
🔗 Resources:
- • Professional Network Building Guide - Expand your influence
- • Presentation Skills for VASCOs - Become a confident speaker
Thought Leadership
Becoming a VASCO Authority
Content Creation:
- • Blog regularly
- • Create resources
- • Share templates
- • Record tutorials
- • Host webinars
Speaking Opportunities:
- • Campus presentations
- • Community events
- • Professional conferences
- • Webinars
- • Podcasts