Tag: Professional Development

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Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

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When you think of upskilling — learning new skills — at work, what comes to mind? Perhaps learning new software or working toward a certification or degree. There’s no question that many in-demand skills are technical in nature, but there’s also a critical need for what are sometimes described as “soft” skills, particularly strong emotional intelligence (EI).

EI allows us to build and maintain relationships and influence others — important skills no matter your position and area of work — and research has found people with greater EI tend to be more innovative and have higher job satisfaction than those with lower EI. Utilizing emotional intelligence in the workplace can enhance decision-making and social interactions and improve your ability to cope with change and stress.

The good news is that, like technical skills, soft skills such as EI can also be learned and improved.

Emotional Intelligence: What It Is

To strengthen your emotional intelligence, it’s important to know what it entails. Most definitions of EI include the following components:

  1. Perception and expression of emotion — Noticing your own emotions and picking up on the emotions of others, as well as the ability to distinguish between discrete emotions.
  2. Using emotion to facilitate thought — How you incorporate emotions into your thinking processes and understand when and how emotions can be helpful for reasoning processes.
  3. Understanding and analyzing emotions —The capacity to decode emotions, make sense of their meaning, and understand how they relate to each other and change over time.
  4. Reflective regulation of emotion —An openness to all emotions and the ability to regulate your own emotions and the emotions of others to facilitate growth and insight.

Measuring Your Emotional Intelligence Skills

Do you find you relate to either of these statements?

“I want to improve my EI skills, but don’t know where to start.”

“I already have strong emotional intelligence skills. This isn’t an area I need to work on.”

As with any skill, we all have varying levels of aptitude for EI and may feel overwhelmed about where to begin.

One interesting study found that 95% of participants gave themselves high marks in self-awareness. However, using more empirical measures of self-awareness, the study found that only 10-15% of the cohort demonstrated true self-awareness. Consider the following characteristics typical of people with higher and lower EI skillsets as one way to better gauge your skillset:

Potential indicators of higher EI:

  • Understanding the links between your emotions and how you behave
  • Remaining calm and composed during stressful situations
  • Ability to influence others toward a common goal
  • Handling difficult people with tact and diplomacy

Potential indicators of lower EI:

  • Often feeling misunderstood
  • Getting upset easily
  • Becoming overwhelmed by emotions
  • Having problems being assertive

It’s important to note that these potential indicators can also stem from other causes and vary significantly depending on the day and situation.

Learning and Developing Emotional Intelligence

As few as ten hours of EI training (i.e., lectures, role-playing, group discussions, and readings) can significantly improve people’s ability to identify and manage their emotions, and these benefits are sustained six months later.

No matter your current EI skillset, it may be helpful to try the following exercises:

  1. Notice how you respond to people — Are you judgmental or biased in your assessments of others?
  2. Practice humility — Being humble about your achievements means you can acknowledge your successes without needing to shout about them.
  3. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and vulnerabilities, and consider opportunities for development. Even though it might make you cringe, it’s helpful to get others’ viewpoints on your emotional intelligence. Ask people how they think you handle tricky situations and respond to the emotions of others.
  4. Think about how you deal with stressful events — Do you seek to blame others? Can you keep your emotions in check?
  5. Take responsibility for your actions and apologize when necessary.
  6. Consider how your choices can affect others — Try to imagine how they might feel before you do something that could affect them.

Interested in further increasing your EI skills? Check out the resources below to get you started.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

elevateU Featured Topic: Emotional Intelligence | Short videos, self-paced online courses, and more

Everything DiSC: Agile EQ | Instructor-led offering from HR Organization and Professional Development | Wednesday, September 23

Sources

https://www.ottawa.edu/online-and-evening/blog/october-2020/the-importance-of-emotional-intelligence-in-the-wo

https://positivepsychology.com/emotional-intelligence-eq

https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-improve-your-emotional-intelligence

Unplugged: Turn Off Notifications and Turn Up the Summer Fun!

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

As we reach the heat of the summer, there is no better time to take a vacation or staycation. Taking time away from work has many health benefits including improving your connection to yourself and loved ones and resetting from or avoiding burnout.

The Benefits of Taking a Vacation

Vacationing and taking time away from your job promotes a long, healthy life and has tremendous benefits to your mind. Taking a break from routine in fun and different ways can have the same benefits as consistent meditation exercises and help you build connections with not only your loved ones but yourself, too. In addition, taking a vacation has been scientifically proven to boost brain power. Taking time off from learning, working and gaining new information every day allows your brain to consolidate existing knowledge, resulting in improved learning after vacation.

The benefits go beyond just your mind — they affect your body too. Through reduced stress, vacations can improve heart health and decrease the chances of metabolic diseases or conditions. Vacation time also improves sleep as poor sleep habits can be broken when sleeping in a new place. Coming home after vacation feels like sleeping in another new place, allowing those improved habits to continue.

Using vacation time is one of the best ways to reset from or avoid burnout. Learning the signs and how to work toward health is a positive way to promote workplace well-being.

Before Going on Vacation

To take full advantage of these benefits, you should consider fully unplugging from work — those emails and phone calls won’t go anywhere.

Before you head to the airport or hit the road, set up automatic email replies with your out-of-office details including when you will be back, who to contact in the meantime, and how to contact you in case of an emergency. If you use a shared calendar with your team, add your out-of-office dates as early as possible and notify your team verbally and/or by email. If you have ongoing projects, consider asking a coworker, supervisor, or team member to check up on them while you are away and plan to share updates when you return. If possible, leave work-related things at home or at the office to prevent the temptation to focus on work. Finally, prepare for the day you return from work before you leave by keeping your schedule as clear as you reasonably can on your first day back.

Returning from Vacation

Returning to work can often be stressful and sometimes undo the rest you achieved on vacation. To avoid getting immediately burned out, take time to ease back into your work routine. Try to avoid scheduling several meetings on your first day back and try not to set or meet big deadlines during your first week back in the office. The more time you spend away, the more time you should give yourself to get back to your normal work pace and routine.

In addition to easing into your normal work routine, it’s important to unplug from work at the end of each day. It’s easy to get burned out if you are mentally on the clock 24/7, answering emails and catching up during nights and weekends. You can use Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Google Calendar and other work team services to set out-of-office messages at the end of your workday. Finally, avoid stress by taking the necessary steps to be productive and engaged as shared in this earlier post about avoiding and reducing burnout.

All these tips and more are available through these links:

Job of The Week: Executive Secretary II

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week’s featured job is an Executive Secretary II for the College of Human Medicine (job posting 1142812). If you are interested in providing high-level administrative support, coordinating academic programs, and collaborating with faculty and healthcare partners across the state, this may be the role for you.

The College of Human Medicine is dedicated to educating exemplary physicians, discovering new knowledge, and providing service both at home and abroad. By providing outstanding care and promoting the inclusion and needs of all people, the College of Human Medicine fosters an environment that enhances its community.

In this position, you will provide executive-level administrative support to multiple department chairs, manage calendars and meetings, coordinate travel, prepare correspondence and reports, and track important action items. You will also coordinate specialty-specific medical student electives across eight community campuses by creating student schedules, preparing letters of recommendation, approving off-campus electives, and submitting grades. Additional responsibilities include serving as a liaison between Henry Ford Health, College of Human Medicine Human Resources, faculty, staff, and students, coordinating faculty appointments and annual reviews, processing invoices and contracts, and organizing faculty meetings, committee meetings, and executive events. Find a complete list of responsibilities in the job posting.

This position requires a high school education or equivalent and five to eight years of related work experience. Preferred qualifications include experience working in a laboratory environment with safety and security measures, a collaborative approach, the ability to remain calm under pressure, and strong written and verbal communication skills. Find a complete list of required and preferred qualifications in the job posting.

Learn more about the College of Human Medicine. To learn more or apply for this position, please visit the MSU Careers Website. Applications require a resume and cover letter and should be submitted by July 7.

June Events Round-Up

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Summer is right around the corner, which means it is time for June events! This month holds many virtual and in-person opportunities in the Greater Lansing area for you to check out to celebrate the start of the new season. Click the links below to explore future events and register if required.

Pride Month Events:

June 5 and 6 – Kalamazoo Pride 2026: All proceeds from Kalamazoo Pride support OutFront Kalamazoo’s work providing vital programs, services, and resources to the LGBTQIA+ community all year long.

June 6 and 7 – Motor City Pride 2026: Motor City Pride is more than just a festival — it’s a vibrant celebration of music, talent and diversity. With four dynamic stages showcasing both local talent and world-renowned LGBTQIA+ artists, the entertainment lineup is as diverse as the community we represent.

June 13 – East Lansing Pride: Come celebrate PRIDE in the heart of downtown East Lansing! The fifth annual East Lansing PRIDE will take place along Albert Avenue between Abbot Road and M.A.C. Avenue.

June 20 and 21 – Grand Rapids Pride Festival: Celebrate the West Michigan 2-SLGBTQ+ community and support local businesses, organizations, and artists. You’ll find 150+ vendors, a beer garden (including non-alcoholic beverages), activities for all ages, food trucks, a sensory space, and local, statewide, and nationally recognized performers!

June 27 – Lansing Pride 2026: Lansing Pride is Mid-Michigan’s largest LGBTQ+ festival, celebrating visibility, inclusion, and community. The annual event brings together tens-of-thousands of attendees for a free full day of live entertainment, family-friendly activities, local vendors, food and beverage options, and a vibrant showcase of community partners.

Campus Events

June 5 – Copper Beech Tree 80th Birthday Party: The beloved Copper Beech Tree at the heart of the Department of Radiology’s Healing Gardens is turning 80 years old this year! Visit to celebrate this magnificent octogenarian tree while the gardens are in full bloom. There will be live music in the rose garden, family-friendly games and activities, and of course birthday cake! Plus, a special message from Radiology Department Chair, Dr. Mark DeLano.

June 10 – Move in the Garden: Need a midday recharge? This free outdoor movement program combines stretching, strengthening, flow, and relaxation movements to support overall mobility. Sessions meet most Wednesdays from June 10 to September 30, 2026 in the Beal Botanical Garden.

June 13 – Conjuring Kinship: Deciphering Octavia: Join Beal Botanical Garden and Dr. Kinitra Brooks in a community event diving deep into the concepts of hope, Afrofuturism, and conjure through Octavia Butler’s Kindred.

June 15 to 19 – MSU Juneteenth Celebration: This year marks the 6th annual Juneteenth Commemorative Celebration at Michigan State University! This year’s theme, Beyond Freedom: Building Futures, Protecting Our Past and Activating Change, aims to celebrate and recognize the contributions of past and contemporary artists, scientists and advocates who work tirelessly to center Black excellence in the American fabric. The Juneteenth events at MSU will include components focused on voting, entrepreneurship and storytelling. Events will run from June 15 through June 19.

June 28 – Music and the Garden Go Music Trio: The MSU College of Music and Beal Botanical Garden invite you to this year’s Music and the Garden series, an outdoor celebration of music, nature, and community.

Weekends in June – Abrams Planetarium: Chasing the Ghost Particles: At the heart of Antarctica, the IceCube detector uses elusive particles called neutrinos to explore the universe’s most extreme phenomena, including exploding stars and black holes. Through stunning simulations and a journey deep beneath the Antarctic ice, this show at the Abrams Planetarium demonstrates how scientists use these “ghost particles” to uncover secrets of the cosmos from one of the most remote places on Earth.

Learning Opportunities

June 10 – Women Talk Money: Deep dive on HSAs—help make them work for you: This webinar through Fidelity breaks down the ins and outs of how HSAs can be great for health care costs today and help strengthen your long-term financial picture, and show you how to help maximize your account at every stage of life.

June 10 – TIAA: Set Your Retirement Date: Understand your factors to get you to your goal: If you are starting to think seriously about retirement, this course is perfect for insights on how you can create your retirement vision, understand what’s ahead, estimate expenses and income, and complete your plan.

June 10 and 11 – Student Supervision Series: Hiring student employees benefits both the student and the department. This series walks you through student employment policies, required procedures, and online hiring processes while helping you set clear performance expectations and connect students’ academic interests to their work. You’ll also explore effective strategies for leading and motivating student employees.

June 16 and 17 – Crucial Conversations for Accountability: This two-day course helps participants build accountability skills that strengthen trust, improve performance, and increase team effectiveness.

June 18 – The Spartan Experience: This training is grounded in real MSU examples, team activities, and self-reflection. Whether you work in student services, facilities, finance, or academic support, you’ll walk away with tangible strategies to elevate your service mindset and make a positive impact, one interaction at a time.

June 24 – Creating and Sustaining a Positive Workplace: This course provides humorous insight into the seven habits of negativity, including tips to stop gossip, techniques for getting along with others, and strategies to reap the many benefits of a positive and engaged workforce.

June 25 – TIAA: Identity Theft: Safeguarding Your Finances: Whether it is a phishing email, fraudulent phone call, or fake social media profile, identity theft is a growing threat. In this webinar hosted by TIAA, you will learn common tactics used by identity thieves, steps to prevent identity theft, and what to do if your personal information is compromised.

June 25 – Identify and Maximize Your Strengths: Tap into your unique talents and complete the CliftonStrengths Assessment. Learn more about your natural patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving and how it applies to your role in the workplace. Use your research to express what you do best and grow your overall confidence.

Family-Friendly Events

June 6 – Family Day: SHINE: First Saturday of the month means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum! This month, discover how light moves in art. Join in on making art that invites light to filter, bounce, and shine, inspired by the exhibition: Jan Tichy: Darkness.

Recurring Weekends – Toddler Time at Launch Lansing: Visit Launch Lansing Trampoline Park during select times to enjoy children’s music, visits from Joey the kangaroo, and a special toddler section with your little ones.

Greater Lansing Area Events

Various Dates in June – Lansing Lugnuts Home Game: Head to Jackson Field and “Go Nuts” cheering on the Lansing Lugnuts, where every game brings a fun and lively atmosphere. There’s always something exciting happening at the ballpark for fans of all ages.

June 4, 11, 18 and 25 – Summer Concerts on the Square: Summer is almost here, which means Summer Concerts on the Square in Charlotte! New bands will play recurring weekly on Thursdays until the end of August.

Recurring Tuesdays – DeWitt Farmers Market: The 2026 Downtown DeWitt Farmer’s Market is being held every Tuesday until October! Here you will find the freshest produce, locally farmed meats, fresh eggs, delicious baked goods, and locally produced foods.

Recurring Saturdays – Holt Farmers Market: Visit the Delhi Township Fire Department for one of Michigan’s premiere indoor farmers markets. The Holt Farmers market serves as a space to support local farmers and food growers, local artisans, and provide locals the opportunity to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods.

Saturdays in June – Meridian Farmers’ Market: The summer schedule is here for the Meridian Farmers Market! Stop by every Saturday this month for farm-fresh ingredients, specialty foods, handmade crafts and more.

Recurring Wednesdays – The Allen Farmer’s Market: Visit the Allen Farmers Market in Lansing for seasonal produce, artisan baked goods, gluten-free baked goods, pasture raised eggs, dry beans, fresh, delectable cheeses, hot and ready-to-eat foods, local meat and fish and fun activities.

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The Transparency Tightrope

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Written by Sharri Margraves, EdD, SHRM-SCP, Director of HR Organization and Professional Development.

In times of change, one word rises quickly to the top of every conversation: transparency. Leaders are told to be more transparent. Employees ask for greater transparency. Organizations claim it to be a cultural value. And yet—transparency can be one of the most misunderstood concepts in the workplace. During change, the gap between expectations and reality becomes visible. This is where frustration grows, and trust is tested.

At the end of the article, you will find a facilitation guide you can use for your own discussion guide or feel free to reach out if you need support.

Organizational change often exposes internal boundary conflicts, especially when leaders struggle to suspend judgment and approach concerns with curiosity. Feedback is data—meant to be considered, not dismissed—and effective leaders can truly listen, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Here are a few thoughts on transparency. What do you think?

1. Transparency Means Sharing Everything

Expectation: Employees often believe transparency requires complete openness and immediate access to all information, thinking this will lead to a fair and equal workplace.

Reality: Transparency involves sharing relevant and vital information while maintaining necessary confidentiality for legal, strategic, or privacy reasons. It’s about honesty and openness in decision-making and processes, not about information overload. It may lead to frustration if not properly communicated.

2. Transparency Eliminates Gossip

Expectation: Employees may assume that complete transparency will eliminate workplace gossip and rumors.

Reality: While transparency can reduce uncertainty that fuels gossip, it can’t eliminate it. Some level of informal communication will always exist, and transparency helps manage it by providing accurate information. Using the adage “THINK.” Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, or Kind to reduce gossip.

3. Transparency is a One-Time Achievement

Expectation: Employees might think that once transparency is achieved, it remains static and requires no further effort.

Reality: Transparency is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort, communication, and trust-building. It evolves with the organization and its dynamics; it is a product of the collective culture.

4. Transparency Equals Trust

Expectation: Employees may believe that transparency automatically creates trust among the team.

Reality: Transparency is a component of building trust, but it’s not the sole factor. Trust also depends on consistency, integrity, and the ability to deliver on promises.

5. Transparency Slows Down Decision-Making

Expectation: Leaders might think that being transparent with information will slow down decision-making processes because more people are involved. Conversely, employees often believe they should have a say in all decisions.

Reality: While gathering input can take more time, transparency typically leads to more informed decisions, stronger trust, and greater commitment to implementation. Employees should have a voice, but not necessarily a vote. To prevent confusion or frustration, leaders must clearly communicate the type of input they seek and the level of decision-making authority. Just be sure to avoid “the illusion of inclusion.” Don’t ask if you don’t really intend on using the input.

Examples of Clarity in Decision-Making:

  1. Inform: “This decision has been made. Let’s discuss potential impacts, next steps, and any clarifying questions.”
  2. Consult: “I’ve been asked to provide input. What will the impact be on our work or operations?”
  3. Recommend: “Please gather input, assess impacts, and develop recommendations. I will make the final decision.”
  4. Empower: “You are responsible for the decision. Let me know what you decide and how you plan to move forward.”

6. Transparency is Only Top-Down

Expectation: Employees may believe that transparency is solely the responsibility of senior leadership to communicate downward.

Reality: True transparency is a two-way street. It involves open communication across all levels of the organization, encouraging feedback, and fostering a culture of mutual openness. Feeling “safe” to brainstorm, suggest alternatives, and “agree to disagree” are hallmarks of a stronger culture.

7. Transparency Balance

Expectation: Employees might expect flawless, all-encompassing transparency.

Reality: Transparency involves balancing openness with practicality, and there may be periods when information is withheld for its sensitivity. Clarify that you will be transparent whenever you can.

8. Transparency reduces conflict

Expectation: Transparency will prevent or solve all workplace issues and conflicts.

Reality: While it helps in resolving many issues, transparency alone cannot address all underlying conflicts and organizational challenges. Building a culture of trust, in which transparency plays a role, ultimately enables us to have the hard conversations that drive greater effectiveness and positive work cultures.

9. Transparency equals access

Expectation: Transparency equates to immediate access to management and leadership.

Reality: Employees might find that transparency involves structured communication channels and scheduled updates rather than instant access. Access to senior leaders is inherently limited, and they rely on the organizational hierarchy to develop the skills and abilities needed to manage communications, information, and decision-making. Creating a culture in which information flows up the hierarchy to clarify, advance ideas, or discuss barriers and obstacles is critical.

10. Transparency eliminates ambiguity

Expectation: Transparent workplaces will have no “gray area.”

Reality: Even in workplaces with a high degree of transparency, ambiguity will remain as certain decisions and processes are complex and evolve. Help employees understand that there are rarely clear-cut situations—our work requires us to be comfortable with ambiguity. Adaptability takes practice and is one of the more critical skill areas for all leaders. And let’s be honest, we are not at our best self all the time. Allow space and grace, particularly during change.

Facilitation Guide: Transparency in Times of Change

Purpose

Align teams on expectations and realities of transparency during change.

Agenda (45 Minutes)

  1. Introduction (5 min)
  2. Review concepts (10 min)
  3. Discussion (20 min)
  4. Agreements (5 min)
  5. Wrap-up (5 min)

Discussion Questions for Teams

  • How are our current (or anticipated) changes impacting us?
  • Where do we see gaps in transparency?
  • What do we need more clarity on?
  • What expectations should we reset?
  • What norms should we adopt?

Sources:

M. Kalokora, A., & Lekule, C. (2019). Transparency in Higher Education Human Resource Management: Benefits and Challenges. Journal of Education & Social Policy, 6(4).

Moore, M. (2023, January 13). How Transparent Should You Be with Your Team? Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2023/01/how-transparent-should-you-be-with-your-team

Salazar, M. (2017). Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for “Let’ s be clear”: Exploring the Role of Transparency Within the Organization. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1718&context=etds

Find Your Calm: Tools for Everyday Well‑Being

Published on by Abigail Miller1 Comment

April is Stress Awareness Month, a reminder that everyday stress can take a toll on both mental and physical health. Learning to manage stress effectively is an important part of maintaining overall well-being and happiness. MSU offers a variety of resources to employees to help you feel more balanced.

  • NEW – Calm Health App: Recently launched in late 2025, the Calm Health app is available at no cost to MSU employees and eligible dependents, offering personalized, psychologist-developed programs and tools to help manage stress, improve sleep, and support overall mental and physical well-being.
  • Campus Meditation Map: Beal Scholar Anhad Viswananth created this incredible meditation map to highlight the best spots to meditate around campus.
  • Fitness Resources to Stay Active: Watch your stress dissolve as you become more active this spring. Warmer weather is on its way, and it’s the perfect time to get outside and run, kayak, walk, or swim.
  • University Health and Wellbeing (UHW): UHW supports our university community with health and well-being equitably woven throughout all aspects of Spartan life. They offer a variety of resources for employees, including:
    • Midday Moves:  Take a break from end of the semester stress with a Finals Flex stretch, mobility, and mindful movement routine. Bring an exercise mat or a towel. Two ways to join: in-person at the MSU Library or via Zoom.
    • Desk Decompress: Join one of these 30 or 15-minute virtual classes to relax and decompress while stretching and strengthening the wrist, shoulders, and spine. Join on a Monday for a full-body movement, or a join on a Thursday to work upper-body throughout April. 
    • Spartan Resilience Education Programs: University Health and Wellbeing provide opportunities for any Spartan, anywhere, to develop or strengthen the skills needed to effectively respond to their unique collection of challenges. Through a variety of media and teaching formats, they seek to ensure that resilience education is accessible, inclusive, and ever-present as part of the “Spartan Experience.”
    • Employee Assistance Program: The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential short-term counseling and referral service provided at no cost to MSU faculty, staff, graduate assistants, retirees, and their insurance-eligible dependents who are located within the state of Michigan. Classes and resources to help reduce stress are updated on the EAP website often.
    • Listen to the Wellbeing at MSU podcast to hear from leaders across MSU.
    • View all UHW events, webinars, and more.
  • Walking at MSU: There are many things to see and do on MSU’s 2,100-acre campus. Join these MSU campus walking tours and make the most of our beautiful campus and gardens.
  • Breaking Free from Stress Course: This course offered by HR’s Organization and Professional Development department will help you learn how to be less reactive to other people and events and live your life from a deeper perspective of common sense and wisdom.
  • How to Disconnect From Work: Taking time away from work, in the forms of breaks, vacation time, or strengthening boundaries around employees’ workdays, is important. View these resources to learn more about balancing your time and work schedule.

A Commitment to Wellbeing at MSU


As announced by MSU University Health and Wellbeing, Michigan State University was recently recognized as one of Michigan’s Best and Brightest in Wellness, earning the Best of the Best Large Business honor in 2025. This award, presented by the National Association for Business Resources, celebrates organizations that prioritize the health and wellbeing of their communities.

From mental health support and resilience programming to campus-wide wellness initiatives, this recognition reinforces MSU’s commitment to creating a supportive environment where Spartans can thrive.

Stress can look different for each individual, so take care of yourself using these resources and beyond. Have another resource you’d like to add to the list? Let us know in the comments!

A red ship made out of paper leading other ships in a new direction.

Because we’ve always done it that way.

Published on by MSU Human ResourcesLeave a comment

Written by Sharri Margraves, EdD, SHRM-SCP, Director of HR Organization and Professional Development.

I really disliked some parts of being a supervisor in a new land. It’s hard—harder than most people admit. You inherit systems you didn’t design, relationships you didn’t form, and histories you don’t yet understand. You’re expected to bring fresh thinking and respect what already exists. No leader is hired to keep things the same. That tension shows up quickly in one familiar phrase: “Because we’ve always done it that way.” It’s frustrating when change needs to happen and it feels like inertia will never give way to momentum.

For many leaders, especially those new to an organization, this phrase can feel like a wall—talk to the hand. It can feel bad—an excuse, a form of resistance, or even a challenge to authority. Too often, it gets repeated outside the room as shorthand for “they don’t want to change.” When that happens, the phrase stops being a catchphrase to connect with others and starts casting staff in a negative light among peers, colleagues, and senior leaders.

Here’s the reframe: Because we’ve always done it that way (BWADITW) is a valid answer. It just isn’t a complete conversation.

“We’ve Always Done It That Way” Deserves Respect

When someone says “BWADITW,” they are often communicating more than just a habit and not just trying to get you to “leave well enough alone.” They may be signaling:

  • Historical constraints you haven’t seen yet
  • Past attempts at change that failed—or succeeded
  • Risk management in a regulated or high-stakes environment
  • Efficiency learned the hard way
  • Institutional memory that protects quality, safety, or trust
  • Contract or laws that must be followed

BWADITW usually reflects experience, not defiance.

Organizations don’t survive by accident. If something has been done the same way for a long time, it likely solved a real problem at some point. Generally, the leaders who came before you did the best they could with the situation and resources at hand. Treating BWADITW as dismissive—or reporting it as obstruction—erodes trust and undervalues the people who carried the organization forward before you arrived.

Strong leaders don’t shut this down; they lean in.

The Missed Opportunity: Not Asking the Next Questions

The gap of frustration isn’t that someone said, “Because we’ve always done it that way.”
The gap is stopping there. When leaders don’t ask follow-up questions, three things happen:

  1. Staff may feel dismissed and become less likely to share insights.
  2. Leaders miss operational intelligence that could accelerate improvement.
  3. Narratives form that position staff as resistant rather than knowledgeable.

BWADITW should be treated as an open door, not a closed one.

The Questions That Elevate Everyone

Here are a few simple, powerful follow-ups that increase collaboration and effectiveness:

  • Does this still work well today?
    Signals respect for the past while opening space for evaluation.
  • What works best about the current approach?
    Identifies strengths worth preserving.
  • Where does this process struggle?
    Invites honesty without blame.
  • If you could change one thing, what would it be?
    Empowers staff as contributors, not critics.
  • What do you think our stakeholders would value most here?
    Re-centers the conversation on purpose and impact.
  • What constraints should I understand before we consider changes?
    Demonstrates humility and systems thinking.

These questions do two things at once: They validate the work of those who have been there—and they create momentum for thoughtful improvement.

Quick Tips for Leaders When You Hear BWADITW

  • Pause your reaction. Annoyance is a signal to get curious.
  • Assume positive intent. Most people want the organization to succeed.
  • Document what you learn. Institutional knowledge is an asset.
  • Separate “always done” from “must be done.” Not everything old is sacred—but not everything new is better.
  • Share credit. When improvements happen, name the people whose insight made them possible.
  • Model how you talk about staff. How you describe these moments to others sets cultural norms.
  • Change causes people to be fearful—what if you eliminate their job?
  • Trust must be built over time. Building respectful cultures will help you get there faster.

Moving Forward Together

Honoring experience and driving change are not opposites. The most effective leaders do both—simultaneously. They recognize that progress doesn’t come from dismissing the past, but from building on it with intention. Remember the adage, slow is fast and small is big when thinking about improvements, aka “change”.

When leaders elevate their skill in these moments, they send a clear message:

  • Experience matters
  • Voices matter
  • Improvement is a shared responsibility

BWADITW isn’t the end of the conversation. For skilled leaders, it’s the beginning of a better one. Remember that all improvements involve change, but not all change causes improvement.

April Events Round-Up

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

It is officially spring in East Lansing, and that means it is time for April events! This month holds many virtual and in-person opportunities on campus and in the Greater Lansing area to celebrate the start of the new season.

Campus Events

Various Dates in April – Pride Month Events at MSU: Pride Month is dedicated to celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer, intersex, asexual and two-spirit, or LGBTQIA2S+, communities and histories. It is nationally recognized each year in June, a time when most Spartans have returned home for the summer. Michigan State University celebrates Pride Month in April, allowing Spartans to connect and celebrate pride with one another while they are still on campus.

Various Dates in April –MSU Men’s Baseball Home Game: Come visit the Jeff Ishbia Field at McLane Stadium and cheer on the Michigan State Spartans Men’s Baseball Team at a home game this April!

Various Dates in April – MSU Women’s Softball Home Game: Come visit the Secchia Stadium at MSU to cheer on the Michigan State Spartans Women’s Softball Team at a home game this April!

April 7 – 12 – Clue: Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount Pictures movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist at the Wharton Center this April.

April 9 – Beal Botanical Garden Tour: Spring into Conservation: Visit the Beal Botanical Garden for a spring tour exploring our diverse conservation efforts. This tour will focus primarily on Michigan’s rare plants, including our work preserving the state’s only fertile population of the Michigan Monkeyflower.

April 17 – 2026 RCPD Awards Reception: The Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) Awards and Appreciation Reception, held at the MSU Multicultural Center, will celebrate the recipients of 10 scholarships and three Spartans (students, faculty/staff, and alumni) who have shown exceptional dedication to advancing belonging and inclusion on our campus.

April 26 – 2026 Izzo Legacy Race: The Izzo family has partnered with Playmakers to host this premium experience on MSU’s campus. The mission is to connect alumni, MSU, and Mid-Michigan communities in a positive celebration of Coach Izzo’s legacy. The events include a 5K Run/Walk, 5K Roll, 1/2 K Walk/Roll, Kids’ Races and a Virtual 5K; all events will focus on fitness, fun, family, Spartan spirit, and charitable giving!

Learning Opportunities

April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 – Desk Decompress (Upper Body): Gentle movements can help counter the effects of sitting at a desk and leave you feeling more relaxed. Take a few minutes to decompress while stretching and strengthening the neck, shoulders, wrists, and spine. Movements can be done sitting or standing.

April 6, 13, 20, and 27 – Desk Decompress (Full Body): Gentle movements can help counter the effects of sitting at a desk and leave you feeling more relaxed. Take a few minutes to decompress while stretching and strengthening from head to toe. Most movements can be done sitting or standing. Balance exercises may be included.

April 7 – Building Awareness and Understanding the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory (ICS): This April workshop introduces the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory (ICS) to help participants understand their own and others’ communication and conflict resolution styles, improving cross-cultural interactions and problem-solving. Attendance is required for both sessions, with the second part taking place on June 2 to deepen understanding and apply strategies for navigating and resolving conflicts effectively.

April 7, 14, 21, and 28 – Navigating Hard Times with Empathy and Self Compassion: Spartan Resilience Education is offering a free, open session on practicing self-care and self-compassion, focusing on how to support ourselves and others during challenging times. Participants will learn key concepts like empathy vs. sympathy, core elements of self-compassion, and practical strategies to improve emotional support, avoid common mistakes, and enhance overall well-being and work effectiveness.

April 8 – WorkLife Wellbeing- Neurodivergence in the Workplace 2: Supporting Yourself and Others: The neurodivergence umbrella includes many common but often misunderstood disabilities. In this session, dive into how to support yourself and others and build a community inclusive of neurodivergent experiences.

April 12 – Out of the Darkness Walk: Hosted by UHW’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the Out of the Darkness Walk is an annual event that brings Spartans together to support suicide prevention and promote mental health awareness.

April 15 – A Guide to Names and Pronouns: This in-person course allows participants to learn appropriate and respectful ways to use names and pronouns to promote gender inclusivity in the workplace. Understand why safety and privacy around gender, names, and pronouns matter, as well as how to recover when mistakes happen.

April 16 – Five Behaviors: Personal Development: This program helps individual contributors become more effective teammates by exploring the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team model through activities, videos, and discussions. Participants complete a pre-assessment and learn key behaviors that strengthen collaboration, trust, and team effectiveness.

April 16 – Roadmap to Retirement: If you are an MSU faculty or staff member, and you have decided to retire within a year or two, this half-day workshop covers a range of topics critical to your successful retirement.

April 20 – Relaxing Under the Stars: Visit the Abrams Planetarium for Relaxing Under the Stars, a peaceful in-person experience held once a month. Each 50-minute session features a guided constellation tour using the Digistar projection system – perfect for stress relief and mindful relaxation.

April 22 and 23 – Strategic Business Analysis: Turning Requirements into Results: This two-day course builds skills in strategic business analysis, helping participants create clear, actionable requirements that align with organizational goals and deliver meaningful results. Through frameworks, hands-on practice, and stakeholder engagement techniques, learners gain confidence in eliciting, writing, prioritizing, and evaluating requirements for maximum business value.

April 24 – Midday Moves (Hybrid): Take a break from end of the semester stress with a Finals Flex stretch, mobility, and mindful movement routine, designed to leave you feeling more relaxed. Exercises will mostly be standing and on the ground, with seated options provided. Bring an exercise mat or a towel. Join in-person at the MSU Library or over Zoom!

April 29 and 30 – Crucial Conversations for Mastering Dialogue: This program teaches techniques that allow you to make room for different opinions and perspectives, find mutual respect and common purpose, and dialogue openly. With these skills, you’ll not only work with others more effectively, but you can also help foster psychological safety and inclusion.

April 30 – Cultural Competency I: This course focuses on building cultural competence and inclusivity skills aligned with MSU’s commitment to fostering a safe, respectful, and welcoming workplace for all employees. Participants will develop self-awareness, challenge biases and stereotypes, and practice communication strategies like the CARES model to improve interactions and effectively address workplace concerns.

Family-Friendly Events

April 1 – 30 – MSU Science Festival: The MSU Science Festival is a free annual celebration of science, fueled by some of the basic elements essential to scientific inquiry: curiosity, wonder, and discovery. The festival is free and for lifelong learners of all ages!

April 4 – Family Day: PLAY: First Saturday means Family Day at the MSU Broad Art Museum! This month, find out why artists play with ideas as we celebrate the young artists in the Saturday Morning Art (SmART) pop-up exhibition, in collaboration with the MSU Department of Art, Art History, and Design.

April 5, 12, 19, and 26 – Abrams Planetarium Family Show: The Little Star that Could: Come see the story about an average yellow star on a search for planets of his own to warm and protect. Along his way, he encounters other stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars can combine to form clusters and galaxies.

Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday – Toddler Time at Launch Lansing: Visit Launch Lansing Trampoline Park during select times to enjoy children’s music, visits from Joey the kangaroo, and a special toddler section with your little ones.

Greater Lansing Area Events

April 10 – Night at a Living Museum: Visit the Potter Park Zoo to Unlock a world of wonder and discovery at the Living Museum! These hands-on activities are designed for guests of all ages to learn about the care of animals at the zoo and our conservation efforts both locally and globally.

Recurring Saturdays – Holt Farmers Market: Visit the Delhi Township Fire Department for one of Michigan’s premiere indoor farmers markets. The Holt Farmers market serves as a space to support local farmers and food growers, local artisans, and provide locals the opportunity to purchase wholesome, locally produced foods.

April 4, and 25 – Meridian Indoor Farmers’ Market: Farmers’ Market Moves Indoors! The Market will move indoors to the JCPenney corridor of the Meridian Mall Starting on Saturday, November 29 and will run through April.

Recurring Wednesdays – The Allen Farmer’s Market: Visit the Allen Farmers Market in Lansing for seasonal produce, artisan baked goods, gluten-free baked goods, pasture raised eggs, dry beans, fresh, delectable cheeses, hot and ready-to-eat foods, local meat and fish and fun activities.

Job of the Week: Communications Manager I

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week’s featured job is a Communications Manager I for the Department of Anthropology within the College of Social Science (job posting 1115667). If you are interested in developing, implementing, managing and sustaining a comprehensive creative communications strategy that aligns with the department’s goals, this may be the role for you.

The MSU Department of Anthropology studies human cultural and biological diversity across time and space using a range of approaches. Faculty specialize in areas including socio-cultural anthropology, archaeology, medical anthropology, physical anthropology, and anthropological linguistics. The department aims to better understand the human condition both globally and locally.

In this position, you will lead the development and execution of an annual departmental communications and content strategy aligned with recruitment, research visibility, and engagement goals. You will monitor and analyze social media analytics and audience engagement to inform content and strategy. Additionally, you will manage the website, update content, and develop story ideas related to the department’s research. Find a complete list of responsibilities in the job posting.

This position requires a degree in journalism, telecommunications, public relations or similar, and one to three years of experience working in public and media relations, publication production, marketing, advertising, or similar. You should have strong writing, editing, and verbal skills, experience developing and managing social media content and campaigns, and experience collaborating with diverse academic stakeholders. Find a complete list of required and desired qualifications in the job posting.

Learn more about the Department of Anthropology. To learn more or apply for this position, please visit the MSU Careers Website. Applications require a resume, cover letter, three professional references, and a link to an online portfolio of relevant creative communications work, and should be submitted by April 9.

Job of The Week: Office Assistant IV

Published on by Abigail MillerLeave a comment

This week’s featured job is an Office Assistant IV for the Department of Economics in the College of Social Science (job posting 1114936). If you are interested in providing accounting, operational, and administrative support for a large, high-volume academic department, this may be the role for you. 

The MSU Department of Economics consists of three interrelated components: providing the highest quality instruction to students, conducting leading-edge research in economics, and providing service and leadership to professional communities.

In this position, you will support the Department of Economics Fiscal Officer, which includes supporting travel, reimbursements, vouchers, budget tracking, and financial compliance. Additionally, you will perform necessary operational and administrative functions required to support faculty, staff, and instructional activities. This includes scheduling rooms and coordinating logistics for seminars, conferences, and special events, maintaining departmental records, coordinating exam materials, and preparing financial records. Find a complete list of responsibilities in the job posting. 

This position requires knowledge equivalent from the first two to three years of college or technical school, and one to three years experience working in maintaining account ledgers, departmental operations, employment or related tasks. You should have experience in word processing, maintaining spreadsheets, and editing and composing correspondence. Find a complete list of required and desired qualifications in the job postings. 

Learn more about the Department of Economics. To learn more or apply for this position, please visit the MSU Careers website. Applications require a cover letter, CV/resume, and three professional references, and should be submitted by March 10.