Transcript Developing Your Professional Philosophy

DEVELOPING YOUR
PROFESSIONAL
PHILOSOPHY
Brett L. Bruner, M.S.
Director of Persistence & Retention
Fort Hays State University (KS)
2013 NODA Graduate Student Symposium | San Antonio, TX
#NODAgrad
Overview
• Learning Outcomes
• What is a Professional Philosophy?
• What’s the Importance of Having a Professional Philosophy?
• How Do I Create my Professional Philosophy?
• Let’s Begin Crafting & Brainstorming!
• You’ve Got a Start – GREAT! Now What?!?
#NODAgrad
Learning Outcomes
After attending this session, participants will be able to:
• Articulate the importance of having a professional philosophy
• Understand how a professional philosophy connects to decision-
making within your position
• Identify ways to begin developing your professional philosophy
#NODAgrad
What is a Professional
Philosophy?
#NODAgrad
What is a Professional
Philosophy?
• A statement that reflects the way we, as professionals, view our
jobs, coworkers, & relationships
• Incorporating our values into daily performance
• Direction or roadmap for later evaluation &/or reflection
• Positive, self-motivating statement
#NODAgrad
What’s the Importance of Having
a Professional Philosophy?
• Validates how we help others develop their goals
• Walk the Talk!
• Congruency between who we are & what we do
• Helps keep us focused
• Brings integrity to our lives & the profession
• Promotes an understanding of human relationships
• Framework for dealing with your values
• Promotes your flexibility & consistency in working with various
constituencies
#NODAgrad
How Do I Create my Professional
Philosophy?
Combination of the following:
• Your values
• Your educational aspirations
• Your professional aspirations
• Your beliefs
• Your thoughts on life…
#NODAgrad
Let’s Begin Crafting &
Brainstorming!
What are Your Values?
• Personal values
• Professional/career oriented-values
What are Your Educational Aspirations?
• Will a master’s degree be your final degree?
• Do you have desire to pursue a terminal doctoral degree?
• Are you a lifelong learner & want to pick up additional skills through
education & training?
#NODAgrad
Let’s Begin Crafting &
Brainstorming!
What are Your Professional Aspirations?
• Where do you see yourself in the next 1-2 years?
• 5-10 years?
• Do you have a passion for specific functional areas within the field?
What are Your Beliefs?
• What guides your decision-making process?
What student development theories resonate with you?
#NODAgrad
Let’s Begin Crafting &
Brainstorming!
What are Your Thoughts?
• What are those random thoughts that are always at the forefront
of your mind?
• What are you thoughts on…
The nature of being a human?
• The nature of being a student?
• The nature of being a parent/family member?
• The role of an institution?
• The role of higher education in society?
• The basics of living every day?
•
#NODAgrad
Begin Formulating Your
Statements
#NODAgrad
Begin Formulating Your
Statements
Example of a University President’s Personal Philosophy Statement:
• I believe passionately in the power of education & the personal &
moral obligations that derive from it.
• I believe strongly in the preeminence of ethics, honesty, & integrity
& have achieved a record that bespeaks this belief.
• I believe strongly in the concept & institution of family & can be
expected to work toward a family-friendly community &
institution.
• I believe strongly in optimism & confidence. In my view, there is not
such thing as failure, only successes yet to be achieved.
#NODAgrad
You’ve Got a Start – GREAT!
Now What?!?
• How will you operationalize your Personal Philosophy?
THE IDEAL ME
VS.
THE ACTUAL ME
(PHILOSOPHY)
(LIFE)
• Publish it!
• Celebrate the successes as you LIVE your professional philosophy!
• Make it a living & breathing document!
#NODAgrad
References
• Centre College (2006). Developing Your Professional Philosophy.
Retrieved from Centre College Student Life Retreat Web site.
• Freitag, D. (2011). Creating a Personal Philosophy of Academic
Advising. Retrieved from NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic
Advising Resources Web site.
• Hiemstra, R. Translating Personal Values & Philosophy into Practical
Action. Retrieved from Syracuse University Distance Learning
Web site.
DEVELOPING YOUR
PROFESSIONAL
PHILOSOPHY
Brett L. Bruner, M.S.
Director of Persistence & Retention
Fort Hays State University (KS)
2013 NODA Graduate Student Symposium | San Antonio, TX
[email protected]