TRANSITION= T*T

picture: www.tuesdaystrong.com

As I mentioned in a previous post I wanted to write a post about my Transition into my new position.
I think the answer is very simple. Transition is equal to T squared. For Transition to be successful there needs to be Transparency ( openness) and Trust.

I have tried to create this culture through leading by example. By no means am I perfect and I am sure as my journey continues I will make mistakes but here are the steps I have taken to help build Trust and Transparency and therefore have an easier/ smoother Transition

1. Send out weekly update emails to the faculty letting them know what I have been up to and how plans for the new school year are proceeding.

2 Created a Faculty blog  to share ideas and encourage open lines of communication ocafacultyfocus.blogspot.com

3 Encourage discussion by posting questions on  Google docs  https://docs.google.com/a/ohrchadashbaltimore.org/document/d/1LVqB23e0t49LCAKDLpRNdcJN47e37ouSsCi5rIKhGWw/edit?pli=1

https://docs.google.com/a/ohrchadashbaltimore.org/document/d/1T_WDuFeI_AsWgQDg8DB7oG00bQMWUh9jqbYQfem0RoI/edit

4 Set up face to face meetings with Faculty

I am sure there are other things that can or should be done but for now I have taken these small steps.

GOING WITH THE FLOW

As I sit here writing this post I just experienced 3 days with out any electricity with temperatures in the high 90's - low 100's. I still don't have phone or internet service at home. Thankful we have made some very good friends in a very short period of time and we crashed at their house on Sunday. it was truly a 21st century gathering with everyone bringing at least one apple product. During this impromptu chilling session my daughter with the help of others who were without electricity was able to find a job for the summer. Added to all of this was that my first official day of work was July 1 and today was the first day I was able to get into work due to the power outages that hit the Baltimore area this past weekend. Truth be told I actually started early on June 18 for a number of reason.

So why am I telling you all of this.

Well I had planned a whole detailed blog about my transition to my new job, the transition/ welcome letters I wrote as well as the culture I hope to create moving forward. I would still like to write that more formal blog post one day soon.
However this week taught me the best advice about starting a new job or for that matter almost anything we do in life and that is we need to be flexible at times and just "GO WITH THE FLOW"

I had all these amazing ideas and plans and yes I will get to do them but who would have imagined that by the end of the second week on the job in a new city that my family and I would be faced with a major storm and power outage. Thankfully do the support and help and amazing friends we overcame this challenge and we move on until we face the next one and we will tackle that one as well.

Yes I have a lot to say on the topic of transition but for now the best advice I can give is to "Go With The Flow"

There is a Yiddish expression that also sums us this idea slightly differently it says. " Man plans and G-d laughs"

I think when we take a step back and take a deep breath we will see  how truly wise this expression is and how much more in the end we can accomplish when we  " Go With the Flow"

My two cents
Akevy