Lets Love All the Generations

Originally Published: February 14, 2024

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you all a day of appreciation for the love in your life, the love you give, and the love you receive. 

This week's wisdom is about how we can span the generations and create better working environments for everyone.

I recommend you read this summary article (it's short...less than a 5-minute read!) and consider whether you can envision any ways to better support the generational diversity in your organization. 

I know that many of our families in the U/S. are not living in multigenerational configurations, that many of us gravitate to work cohorts of about the same generations, and our society amplifies generational differences in-jokes and put-downs. 

But...we don't have to! We can recognize differences, appreciate the challenges with humor, and then also find common ground that creates more inclusiveness. 

  

We need to start having smarter intergenerational conversations,” says Dr. Megan Gerhardt, author of Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce. “It’s all about stepping away from lazy generational stereotypes and exploring opportunities in our multigenerational workplaces. Sitting right before us are five talented generations with diverse perspectives, experiences, and different kinds of valuable expertise, but rather than leveraging that tremendous human potential, we squander it.” 

All the best,

Holly

Links: 

• From Gen Z to Xand Boomers: How to Effectively lead a multi-generational Workforce (https://chief.com/articles/from-gen-z-to-x-and-boomers-too-how-to-effectively-lead-a-multi-generational-workforce)
• Gentelligence: The Revolutionary Approach to Leading an Intergenerational Workforce. (https://chief.com/articles/from-gen-z-to-x-and-boomers-too-how-to-effectively-lead-a-multi-generational-workforce)

NYSERNet Women in IT CoP - The Imposter Syndrom

Original Post Date: February 7, 2024

Last week saw the first meeting of the NYSERNet Women in IT Community of Practice. Obviously, not everyone on the list could attend, so I am reposting the terrific summary by Jennifer Oxenford. The meeting was an informative and interactive discussion, exactly the kind of discussion that adds to our knowledge base and helps to build community.

I hope you will find these resources useful and will consider joining this group for future meetings.

All the best,

Holly

_________________________

Here are some follow-up statistics and resources on the Imposter Syndrome Learn@Lunch topic we started discussing this week:

• 75% of female executives across industries have experienced imposter syndrome in their careers, which is a feeling of inadequacy and self-doubt that makes them continuously doubt if they are qualified enough for the job. (KPMG)
• 74% of executive women believe that their male counterparts do not experience feelings of self-doubt as much as female leaders do. (KPMG)
• Two-thirds (66%) of women have experienced imposter syndrome at work over a 12 month period. (OnePoll)
• According to the 2018 study by OnePoll, men are 18% less likely to experience imposter syndrome than women, with just over half (56%) saying they experienced it in the past 12 months.
• Just 21% of leaders say they’ve discussed these feelings with their peers or other business leaders (NerdWallet). 4% say they don’t discuss these feelings with anyone else (NerdWallet).
• Imposter Syndrome is most prevalent in those just starting off their careers and those at the other end of the scale at the close of their career journey (NerdWallet)
• Starting a new role triggers Imposter Syndrome in the most people (57%), closely followed by receiving praise in front of colleagues (55%). (NerdWallet)

You're Not Powerless in the Face of Imposter Syndrome

Here are resources on conquering Imposter Syndrome and talking to staff and colleagues to normalize conversations around Imposter Syndrome:

• You're Not Powerless in the Face of Imposter Syndrome
• You're Not an Imposter. Yu're Actually Pretty Amazing.
• 15 Leadership Tips For Helping EmployeesDefeat Imposter Syndrom
• Imposter Syndrome Plagues Most Women - Less than Half of Men

Our next meeting will be on Thurs. Feb. 22nd at 12pm ET (time adjusted from 11am to accommodate SUNY CC CIOs meeting conflict). Zoom link to join the meeting is included below. Please feel free to share the invite with others that you think may have interest and we encourage you to sign up at and share the resource page. And if you are inspired to offer any further resources/suggestions on topics/speakers for future meetings please fill out the form

Jennifer Oxenford

CHIEF MEMBERSHIP OFFICER | DIRECTOR, NYC DARK FIBER PROGRAM

NYSERNet

Culture Snippet - Culture Code

 WIT Updates the Culture Code will provide a snippet of information that you can use to rethink outdated ways of looking at diversity in technology and replace those with beliefs and strategies that are better suited to the diverse world we want to work in.

Snippet #1: What is the 'Culture Code"?

"The Culture Code is based on a simple insight: great groups don’t happen by chance. They are built according to three universal rules." Use this website to find out more...and then use your local SUNY library to get the full book!
Want more regular ideas for increasing gender diversity in technology? Join SUNY Women in Technology (WIT) listserv, send an email to: lyris@ls.suny.edu with the phrase “subscribe suny-wit” as the body of the message. (Subject is optional)

Have an idea for a snippet? Email Holly Heller-Ross at hellerhb@plattsburgh.edu

Kindness through Clarity

Original Post: January 31, 2024

This week's wisdom is about clarity.

Clear instructions make a difference, as I'm sure we've all experienced when working to put together toy, a piece of furniture, or install the software.

lear directions help us get where we are going faster.

Clear feedback helps us redirect our efforts and achieve our goals more easily.

But what is clear to me isn't always clear to you. 

This point was driven home to me recently, as a student asked for help with an assignment, characterizing the instructions as "vague".  My initial thought was...how can step by step instructions be considered vague? Then I caught myself and leaned into what the student was saying...that they just weren't sure what to do and they wanted to do it the right way. Which is the absolutely best thing for any student to want! Of course, I might want my student to try to do it before asking for help...but that can come later after they trust that not getting it right the first time isn't a bad outcome, and they can redo it after my feedback.

As women in technology, as allies, as colleagues, let's be as clear as possible in our communications, AND...let's be ready to provide more clarity when folks don't seem to understand. Here are some examples: 

"Please don't dismiss my ideas during a meeting without asking how I reached that conclusion. It undermines my credibility. Thanks"  

"Yes, I know you don't mean to, but I've noticed that Joe has now started doing the same thing in meetings with Tonya." 

"Let's think through this list of job requirements, maybe we could move some of these into the preferred category, so that a more diverse set of applicants would apply?" 

Do we actually need to say digital scholarship experience is required when we are only hoping a new hire will do that work? " 

"Did you know that women are more likely not to even apply if they don't meet every single requirement?" 

As Brene Brown says...Clear is Kind. 

All the best,

Holly

WIT Weekly Wisdom: A  message for SUNY WIT list subscribers on the topics of Connecting, Learning, Stretching, Teaching, Reaching, and Balancing. 

Have a suggestion for a WIT Weekly Wisdom message? Contact Holly Heller-Ross @ hellerhb@plattsburgh.edu

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Scheduling Life

Publish Date: January 25, 2024

This week's wisdom is about scheduling.

Want to advance in your career, complete your work obligations, and have time for your family and friends? 

Want to be known for your accomplishments, organization, and dependability? 

Then, you want to get even better at managing your schedule! I know I do!

Since we are still in January (often a reset time in US culture), think about how you can achieve your goals more easily by taking some time to think about how you schedule your life. I'm not talking about time management writ large, or how to focus more intensively once you start a task...just the basic skills of creating an effective schedule. 

Why?  Because: 

1. "Effective scheduling is very important because it helps to maximize the most crucial unrenewable resource we are given – time. Some days we want to go home already, some days we wish for extra hours. But we are all given the same 24 hours – whether we like it or not. Our time each day is limited, but we cannot let it limit us." https://scaletime.co/blog/scheduling-tips"How you make your own schedule depends on your specific organizational needs. 
2. "Some people are the most productive when they plan their entire day, others thrive by only scheduling larger or complicated tasks. As you create a daily schedule, try to allow yourself to remain flexible. Pay attention to what method allows you to be the most productive. " https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-make-a-schedule

For yourself:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-to-make-a-schedule
https://www.cio.com/article/286701/careers-staffing-10-time-management-tips-for-it-professionals.html
https://onlinegrad.syracuse.edu/blog/productivity/
https://libparlor.com/2020/01/28/your-tenure-track-toolbox-tips-tricks-tech-for-success/

For managers and leaders:

https://www.zoomshift.com/blog/staff-scheduling-best-practices/
https://scaletime.co/blog/scheduling-tips
https://hbr.org/2024/01/want-to-be-a-better-leader-stop-thinking-about-work-after-hours?
https://www.springshare.com/libstaffer/

Trust yourself to know what will best work for you...and then do it!

All the best,

Holly

WIT Weekly Wisdom: A  message for SUNY WIT list subscribers on the topics of Connecting, Learning, Stretching, Teaching, Reaching, and Balancing. 

Have a suggestion for a WIT Weekly Wisdom message? Contact Holly Heller-Ross @ hellerhb@plattsburgh.edu

SUNY WIT List is powered by SUNY ITEC