What's Your Leadership Story? by Oltman Gretchen;Bautista Vicki; & Vicki Bautista

Author:Oltman, Gretchen;Bautista, Vicki; & Vicki Bautista
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
Published: 2021-08-02T00:00:00+00:00

Gretchen's Story

My first working experiences actually consisted of two jobs: at an old-fashioned shoe store by day and as a Little League umpire at night. Each job taught me something different. At the shoe store, I worked with employees who had made selling shoes a full-time career, meaning they had either inherited the family business or worked their entire adult lives in retail. Other than a couple college-aged kids, the rest of the regular crew were over 50, if not in their 60s or 70s.

Although it felt great to be the young, hip one in the store, I think the most fundamental lesson I learned working there is the importance of respecting those who have lived longer than we have. My coworkers taught me lessons about courtesy, responsibility, and simply caring for people in their old age. I learned how to put shoes on the feet of old ladies with bunions, and every Christmas season I courtesy wrapped hundreds of gift boxes for customers. I did not know it at the time, but I was gaining patience and an appreciation for the experiences of others.

Today, as I write this book in my 40s, most of my coworkers from that job have died. That's a sad thing for me to think about now, but we stayed in touch after I left the job, and when I needed advice or just wanted to feel a piece of home, those were the friends I called. In my job now, where faculty I work with can be in the later decades of life, these skills are still much in use. I now work with multiple generations of colleagues, so I am constantly navigating communication preferences and work styles. I serve students, who, much like customers, deserve to be listened to and valued. However, as with every job, there is a fair share of paperwork, email, and mundane tasks that need to be addressed in order to get through a day.

The umpire job was a bit more controversial. As you may imagine, with Little League players come parents, coaches, and fans who can be obnoxious, vile, and annoying. In that job, I learned to stand firm. I was not perfect by any means, and no decision I made as an umpire changed anyone's life, but the job taught me how to make quick decisions and stand by them. I got used to hearing the opinions of others and quickly became aware of how much a "good game, Ump" coming from a passerby meant after a game. The job also gave me the ability to let things go and move on after a decision without dwelling on it for days or weeks.

As a college professor today, there are times when decisions must be made quickly and decisively. I can do this, for the most part, without hearing the voice of an inner critic, largely thanks to those formative experiences. In addition, this job gave me a wild appreciation for coaches, umpires, and athletes who pour their hearts into what they love.

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