One of my favorite career coaching professionals, Jim Peacock of Peak Careers, has a different take on New Year’s resolutions. Jim believes in setting your intentions for the upcoming year by identifying three words that align with your goals. I’m hooked; this is my third year selecting three words important to me. My words for 2024 are Why, And, and Yet. When choosing these words, I leaned into my top five CliftonStrengths®: Learner, Developer, Intellection, Connectedness, and Relator. (You can read about the 34 CliftonStrengths® here. You can also watch Jim’s interview with me and two other colleagues on how and why we chose our three words for 2024.)
Why? When faced with one of the 50 million choices it seems like I make weekly, I ask myself several questions:
- Why am I doing this?
- Why do I think I can do this?
- Why does it matter?
Why did I say yes when Kristina Dooley asked me to consider accepting the nomination for IECA President? After careful consideration (Kristina gave me 10 days!), I decided the future of IECA and its members is important to me and I wanted to be a part of the membership team guiding us through a major transition. As a professional school counselor, teamwork and collaboration are essential skills for working with students and adults in a school environment. Teamwork and collaboration are also transferable skills that will help me and the IECA Board of Directors navigate the twists and turns the next two years will bring.
Speaking of the board, I lucked out. I get to work with a group of thoughtful, talented, and dedicated people who want the best for IECA. The Learner in me is excited to grow and discover more about what is needed to keep IECA on an upward trajectory and to share that knowledge with our members. (As an aside, the nomenclature for essential skills has changed to durable skills.)
And. Several online sources include connection and joining in their definition of “and,” whereas the definition of “but” connotes impossibility or against something. I found myself using “but” more often than I liked, and I’ve become more cognizant of listening to myself when I use it. After speaking with Kristina, the “buts” reared their ugly heads:
- That’s a lot of work.
- I don’t think I have the time.
- Four years is a long commitment (two as President).
- I’m not the most qualified (that old imposter syndrome tapping me on the shoulder).
- I’ll be well into my 70s when my term ends (How dare I use ageism against myself!).
Reframing those concerns became:
- That’s a lot of work and we have a great team, including the staff and dedicated volunteers.
- I don’t think I have the time and I will need to be strategic about planning my schedule.
- Four years is a long commitment and it will give me the time to connect with people, learn more about what members want, and grow the next leadership team.
- I’m not the most qualified and I can learn by asking questions, observing closely, and relying on the staff to help me fill in the gaps.
- I’ll be well into my 70s when my term ends and age ain’t nothin’ but a number.
Since May 8, I’ve jumped in with both feet (okay, sometimes I pull back one). Connecting with the Board of Directors, the office staff, committee leaders, and a small slice of the many volunteers who make this all work has been interesting. Oftentimes, “but” is at the tip of my tongue; I’m learning how to take the time to ask why, and then make the connection to “and” with a little reframing. There have been a few times already that “but” turned into a hard “No” (which is a complete sentence); however, connection will lead to more reframing to strengthen and grow IECA.
Yet. There is an incredible amount of power in this short word. It speaks of possibilities. When working with my students, whether as a professional school counselor or as an independent educational consultant, helping students see their possible selves in a positive light (link.IECAonline.com/possible-selves) is a major part of what I hope to achieve. I’m carrying that same sense of positivity into my new role in IECA. Think of all the possibilities for IECA as the gold standard for independent educational consulting. To list only a few would be shortchanging the limitless possibilities for us. Let your imagination go wild (within budget, of course) about IECA in 2030 and beyond. We are moving toward our best possible selves and we’re not there … yet.
IECA is in the beginning stages of a major transition and we will keep you informed along the way. Look for periodic updates from the CEO Hiring Committee and the Board of Directors. As we move through this period, take a moment to reflect. Many questions remain unanswered, and yet, that is why we continue to innovate and improve.
Belinda J. Wilkerson, EdD
IECA President