We’re excited to invite you to the 2025 Summer Side Hustle Course for Clemson Staff! This 4-week crash course is designed to teach you the fundamentals of entrepreneurship while empowering and inspiring personal growth.
Join us weekly, starting Tuesday, June 3rd at 12:00 pm at the Brook T. Smith Launchpad, for a course of insightful discussions with like-minded staff peers and instructors, practical learning and skill enhancement. Modules and general information are on the flyer! Register by June 1st using this link! This course is free, but seats will fill up fast!
Contact Maggie Guerra Ayala, magdag@clemson.edu, for more information.
The 2024-2025 academic year is almost over, and we have a new cohort of staff senators, ready to drive lasting change for their constituents. As we prepare for the challenges ahead, we might ask ourselves, “How do we do that?” or “How can I advocate for myself and others?” During the April Staff Senator Training, we’ll delve deeper into these questions. But for now, let’s focus on preparing to advocate, channeling that Tiger Spirit. Let’s face it: advocacy isn’t just about roaring louder. It’s a high-stakes game of emotional chess, a delicate dance of persuasion, and a test of your inner fortitude. Think of it as constructing your own personal “Inner Fortress,” a mental and emotional stronghold that allows you to navigate the tricky terrain of advocating for yourself or others.
Forget the image of a medieval castle with moats and drawbridges. We’re talking about a fortress built on solid foundations: self-awareness, emotional regulation, cognitive resilience, and strategic communication. It’s less about brute force and more about nuanced finesse, a blend of vulnerability and strategic savvy.
Know Thyself (Really Know Thyself).
This isn’t your casual “I like long walks on the shores of Lake Hartwell” self-awareness. We’re talking digging deep into your values, triggers, and biases, with the same intensity as a student preparing for finals in Cooper Library. Authentic advocacy demands this level of introspection. Consider detailed journaling, producing a narrative analysis, and honestly confronting those moments that make you cringe.
Ever notice you get defensive when your actions are questioned? Journal it! Reflect on it! Recognizing our flaws isn’t weakness; it’s the key to authentic connection. Question your assumptions. Are you listening to understand, or just waiting to pounce? Tools like 360-degree feedback, which gathers input from peers, supervisors, and subordinates, and models like the Johari Window, which maps self-awareness and awareness by others, can provide crucial external perspectives. These tools help illuminate blind spots and create a more complete picture of your impact.
Master Your Emotional Weather.
Advocacy is an emotional rollercoaster. You’ll encounter resistance, frustration, and maybe even a few tears. Emotional regulation is your seatbelt. Empathy and vulnerability are your airbags, cushioning those emotional bumps. Practice active listening. Learn to recognize those emotional triggers and develop strategies to manage them. Maintaining dignity, both for ourselves and others, is a moral imperative. Consider it maintaining a calm, clear head even when the room is spinning.
Build Cognitive Resilience: Your Mental Bungee Cord.
Challenges are inevitable. How you bounce back defines your success. Reframe requests as collaborative opportunities, shifting from “me vs them” to “us vs. the problem.”
Setbacks aren’t failures; they’re learning curves. Conflict can be a catalyst for innovation. See it as turning lemons into lemonade, but with more strategic planning and less sugar.
Communicate Like a Pro (Not a Politician).
This is where your inner fortress translates into outward impact. Speak with clarity, conviction, and honesty. Courageous communication, even when difficult, builds trust. Understand the other person’s perspective. Focus on speaking their language, not just your own.
Influence with Integrity.
Advocacy isn’t about manipulation; it’s about building genuine relationships and fostering collaboration. Align your requests with the values of your audience. Articulate your worth and challenge limiting assumptions. Build trust and psychological safety. Focus on interests rather than positions to find common ground. Conceive of it as finding collaborative solutions, not just winning the argument.
Develop Strategic Harmony
Picture advocacy as crafting elegant bridges, not dramatic bonfires. Advocacy is about influencing from within, not upending from without. Think well-researched proposals over amplified demands. It’s the art of strategic harmony, where lasting change flows from understanding and engaging with existing structures.
What is your toolkit? Solutions, not just critiques. An advocate cultivates alliances, even across differing viewpoints, armed with solid evidence and unwavering professionalism. Aim to navigate policies with finesse, presenting your case with clarity and conviction. The aim is tangible impact, achieved through nuanced dialogue, not disruptive noise.
The Ongoing Journey.
Building your inner fortress is an ongoing process. It requires constant self-reflection, learning, and adaptation. It’s about embracing vulnerability, fostering empathy, and cultivating a growth mindset.
Remember, advocacy isn’t just a skill; it’s a crucial component of ethical leadership and social change. So, build your fortress strong, and go out there and make a difference.
Sources
Brown, Brené. Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. Random House, 2018.
Cabral, Amber. Say More About That: …and Other Ways to Speak Up, Push Back, and Advocate for Yourself and Others. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2023.
Cialdini, Robert B. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. William Morrow, 1984.
Davey, Liane. The Good Fight: Use Productive Conflict to Get Your Team and Organization Back on Track. Bibliomotion, Inc., 2017.
Dweck, Carol S. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Random House, 2006.
Fisher, Roger, William Ury, and Bruce Patton. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Penguin Books, 1991.
Gross, James J. “The Emerging Field of Emotion Regulation: An Integrative Review.” Review of General Psychology, vol. 2, no. 3, 1998, pp. 271–99.
Hansen, Heather. Advocate to Win: 10 Tools to Ask for What You Want and Get It. McGraw-Hill Education, 2013.
Hicks, Donna. Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict. Yale University Press, 2011.
Petty, Richard E., and John T. Cacioppo. Communication and Persuasion: Central and Peripheral Routes to Attitude Change. Springer-Verlag, 1986.
Pink, Daniel H. To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others. Riverhead Books, 2012.
Schein, Edgar H., and Peter A. Schein. Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2013.
Tannen, Deborah. You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation. William Morrow, 1990.
What is the Ombuds Office?
The Ombuds Office is a confidential,
independent, neutral, and informal space for staff to process concerns, get
information, and develop options for how to move forward in a difficult
situation. I can provide education,
conflict coaching, mediation, and facilitation as well as referrals to other
resources across Clemson. If you are
unsure how to move forward in any way, I can help you work through it.
Michael Scott Phone: 864-656-6353 Email: mesctt@clemson.edu Address: 135 Old Greenville Hwy, Ste. 203 (Next to Esso!)
Save the date for upcoming training offered by the Ombuds:
Introduction to Meditation April 26, 2025 from 9a.m.-12 p.m. At University Facilities Center, sign up via Tiger Training.
Staff Senate is excited to announce your Staff Senators for the 2025-28 term! The Staff Senate would like to send a huge thank you to everyone who was nominated or voted during this year’s election process, with 670 votes cast across eight elections and vacancies in 16 budget centers.
Staff Senators
Jay Cooley – Student Affairs
Cory Tanner – College of Forestry, Agriculture and Life Sciences
Mallory Maher – College of Forestry, Agriculture and Life Sciences
Bryson Toole – College of Arts and Humanities
Connor Stephens – College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences
Helen Diamond-Steele – Division of Community, Engagement, Belonging and Access
Aubrey Baldwin – College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences
Staci Koonce – College of Education
Rob Seay – Clemson University Restoration Institute
Anthony Herrera – University Facilities
John Chorazak – University Facilities
Obryan Machado – Finance and Operations
Nicci Hanewald – Office of the President & Board of Trustees
Alison Fecher – Office of the Provost
Allison Bower – Public Service Activities
Meredith Williams – Research & Economic Development
Lynn Tumblin – Harvey S. Peeler Jr. College of Veterinary Medicine
The Staff Senate Golf Tournament returns after a hiatus of several years!
Join us on Thursday, May 22nd at Clemson’s beautiful Walker Golf Course for a friendly round of 18 holes. Tee time is 9:30 a.m. and breakfast will be provided. Stick around afterward for some delicious nibbles and recognition of our golfers.
Want to play? Register here — options include teams of four or individual registration. (Registration includes 18 holes, a cart, breakfast, hors d’oeuvres, water and soft drinks) Sponsorships are available! Please visit this page for more information on becoming a sponsor.
This year, the proceeds of the tournament will benefit the Employee Emergency Fund which assists employees experiencing a financial hardship due to unexpected, unforeseen, and unavoidable circumstances.
