Appreciating Our Colleagues | Faculty Focus
This article first appeared in Maryellen Weimer’s blog in November 2009. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved.
I appreciate what my colleagues do for me.
I have colleagues who indulge my need to blow off steam. Some student behavior is nothing short of outrageous, some department policies are nothing short of senseless, some department heads are nothing other than shortsighted, and some colleagues never experience a shortage of pessimism. My best colleagues know when I need to rant; they listen and then gently encourage me to move on.
I have colleagues who help me understand when I don’t. I talk and they ask questions. I’ve learned to appreciate those colleagues who have more questions than answers—the ones who ask the questions I haven’t thought of, which often lead me to answers I haven’t considered.
I have colleagues who help me put things in perspective. Like many (dare I say all?)