Developing professional relationships with administrators is key to success. Get to know administrators early by scheduling informal meetings to build trust and communication. Maintain professionalism by dressing appropriately, being prepared, following through on commitments, and respecting authority figures even if you disagree with them personally. When tensions arise, focus on facts, ask questions to fill information gaps, and control emotions to keep communication open. Seek win-win solutions by understanding all perspectives, crafting plans, and focusing on serving students rather than personal victories.

2.  Developing the relationship
◦ Getting off on the right foot
◦ Being and maintaining professionalism
 Handling difficult situations
◦ Focus on the facts and do your homework
◦ Control your emotions
 Seek win-win solutions when possible
◦ Understand the other side
◦ Create your plan
◦ Eye on the prize

3.  Getting off on the right foot:
◦ Meet with administrators early in your term
 Informal meetings/Meet and Greets
 Begin to build trust and communication
 Figure out who is who on campus
◦ Professional but casual
 Administrators often have varying views of
students and how to work with them.
 Being professional allows you to break down
potential walls.

5.  Dress appropriately for the situation
◦ A presidential cabinet meeting won’t be held in your
bedroom so don’t dress like it.
 Be prepared
◦ Competency earns respect.
 Do what you say you are going to do
◦ Consistent follow through builds trust.
 Respect the position even if you don’t respect the person
◦ Whether you like them or not, they have power and can
help you.
 Remember who you represent, but seek solutions
◦ Solving problems serves students better than making a
point.

6.  Inevitably there will be tension with your
campus administrators.
 How you handle these situations will be
key in your success.
 There are a few key steps to handling
any difficult issue.

7.  In order to diffuse potential fireworks,
make sure you have all the information
you need.
 If you find holes in what you know, ask
questions.
 Bring the players together to discuss the
issue, but don’t meet just to meet.
 Make sure you have the right people at
the right meetings.
 Keep the big picture in mind inside the
jungle of details.

8.  It’s easy to get caught up and react emotionally
when you care about the issues on which you
work.
 Maintaining and controlling a professional
outlook is a must for several reasons:
◦ When you get emotional, you’re more likely to
make mistakes.
◦ Emotions close lines of communication.
◦ Emotional reactions can alienate potential
allies.

9.  In the end, your job is to win victories
for your constituents (students).
 Crafting a strategy is easier when you
can map out a road to victory.
 You have to give something to get
something.
 There are a few key steps to working
toward a win-win.

10.  In order to be successful, you need to
understand your administration’s
position.
 Ask clarifying questions.
 Small misunderstandings can have huge
consequences.
 Get positions in writing so you can
reference them later.

11.  It’s always advisable to have a plan or
an idea of what you want to
accomplish.
 Map out some potential solutions and
break them down from both your
perspective and that of your
administration.
 Use your resources to determine the
best course of action.
 Finalize your plan and prepare.

12.  Be ready to change your plan as you
discuss issues with your administration.
 Stay focused on your ultimate goal and
don’t miss out on easy solutions.
 Winning for your constituents is MUCH
more important than winning for
yourself.

13.  Develop and maintain key relationships
 Let your personality carry you, don’t let
personalities ruin you.
 Seek win-win solutions and remember that
you will likely have to give something to get
something.
 Understand what consultation means and
what it doesn’t.
 Stay focused on finding solutions
 Be professional and carry yourself that way at
ALL times.