A Ladder or a Jungle Gym

Years ago, I read Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead by Sheryl Sandberg. Her chapter about ladders and jungle gyms shifted the way I think about my career. Today, in response to an email I received, I was reminded of how much I appreciate and identify with this mentality. While I am pursuing a leadership style that drives impact and change, I don’t have my eye on the next rung on an organizational chart, nor am I trying to achieve a specific title. Before I go further, I would like to dispel any thought that if, at some point, I were to be offered a position that to some would seem like climbing a ladder, I would decline it. Absolutely not! I am simply saying that I would see myself on a jungle gym where moves can be multidirectional, some up, some down, and some side to side. This has been such a freeing mindset. It has allowed me to engage more intensely and broadly with the position I hold, without worrying about what’s next. It has enabled me to be open to opportunities, develop skills and knowledge, and, in turn, make moves with confidence, excitement, and anticipation.

Earlier in my career, I was a Program Specialist for a School District. In the position I held, I had the opportunity to work with a large number of Instructional Assistants. Within the pay structure of the classified employees, there were incentives for pay increases for employees who earned continuing education credits. A colleague and I seized the opportunity and developed a series of training courses for the Instructional Assistants. This was a win-win: more pay for them and higher-quality services for our students. Because I was focused on the job at hand and not vying for the next rung on the ladder, I enjoyed what I did and the people I served. I set out to create the best possible work environment and provide the best possible support to those in my charge. In addition, I gained the skills of developing curriculum and teaching adults. This led to my being tasked with serving on the team that supported the teachers in my district who were required to obtain the Autism Added Authorization, which resulted in two lovely resume items that demonstrated my skills when applying for a faculty position at Concordia University Irvine. Now, before you conclude that I jumped ladders and moved up a rung, it should be noted that my move from a district office position to an assistant professor position was actually a step down in both pay and prestige. Yet it was also a step toward greater flexibility as a working mom. Picturing the jungle gym, my years in the school district gave me the opportunity to develop skills that helped me make the move into higher education, where I began building new ones.

In the Teacher Credential Program at Concordia University, I am blessed to be part of a team that is not in competition with one another. I have served under four deans, each of whom sought to cultivate collective talent by supporting individual gifts. Through this leadership style, I have learned to pursue excellence, embrace vision, and lean into opportunities. In my nearly fifteen years at this institution, I have had a few lateral title changes. If I were to focus on the ladder, I might be disappointed, but when I see the jungle gym, I am overwhelmed with the opportunities that have come my way.  By focusing on the daily duties of my current position, the special project I have been invited to complete, and the self-imposed projects I have taken on, I have not only committed to producing an excellent product for the students we serve, but I have also gained skills that are leading me to my next adventure. I don’t know what that is, but what I do know is that my head is up, my heart is out, and I have a smile on my face because I love what I do, wherever I may be on the jungle gym.

Is that how you feel? Are you embracing your current position, working to excel in it, and creating the best possible environment for everyone in your sphere of influence? Are you open to what is next without hyperfocusing on advancement or how to get the competitive edge? Perhaps these are questions worth sitting with for a while or sharing with someone else who is navigating their own jungle gym.