Academic leaders are often asked to “make a few remarks” or “give a welcome” at various gatherings. One temptation is to overprepare by writing a full-on speech. Sometimes an actual speech is required but it often feels overly formal on many occasions. In a casual context, reading a speech can make you seem distant and artificial. Scripted remarks are especially awkward in informal settings where there is no obvious place to set your paper down. Moreover, relying on a prepared script for every such occasion leaves you at sea when there is an impromptu request for your words.

The most common alternative to scripted remarks is to stand up and say some banal or clichéd words of welcome or appreciation. This is fine. But it doesn’t advance your leadership agenda or move your audience. It is much better to craft a strategy for meeting these moments in ways that are more than merely fine—that are actually inspiring and memorable to your audience.

Over time I have developed a practice to more effectively use opportunities to make remarks. I begin by taking a moment to reflect on the nature of the event I am about to attend and the hopes and dreams of the attendees. What is the deep “life magic” that brings us together right now? Is it a moment of transition? Of accomplishment? Of collective grief or worry? Having an answer clearly in mind makes it easier for me to find words equal to the moment. I also consider how this event relates to my own leadership agenda. What can I say that will reinforce elements of my vision and values? And finally, I ask what this event means to me on a personal level. Authenticity is a key to effective leadership. I do better as a speaker when I am genuinely in touch with my feelings and my immediate experience. With answers to these questions in mind, I can more easily stand up without a script and say something that touches my audience, lifts up our forward path, and gives a genuine piece of myself to others.

There are a few other helpful considerations I always keep in mind. Is the audience standing or sitting? If they are standing, make sure to be very brief. For a standing audience, every minute of a speech feels like five. Is the audience empty handed or holding a drink? If their hands are full, they will not be able to applaud so better to end your remarks with a short toast, which gives the audience an opportunity to respond. Is there a microphone? Do everything you can to insist on one. Without it you must assume that many people will not hear your specific words so tone and body language will count even more. Don’t be fooled into thinking that your loud voice is enough. Many, many people are hard of hearing. A microphone is a basic requirement for inclusion. One more tip: take a lesson from experienced public speakers and learn to make eye contact with people on every side and level of the room.

Questions for reflection: What are three elements of your leadership vision that you want to reinforce as often as possible? What kind of public events are on your agenda this month and what is the life magic they represent? What are your “go to” clichéd phrases and how could you express yourself more authentically and imaginatively? What kind of public speaking is most comfortable for you? How can you get some practice at other types of events?

When we, at CIC, surveyed member presidents and chief academic officers about issues on their minds, we were surprised to learn that making better use of data to drive decision making landed in the top three issues (the other two were more expected: improving financial health and supporting a campus culture of inclusion and respect for diversity).

One reason using data effectively is challenging is because many smaller colleges have a single person responsible for IR (institutional research) and much of that person’s time is used up complying with federal, state, and other reporting regulations. CIC is looking for ways to expand the capacity of individual IR offices and streamline the processes that get timely, actionable data into the hands of campus leaders. We plan to start with a review and expansion of our widely used Financial Indicators Tool (FIT).

Leading this work is our new colleague, Ellen Peters. She joined CIC in January 2024 as director of strategic research and assessment. In addition to many years of campus experience at University of Puget Sound, Bates College, and the George Washington University, Ellen is the former president of the Association of Institutional Research and a current board member of the Higher Education Data Sharing Consortium.

A Spark of Inspiration

For the past several years, my daughter and I have each chosen an annual focus word. Last year my word was “center,” reminding me to stay balanced. All year I practiced making time for work, relationships, health, and spirit. Learning to limit the amount of time holding my phone turned out to make a tremendous difference in living in a more balanced way.

For 2024, my word is “awe.” Neuroscientist and emotion expert Dacher Keltner defines awe as “the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world.” To me, it calls up the breathless, aching joy I sometimes experience when I light Shabbat candles (and connect to the vastness of history and tradition), when I see animals at play (and face up to the immense mystery of embodied aliveness), when I hug my children or my husband (and let myself remember the magnitude of the chances that bring us together and the endlessness of my love for them). 

And yet, how many times do I merely go through the motions of these and other similar activities? Focusing on some worry from the past or anxiety about the future, I easily miss the possibility of awe. So, this year, I am reminding myself to stay present and open—to meet awe halfway. Keltner’s research shows that a more awe-filled life is one that is also happier, healthier, and more filled with compassion. That all sounds worth taking seriously.

Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life

by Dacher Keltner

Dacher Keltner is a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkley, and co-director of the Greater Good Science Center. In this book, extensive cross-cultural research drives Keltner’s interpretation of wonder and reveals its life-giving benefits. The material is presented in an engaging way and offers interesting science as well as applicable insights.

Leading from the Margins: College Leadership from Unexpected Places

by Mary Dana Hinton

Mary Dana Hinton is the president of Hollins University, president emerita of the College of Saint Benedict, and an experienced and pioneering leader. As I say in the blurb I wrote for the back of this much-anticipated book, “Dr. Hinton is an inspiring and wise guide to transformational leadership. Her insightful book remakes our vision of what college can and should become.”

How to Break Up with Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life

by Catherine Price

Catherine Price is an award-winning health and science journalist, speaker, founder of Screen/Life Balance, and bestselling author. While I didn’t follow her outlined plan to the letter, I found a lot of value in Price’s method and model. Limiting my time with my phone has made a big difference in my relationships, my productivity, and my overall happiness.

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