Quite a few organizations have seen leadership changes in the past few months causing me to reflect on my own values and how my beliefs and actions affect our organization and the people we serve. My first thought was reflecting on how woefully unprepared I was to be in a leadership position when I accepted my first Executive Director role at just 24 years old. Looking back on the things that got me through and moved the organization forward, despite the shortcomings of inexperience, were my resilience, confidence, and education. Maybe it was the Paris Olympics and seeing Ilona Maher (Norwich) take a Bronze in Rugby or maybe it is watching online as Rook Week culminated with the Dog River Run, but I realize I was blessed by choosing Norwich University as my path to higher education. I had the opportunity to watch amazing leaders like Rear Admiral USCGR (Ret) Richard Schneider, complete his exemplary 28-year post as Norwich President gracefully retiring on the institution’s 200th Anniversary. He left a legacy, a strong financial foundation, and detailed plans for the future. I believe the “secret sauce” of my alma mater is that Norwich is a value-based institution. I know that anywhere I am in the world, if I see or am recognized by a Norwich Student or Graduate, we are part of the same family and we share the same values.
Captain Alden Partridge founded the university in 1819 with a vision to create an educational institution distinctly built for the challenges facing a new democracy on a largely unsettled continent. He knew the circumstances of time and place required his new college to educate and develop American citizens who could guide the country through the opportunities of the decades and centuries to come. His vision is succinctly captured in the mission statement from 1843:
“To give our youth an education that shall be American in its character - to enable them to act as well as to think - to execute as well as conceive - to “tolerate all opinions when reason is left free to combat them” - to make moral, patriotic, efficient, and useful citizens, and to qualify them for all those high responsibilities resting upon a citizen of this free republic.”
Today, that mission remains unchanged, its wisdom more keenly understood as it has demonstrated its value in the intervening years. To make this mission statement come to life, they created a framework for how to build such citizens and leaders. Norwich University’ vision is to be a learning community, American in character yet global in perspective; engaged in personal and intellectual transformation, and dedicated to knowledge, mutual respect, creativity, and service. Norwich University is the oldest private military college in the country. At Norwich the following guiding values are engrained:
- We are men and women of honor and integrity. We shall not tolerate those who lie, cheat, or steal.
- We are dedicated to learning, emphasizing teamwork, leadership, creativity, and critical thinking.
- We respect the right to diverse points of view as a cornerstone of our democracy.
- We encourage service to nation and others before self.
- We stress being physically fit and drug free.
- We live the Norwich motto, “I will try!” – meaning perseverance in the face of adversity.
- We stress self-discipline, personal responsibility, and respect for law.
- We hold in highest esteem our people and reputation.
I’m sharing this with all of you because your leadership matters! This is a reminder to myself, and a suggestion to others, that it’s okay to go back to basics. It’s a good practice to evaluate if your Mission, Vision, and Values are drifting or have remained steadily on the mark. Are new team members brought in to the conversation about culture and values? Do members of your Board and Stakeholders share your passion and direction? Are we training and supporting our team to be the leaders we need them to be?
