University ITSM

Last Monday, as part of our Leadership Luncheon's series, the Fellows were given the opportunity to share a sandwich with one of the most inspirational leaders at Wake Forest University, Steve Reinemund. Serving as the dean of the newly merged business schools, Steve Reinemund is easily recognized as one of the most innovative leaders of our time. Praised for his ability to mentor and facilitate corporate relationships on all levels, Dean Reinemund shared a variety of insights with us, including his personal framework regarding successful professional and personal development. One aspect of the framework involved a triangle of three traits; passion, discipline and innovativeness. These traits are held together by the core of your own personal values and beliefs.He explained that all three traits are key ingredients for success, but are truly optimized when maintained in a careful balance. He emphasized the significance of having ideas that motivated people, but also the ability to maintain a level of discipline necessary to get things done.  Likewise he said, ideas without passion and creativity are difficult to garner support for, regardless of discipline and structure. The core of the triangle must always remain right in the center of things; allowing for your morals and values to be the overarching guide of your vision and everyday work. 
 
Balance seemed to be a central theme of the afternoon as Reinemund also spoke about the endless struggle that is the work/life balance. Here, he emphasized the ability to live in a state of “constructive tension”, essentially saying that it is ok to feel like you are continually working on achieving the balance between work and life. Without this tension he said, it is likely that you are not living out your potential in either realm, which signifies atrophy as opposed to growth.  
 
As I listened to Dean Reinemund share one sage piece of advice after another, I too found it difficult to balance; eating my sandwich, scribbling frantic notes, chiming in with questions…let’s just say I brought some of my lunch home.