What if the alumni relations circuits are down?

Dear Friends:

This morning I woke up to a quiet house. The electricity was off. In the old days we called this blowing a fuse. I fixed it at 5:30am (and I scrambled and still managed to make it to the gym on time!). Phew!

Our frenetic lives leave little room to draw breath. As I prepare to co-facilitate a workshop in Berlin with Sandra Rincón (my friend and alumni expert superstar!) I stumbled on a gem. When we have so much on our spinning plates things can get lost. THIS was one of them!

Prof Jessica Vanderlelie in her publication Engaging Alumni for Employability: Good Practice Guidelines is a stellar read for every alumni-facing professional.

Your challenge this week:

For alumni-facing professionals: Draw a breath. Take one minute to review the matrix above. What ONE thing are you doing that you can celebrate in the low effort, high benefit box (or anything on the right hand side!)? What activities can you introduce (or abandon) based on the matrix? (yes, I am aware that critically you CAN make some of these left-hand activities higher benefit or lower effort- if you believe so, consider HOW).

For alumni and students: Draw a deep breath. Use the matrix above as a menu of alumni activities. In the past 5 years what have you participated in? What gives YOU high benefit? This year, my alumni reunion yielded immense high benefit to me personally - reconnection was the electricity for my soul! Commit to one activity in the next year to give yourself a JOLT! ⚡

️We all need a boost! This exercise is focused on positive energy!

Be comfortable in the darkness. Then switch the lights of alumni engagement back on. Admire what emerges.

(and if you want some further alumni illumination, it's not too late to join me for the FREE workshop in Estonia! Check it out here.)

Sending your surges of alumni love,

Maria