07/07/2021
Dear Momma,
Leverage (Finale).
How do you leverage relationship with management and non academic staff?
These people are some times the most overlooked people in the course of your journey however, you will find that having a cordial relationship with them goes a long way in providing you support in the course of getting your degree.
They have first-hand contact with every information that moves within your department, faculty, and by extension your school so they have preview knowledge of deadlines, exam timetables, schedules of lectures, and results.
Generally, when you're dealing with non- academic management staff here are some advice I can give you:
🎯 Acknowledge them, compliment them and be open with them.
Acknowledging that they putting a lot of work is important, compliment them when you walk by their office. Feel free to stop by and say "Hello" "You look wonderful" "I hope your weekend was great" Don't do this from a position of trying to buy their attention, it should come from a honest place.
🎯 Respect them and the information that they give to you.
Address them properly. Use title before their names. Madam/Ma'am/Mr/Sir. Respect the information that you give, it will be unfair if you take them for a ride or share what you get from them with others when you have not asked for their permission.
🎯 Show appreciation. Say "thank you" when they've been of help to you. You can also express your gratitude by gifts, a drink or lunch. I got some airtime for one of the ladies who took the time to call me about an a paper I needed to rewrite. By the time I got the official notification for this paper I was already prepared. It saved me a lot of heartache and time, the non academic staff in my department came through for me in more ways than there is space to write here. I shared the details in my book.
There is so much more help you get through this journey do not limit your scope.
I hope this helps.
~Your aspirations are still VALID~