Developing Community, Practicing What We Teach

All Hankamer School of Business students will take a Leadership and Organizational Behavior class. This course prepares our students to thrive in the workplace and gives them insight on how to create a culture of community within their organization. When employees feel community, it creates engagement, which translates to the feeling of “this is a great place to work.”

So, as the Department of Management, it seems important to practice what we preach – teach. In fact, fostering collaboration and community is part of our department’s mission. The good news is that is exactly what is happening. Here are some ways that the department builds community that can also be applied to outside organizations.

Retreats 

Prior to the start of each academic year, the team gathers off-site for a one-day retreat. The time away from the office allows focus without distractions. As a kick-off to the new school year, the retreat allows the team to collectively recall the mission of the department and bond together around this shared mission. This year’s retreat focused on the Fruits of the Spirit which also became a theme throughout the school year. The retreat was held at the Mayborn Museum where the faculty dressed as team fruits, participated in a Fruity Olympics, and discussed in small groups how we can exemplify each fruit in our work at Baylor. 

Community Committee

Creating community does not happen by accident. Each year three to four department members serve on our community committee. Their purpose is to set community goals, gather feedback and plan events. Having people assigned to this task ensures accountability and actions. The following items are a few samples of the team’s outcomes. 

Secret Encourager

Secret Santa has been around offices for many years. This past year our department put a twist on it by creating a Week of Encouragement. During this week, your “Secret Encourager” left you notes, cards and small gifts, with each containing words of affirmation. For the encourager, it took time to watch, listen and pay attention to your assigned person. For the recipient, it was a blessing to see that someone noticed your efforts and resulted in each person feeling valued. It shows that small things can make a big impact on community.

Social Outings

While no one on our team is likely to join the professional golfing or bowling tour, we have enjoyed some fun evenings at Top Golf and the local bowling alley. In addition, a family potluck/picnic helps us wrap up the end of the school year. Each of these activities allows us to mingle with team and family members, share a meal and create bonds that extend well beyond campus.

Attitude of Gratitude Board

It is hard to have a bad day when you are looking for things to be grateful for. Each week on our office whiteboard, in addition to seeing a new Bible verse to contemplate, our team members jot down simple words of thanks for whatever is on their minds. This might be a Baylor sports team win, a cool summer day, or best yet, recognizing a team member for a job well done. It is simple yet effective.

Practicing what we teach has enabled our team to develop a culture of community that makes the Baylor Department of Management a great place to work.