Donde Plowman: Chancellor at the University of Tennessee
Oct 2, 2023
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Donde Plowman, the Chancellor at the University of Tennessee, discusses the power of positivity in leadership and leveraging strengths in overcoming challenges during COVID. They also explore the importance of being strategic in higher education, the perceptions of athletes, and the power of strengths in student success.
Positivity is crucial for fostering resilience and helping others in times of stress, and can be used to create a positive and optimistic atmosphere in meetings.
Recognizing and utilizing the strengths of each team member leads to a more cohesive and productive team, fostering a sense of community and inclusion.
Deep dives
The Power of Positivity in Leadership
Dandy Plowman, Chancellor at the University of Tennessee, discusses the importance of positivity in her leadership role. Plowman explains that positivity is one of her top strengths and she uses it to create a positive and optimistic atmosphere in meetings. She believes that positivity is crucial for fostering resilience and helping others in times of stress. Plowman also shares how she used positivity to bring hope to her university community during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maximizing Strengths in Leadership
Plowman highlights the significance of the maximizer strength in bringing out the best in others. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing the strengths of each team member, and how it can lead to a more cohesive and productive team. Plowman shares that she often engages her team in conversations about their strengths, using the language of strengths to understand and appreciate each individual's unique contributions. By doing so, she creates a sense of community and inclusion within the team.
The Impact of Strengths in Student Success
Plowman discusses the implementation of strengths assessments for freshman students at the University of Tennessee. She highlights the positive impact of introducing students to the concept of strengths and how it accelerates their personal and academic development. Plowman shares that strengths assessments help students discover their unique abilities and foster a sense of community. She also mentions the application of strengths in student retention initiatives, where students find support through academic strengths coaches.
Building a Positive Culture in Athletics
Plowman talks about the importance of building a positive culture in athletics and how it contributes to the success of the program. She mentions the focus on positive energy and creating a sense of community within the athletic department. Plowman believes that positivity and strong relationships among coaches, athletes, and staff members play a vital role in achieving excellence. Although strengths initiatives in athletics are still in progress, Plowman recognizes the potential impact of leveraging strengths to further enhance performance and team dynamics.
In this episode, we have the honor of welcoming Donde Plowman, the Chancellor at the University of Tennessee. An accomplished academic leader, change agent, and advocate for education, Donde has made a significant impact in higher education through her dedication to fostering growth, innovation, and transformative learning experiences.
Before assuming her current role, Donde played a pivotal role in driving positive change within educational environments. Her work in promoting student success, fostering collaboration, and embracing new approaches to learning showcases her unwavering dedication to creating meaningful impact.
Donde’s Top 5 CliftonStrengths are: Strategic, Achiever, Positivity, Futuristic and Maximizer.