02-06-22 Education - Flipbook - Page 3
The Baltimore Sun | Sunday, February 6, 2022 3
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Erin Moran
Executive Director of the
Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership
Institute at Towson University.
Adobe Stock Photo
Leading with compassion and integrity
Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute at Towson University
F
or businesses large and small, the past
two years have been challenging to
say the least. The Coronavirus began
causing havoc in early 2020, forcing
businesses to shutter in the name of
public safety, and sadly, many never reopened.
Others pivoted to remote work when possible,
and once vaccines became widely available,
many businesses brought employees back in the
office full time, while others opted for a hybrid
approach or stayed the status quo and had their
employees continue to work remotely. In any
event, the American workplace that existed
in January 2020 looks very different than the
one we have today, and companies have had to
remain agile and flexible to survive.
“We cannot predict what the workplace
will look like in the future, but we can prepare
business leaders with the critical thinking and
problem-solving skills, along with the moral
courage to make the tough decisions when
necessary,” says Erin Moran, executive director
of the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute
at Towson University. “Towson University’s
Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute is
an interdisciplinary research and action-based
institute that is forging a new standard for
leadership development for the state, region
and nation that will elevate leaders across all
levels,” according to a press release by Towson
University last August announcing Moran’s
appointment as its inaugural executive director.
The Institute is named for Dr. Nancy Grasmick,
Towson University alumna, presidential scholar
and a visionary leader as state superintendent
of the Maryland State Department of Education
from 1991-2011.
Moran says the mission of the Leadership
Institute is to develop exceptional leaders who
are also ethically driven to positively impact
the region and beyond. “We have a unique
approach that we call ‘one size fits one’ to support leaders wherever they are on their leadership journey. We provide programs for all levels
of leaders, all industries and all different sizes
of companies. We also offer different levels of
engagement from the free webinars to customized, intense and immersive experiences that
last eight months.”
For example, the Leadership Institute offers
Signature Programs that feature cohort-based
learning and one-on-one coaching, including the Professional Leadership Program for
Women, Next Level Leaders to build midlevel managers into leaders with impact and
expanded influence, and Integrity and Ethics
in Leadership to prepare leaders to garner the
trust and respect of colleagues by preparing
them to more effectively grapple with ethical
workplace dilemmas. In addition, coaching and
special events are offered.
Moran notes that the Leadership Institute
works with individuals seeking professional
development, as well as creating customized
programs for businesses looking to grow leaders within their companies.
“If companies were to create these professional development programs internally, it
would be costly and timely. When I was chief
culture officer for Union Square Hospitality
Group, the parent company of Shake Shack, I
wish these programs existed, as I would have
sent a ton of our leaders to the Leadership
Institute at Towson University,” she says.
Moran says one of the key skills of great
leaders is the ability to identify and unlock the
potential in others. “Great leaders are not born;
it takes years of continued growth and development and it is a life-long journey,” she says.
Moran says that during the pandemic, leading with compassion was especially important.
“Employees had many personal challenges, juggling child care, working from home and being
quarantined for months. It’s important for leaders to actively listen to their people and have an
understanding of their unique needs and what
matters to them. Great culture does not need
to cost a lot of money. Not every company is
able to offer perks like Google can, but it’s all
about the intentionality and thought behind
the initiatives to let your employees know you
respect them and genuinely care about them as
individuals.”
Moran adds that a great culture also leads to
improving the company bottom line. “Studies
show that when you invest in developing great
leaders, you see higher levels of engagement
and productivity, and your retention rates are
higher. When you lose employees, institutional
knowledge leaves the door, and it’s costly and
timely to attract, hire and train new employees.
During this time called ‘The Great Resignation,’
the war for talent has never been greater.”
And while compensation and benefits
remain key priorities for job seekers, Moran
notes that many studies show that the majority
of recent college graduates would be willing
to accept a job that pays less if organization is
known for having a great culture.
“Integrity-based leadership has been a
struggle in this country for years, but integrity is
the heart of everything we do at the Leadership
Institute. All of our programs include elements
of ethics, integrity and trust, core values built
into the ethos of Dr. Grasmick. It’s important to
balance compassion with results,” says Moran.