By Lindsay Hinmon
In the last year BYU-Hawaii has been through some changes on campus that students have had challenges adjusting to. The ceramics and sculpture program has been eliminated. The sports programs have been cut. The academic calendar has undergone extensive revision. Sooner or later one of these challenges or changes on campus hits close to home for each of us and when that happens, naturally, we have an emotional response. So what do we do when things don’t go our way?
One tragic mentality I encounter often is that students feel powerless to make the changes we want and need. When I talk to friends about their frustrations I find a mentality of defeat has settled in before any attempt has been made for change. It is possible to make changes, but some students don’t realize is that there are different ways to go about it. Some more effective, some less. The following is a helpful list of “Dos” and “Don’ts” for when you want to effectively lobby for change.
In the last year BYU-Hawaii has been through some changes on campus that students have had challenges adjusting to. The ceramics and sculpture program has been eliminated. The sports programs have been cut. The academic calendar has undergone extensive revision. Sooner or later one of these challenges or changes on campus hits close to home for each of us and when that happens, naturally, we have an emotional response. So what do we do when things don’t go our way?
One tragic mentality I encounter often is that students feel powerless to make the changes we want and need. When I talk to friends about their frustrations I find a mentality of defeat has settled in before any attempt has been made for change. It is possible to make changes, but some students don’t realize is that there are different ways to go about it. Some more effective, some less. The following is a helpful list of “Dos” and “Don’ts” for when you want to effectively lobby for change.
Do
1. Get your story straight. What exactly happened? How did you hear about it? Is your source credible? Make sure you have all the facts.
2. Identify what is bothering you and know what you want to change. When change impacts us on a personal level it can be challenging to separate the facts from the feelings and to get to the heart of why this change is bothering us. Take a moment to reflect before you act. If you are going to make a case for your issue, know what it is you want. Define your goal.
3. Express yourself with dignity and maturity. Once you have a clearly defined, attainable goal, write it down in mature language. It doesn’t have to be overly verbose or unnatural sounding, but the message should be clear and the language should not be casual.
4. Go through the proper channels. If there is a way to make change there is a critical person to address your concerns with. You wouldn’t call a plumber if your house was on fire. Likewise talking to anyone but the critical person when trying to make change is an ineffective use of your resources. There may be a chain of people to speak with, but there is usually one critical person with whom you will begin the process.
5. Understand the opposing viewpoint. You may not agree with the perspective of the opposing viewpoint, but you don’t have to. Understanding it serves you in three ways; showing the opposing side that you understand where they are coming from diffuses tension, builds your credibility as a mature individual and strengthens your case.
Don’t
1. Stop at venting. We all have emotional reactions to events that hit close to home, and venting in private to a close friend is a natural response. Venting frustrations is fine, but it is not the cause of change.
2. Spread rumors. When emotion is involved it is easy for details to be lost, facts blurred and offenses exaggerated. Telling an exaggerated version of the story will not make things better. It will make things worse.
3. Feel helpless. If you think you can’t, you can’t.
4. React aggressively. There’s passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive. Throwing a fit or responding in anger may change a situation temporarily, but the only way to bring about lasting change for the better is to be assertive. No underhanded games, threats, yelling or bullying your way through. When we act this way we are seen as immature and incapable. We can do better. Clear your head and make your case, assertively.
5. Don’t forget, change takes time. We are a generation raised on instant gratification. The change that is upsetting us took time to come about and the solution will take time as well.
*Want to make a change and don’t know where to start? Come to one of our meetings--Thursdays at 6pm in the Aloha Center room 132. We may be able to help!
1. Get your story straight. What exactly happened? How did you hear about it? Is your source credible? Make sure you have all the facts.
2. Identify what is bothering you and know what you want to change. When change impacts us on a personal level it can be challenging to separate the facts from the feelings and to get to the heart of why this change is bothering us. Take a moment to reflect before you act. If you are going to make a case for your issue, know what it is you want. Define your goal.
3. Express yourself with dignity and maturity. Once you have a clearly defined, attainable goal, write it down in mature language. It doesn’t have to be overly verbose or unnatural sounding, but the message should be clear and the language should not be casual.
4. Go through the proper channels. If there is a way to make change there is a critical person to address your concerns with. You wouldn’t call a plumber if your house was on fire. Likewise talking to anyone but the critical person when trying to make change is an ineffective use of your resources. There may be a chain of people to speak with, but there is usually one critical person with whom you will begin the process.
5. Understand the opposing viewpoint. You may not agree with the perspective of the opposing viewpoint, but you don’t have to. Understanding it serves you in three ways; showing the opposing side that you understand where they are coming from diffuses tension, builds your credibility as a mature individual and strengthens your case.
Don’t
1. Stop at venting. We all have emotional reactions to events that hit close to home, and venting in private to a close friend is a natural response. Venting frustrations is fine, but it is not the cause of change.
2. Spread rumors. When emotion is involved it is easy for details to be lost, facts blurred and offenses exaggerated. Telling an exaggerated version of the story will not make things better. It will make things worse.
3. Feel helpless. If you think you can’t, you can’t.
4. React aggressively. There’s passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and assertive. Throwing a fit or responding in anger may change a situation temporarily, but the only way to bring about lasting change for the better is to be assertive. No underhanded games, threats, yelling or bullying your way through. When we act this way we are seen as immature and incapable. We can do better. Clear your head and make your case, assertively.
5. Don’t forget, change takes time. We are a generation raised on instant gratification. The change that is upsetting us took time to come about and the solution will take time as well.
*Want to make a change and don’t know where to start? Come to one of our meetings--Thursdays at 6pm in the Aloha Center room 132. We may be able to help!