The Recognition You Deserve | Business of AV
Joe Way, PhD, CTS
It’s no surprise that tech managers in higher ed often feel silo’d at their institutions. I believe it’s because they are typically responsible for managing a specific area within the organization, yet may not be able to see the full picture of how their department or role fits into the overall strategy. This leads to a feeling of isolation. Being overworked and under-resourced is a common theme in backend conversations. Likewise, when decisions are made without the ability to offer input or expertise, and yet we are still expected to perform, it can lead to a feeling of being disconnected and unappreciated.
The reason our various higher ed organizations have thrived is because we know our colleagues at other institutions “get us.” They help with the “mental justification” of our daily duties. The fact is, regardless of whether or not your institution appreciates or recognizes the work you put in, it matters. It matters to the school; it matters to the students; it matters to us. AV is, by nature, a “faceless” role. AV is a thankless job. When the technology and support go unnoticed, that’s when we know we’ve done our best. That is exactly why it is important to get involved in our industry organizations. We understand. No doubt, we all like to be praised for our hard work and accomplishments, but for some of us, it can be difficult to accept the acknowledgement without feeling uncomfortable, undeserving, or even like an imposter. That comes from being part of an industry where 100% perfect is the expectation and anything less is considered failure. I personally live in a constant state of imposter syndrome, because one little thing I’m behind in or do wrong feels like a mountain crashing down. That’s a common feeling for those in the tech industry… especially those who came up through live events.
Yet, you have worked hard to achieve success; it is important to remember that you deserve recognition for your labor. Unfortunately, many of us are too afraid to ask for the recognition that we deserve. The truth is, there is nothing wrong with asking for it. You need to be your own champion. When it comes to performance reviews or opportunities to expand your role and influence, share the accomplishments and contributions you have made, and doors will open. Never give up. Even if you feel like you are not receiving the recognition you deserve, don’t give up. Over the course of my career, I’m sure I have managed well over 1000 employees, and there is one common denominator with those who have “taken the next step”… they are advocates for themselves and their teams.
It’s important to remember that feeling proud of yourself is not something to be ashamed of, and accepting praise is a crucial part of self-confidence and self-care. It’s not about pride, it’s about peace. The first step in accepting acclimation is to recognize that you have achieved something worth celebrating. That doesn’t necessarily mean you changed the world with your new building opening. It could be as simple as meeting your department’s customer service SLA at 90% for three months. That’s a big deal in support roles, and would be worth celebrating. Or, maybe you closed out a project under budget; your Provost would love that. But, no one will know or care if you don’t voice it. We can all be our own harshest critics, and it’s easy to overlook the successes in our lives. Take the time to recognize your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Once you’ve identified something you’re proud of, it’s time to accept the congratulations and compliments that come your way. While it’s also important to recognize that you don’t have to prove yourself to others, most managers are so focused on other issues, like budget and HR problems, that the things that “go right” are often unintentionally overlooked. A tool I use is my weekly one-on-one to not just bring up with my boss what I need, but to share the accomplishments of the department.
I have had to learn over time that just doing our jobs is something that’s worth celebrating. Managers often look for the over-and-above actions before offering recognition, but truthfully it’s the constant day-in and day-out actions that build the foundation of our departments. Recognizing the accomplishments of your colleagues is an important way to foster a supportive and collaborative work environment. Doing this helps build team morale, encourages collaboration, and shows that you value the contributions of everyone in your workplace. It also serves as a form of recognition and appreciation for hard work, which can help motivate employees to continue striving for excellence. Recognizing the accomplishments of your colleagues can also help bridge any gaps in communication between different departments or teams, ultimately leading to better working relationships. As the saying goes: people like people who like them. Basically, we all like to work with others who respect our contributions.
So, what am I getting at? I started the Higher Ed AV Awards for one simple reason: there are many people in our vertical who are awesome at what they do for their institutions, but there’s never been a platform for them to receive that recognition. Yes, there are AV awards, yet those often focus on the high-profile people in the industry. And, there are educational awards, but those often focus on the faculty and administrators. But where’s the love for us AV folk, those of us who keep our classrooms rolling strong everyday? Don’t we matter? Yes. Yes, we absolutely do.
So, I encourage you… Entering the Higher Ed AV Awards is a great way to showcase the successes of your projects, recognize the hard work of your team, and demonstrate the impact of your work at your institution. It is a great opportunity to gain awareness of your work and to be formally recognized by your peers within the Higher Ed AV industry who know exactly what it took for you to do what you did. Then, take that back to your campuses and let those who often look past you see that your industry values you and what you do. Regardless of whether you win, get shortlisted as a finalist, or simply be nominated, there’s value to you, your well-being, your institution, and your career development. This is about you. The fact is, our institutions are looking for things to celebrate, but until we stand up for ourselves–as I noted earlier–they won’t know to look our way.
The Higher Ed AV Awards are not just for tech leadership. All areas of our vertical are being recognized from our student workers, to our programmers and engineers, to our support people. Likewise, the awards will celebrate the accomplishments of all different project types from standard classroom upgrades, to green initiatives, to large venues, and esports. And third, the awards will recognize the products and manufacturer partners we collaborate with and install product from in order to make our spaces run smoothly. We want to recognize all of those outstanding AV professionals who work tirelessly to ensure their institutions run smoothly and effectively on a daily basis, because you deserve it; we all deserve it. As they say, not all heroes wear capes.
Nominating someone for the Higher Ed AV Awards is simple and easy. All you need to do is provide a few details about the nominee and why they deserve to be recognized. Your nomination will then be reviewed by a panel of experts and the winners will be announced at the awards ceremony happening live the Monday of InfoComm week. If you know someone who is an AV professional in the higher education vertical, don’t hesitate to nominate them for an award. It is a great way to honor their hard work and dedication, and to show your appreciation for their invaluable contribution to our vertical. This is one tangible way we can lift one another up.
Finally, work with your manufacturer and integrator partners to have them nominate your projects. And have them nominate their products that helped your project be a success. This is an opportunity for us all to work together as an industry to spotlight our achievements. Our vendor partners are also seeking opportunities to build relationships with us, as it demonstrates that you are committed to their success and to the success of your partnership. As they say, it takes a village. And there’s now finally a platform to formally recognize that village.
The Higher Ed AV Awards are taking place on Monday, June 12, 2023, at the Orlando Improv Theatre at Pointe Orlando. Learn more about the Higher Ed AV Awards and place a nomination at: https://www.higheredav.com/higher-ed-av-awards.
