What A Senior Manager Of Academics At TNTP Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Education Industry
Ashley, a Senior Manager of Academics at TNTP, learned that a consultant's role involves strategically saying "no" to client requests, even if it initially feels counterintuitive. The most impactful work involves pushing clients' thinking to achieve better student outcomes by "giving them the right questions to ask," ultimately resulting in a more effective product.
Project Management, Communication, Problem-Solving, Executive/Leadership, Overcoming Challenges
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ashley D. Essary
Senior Manager of Academics
TNTP
Texas Christian University (2010)
University of Colorado at Denver, MA in Curriculum & Instruction: Pedagogy for Urban Leadership, concentration in English Language Acquisition
Fine Arts, Music
Education
Strategic Management and Executive
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, LGBTQ, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Saying yes to every client request is not always the most effective approach. Prioritize impactful work and learn to skillfully say no to requests that hinder achieving better results.
2. It's crucial to understand that your role involves influencing and shaping clients' thinking, not just fulfilling their requests. Push for better solutions, even if it means challenging the client's initial ideas.
3. Effective communication and asking insightful questions are essential. Instead of simply answering client requests, engage them in a dialogue to arrive at more effective outcomes for students.
Transcript
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you started?
As a consultant at an education nonprofit, the biggest thing I've had to learn is that it's not my job to say yes to everything the client asks for. This often happens when the client is a school district leader or the Texas Education Agency.
I used to think my job was just to agree to everything: "You want me to add this? You want to do that? Yes." They're paying me, it's a contract, so I'd just say yes.
But it's actually my job to have an impact. This means saying yes to many things, but sometimes it means taking their request and figuring out how to say no skillfully. This educates them on why we're saying no so we can get results and a product that will be more effective.
They don't always recognize certain things that we do recognize from our standpoint. I know that might sound a little manipulative, but generally, we are trying to push people's thinking. That is what they're actually paying us to do: help them think differently.
So, embracing that side of it and giving them the right questions to ask is key. When they ask me a question, I come back with a question, and then we end up at something that will actually be better for students in the end.