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Being Heard

I am in my third year of a three-year term as Faculty Ombudsperson at Elon University. I remember being on Academic Council (our version of a Faculty Senate here at Elon) when the role was first proposed to help provide confidential support for faculty with problems. Always in the back of my mind I thought that I would like to be able to fill that role. I had to wait until I completed other leadership roles before doing so, but the timing worked out that I was between stand-in-front-of-large-groups gigs when it became vacant.

I expected that most of the gratification would come from experience with the institution (32 years and counting) and there is some of that---knowing procedures and people, etc. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of the gratification comes from active listening.

Ombudspeople are not supposed to take sides, so we call the people who use our services "visitors" and not "clients".  I'm privileged to see most of my visitors feel relieved after telling their stories before and apart from any suggestions that I have to offer. If I am offered a second term I will accept it and this is the reason why.

I've noticed this in my other interactions, both professional and personal as well. Many people carry stress from not being heard, either from fear of revealing weakness or insecurity or not having people in their lives that care enough to pause, listen, and ask follow-up questions. I get to be that person that cares enough to listen, at least for a little while. It is a privilege.

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