What’s Your One Word?
A couple of weeks ago, I received my student reviews from last semester. As a professor at Rutgers Business School, feedback is something I truly value. To me, it’s a gift—a chance to learn, grow, and improve. Naturally, I went straight to the comments, eager to find insights into the class topics and how I could make the experience better for my students.
While I was looking for concrete suggestions about what resonated and what needed adjustment, I found something unexpected. As someone committed to strengths-based leadership, I also wanted to see what was working—what my students appreciated about the experience. One word kept appearing in their reviews: Caring.
At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about this. As a former corporate leader, maybe I was hoping for something more… I don’t know… "strategic" or "insightful"—a word that felt less "soft." But as I sat with the feedback, the word began to mean more to me. Caring meant that my students felt heard. They felt understood. They saw that I was there to help them and genuinely wanted to see them succeed.
This wasn’t the title I’d set out to earn. I didn’t go into the semester with the goal of becoming "the Caring Professor." But when I thought about what that word represented—the connection, the trust, the empathy—it hit me how powerful it was. And it became a benchmark I want to carry into this new semester: to lead with that care, but also to understand how I can grow from it.
So now, I’ll ask you: What’s your one word?
If I asked your colleagues, your friends, or your team to describe you in a single word, what would they say? Would it be the word you’d hope for? Would it capture the essence of how you want to be known and remembered?
Take a moment to reflect on this. Maybe even ask a few people you trust for their perspective. Their responses might surprise you. And when you hear that word—whether it resonates or feels misaligned—you have a choice.
If You Love Your One Word
If that word reflects who you want to be, ask yourself how you can lean into it even more. How can you make it a cornerstone of your leadership and your relationships? For example:
If your word is "Innovative," think about how you can build systems that foster creativity not just for yourself but for your team.
If your word is "Dependable," consider how that reliability can inspire trust and empower others to take risks knowing you’ll be there to support them.
Embracing a strength doesn’t mean staying static. It means evolving it and allowing it to guide your growth.
If You Don’t Love Your One Word
If the word feels at odds with the identity you’re striving to build, take it as an opportunity for change. How can you shift behaviors, communication, or attitudes to redefine how others perceive you? For instance:
If the word is "Dismissive," maybe it’s time to focus on active listening and showing people that their ideas matter.
If the word is "Overwhelmed," it might mean reevaluating your boundaries and learning to delegate more effectively.
The beauty of perception is that it’s not set in stone. With intention and consistency, you can reshape the way you’re seen by others—and, just as importantly, how you see yourself.
Moving Forward
The word "Caring" wasn’t what I expected, but it’s a word I’ve come to value deeply. It’s a reminder of the kind of leader and educator I want to be. And now, as I head into the new semester, I’ll carry that word with me—not just as a reflection of who I am, but as a challenge to live up to it every day.
So, what’s your one word? And more importantly, what will you do with it?
