Q12 Article Series: Q9. "My Colleagues Are Committed to Doing Quality Work."
At George Mason University, quality isn’t just a goal—it’s a commitment that shapes our daily efforts and interactions. “My colleagues are committed to doing quality work” speaks to our shared dedication as a university community to ensure our institution remains a place where students, faculty, and staff feel supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.
Across the university, there are countless examples of colleagues taking steps to deliver quality work. These recent Pats for Patriots submissions offer just a sample of the appreciation from faculty and staff, highlighting our colleagues’ commitment to quality work and their positive contributions to individual, unit, and university success.
Derrick McReynolds, University Life
“Derrick has been a great supervisor. It’s visible that he cares about his team members for their respective role but more importantly with who they are as a person. He’s been so intentional and supportive in my transition here the past eight months. He has been a certified contributor to my belonging to the Mason Nation community.”
– Demarcus Merritt, Sr., University Life
Priscilla Morris, Facilities
“I am so grateful to Priscilla for taking the time out of her day to walk me through a complicated (for me) process. She was patient, kind and thorough!”
– Una Murphy, Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations
Eileen Gallagher, Office of Sponsored Programs
“Eileen has been helping us for months on an especially challenging contract. I'm so grateful for her help as I would be completely lost on how to problem solve this issue! This hasn't been the first time we have benefited from her expertise. Our partnership with her and others at OSP over the years is one of the reasons why CEBCP is successful.”
– Cynthia Lum, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Isaac Jasper, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution
“I wanted to thank you for serving as a mentor and always looking out for new opportunities for me to grow professionally at Mason, whether it’s taking on a new role, gaining a certificate or volunteer experiences. You’ve been a great leader and it’s been a pleasure to walk alongside you.”
-Zakeyah “Z” Frazier, University Life
Kelly Chandler, Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning
“I wanted to express my appreciation for the consistent and reliable work you do. You always handle your responsibilities with professionalism and efficiency, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Your dedication to meeting and exceeding expectations is truly valued and makes a significant difference to the team. Thank you for your hard work and commitment!”
– Mona Davidson–Tisler, Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning
University Life, Office of International Programs and Services Front Desk Team
“The word "Team" perfectly describes this group's dedication to providing knowledgeable and compassionate support to our International Student population. Everyone is professional and takes pride in their work...and has fun at the same time! Thank you OIPS Front Desk Team!”
– Julie Adams, University Life
These moments of recognition are central to creating a collaborative, high-performing culture.
Delivering quality work means understanding the expectations of those we serve. For our teams, quality is measured through consistent feedback and team reflections. Gallup suggests the following guiding questions that supervisors can utilize to gain further insight about their team members and how work quality is defined on the team:
- Have you seen one of our team members go beyond the call of duty at some point in the past month?
- How do we as a team know when we have done good work?
- In the past six months, have you spoken to another team member about how we could improve the quality of our work?
- What does quality look like to our customers (students, colleagues, etc)?
- What are their standards for quality customer service?
Below are tips to help both supervisors and individual contributors foster a culture where colleagues are committed to doing quality work:
For Supervisors
- Set Clear Expectations: Clearly communicate standards and expectations for quality work to ensure alignment across the team.
- Encourage Collaboration: Create opportunities for team members to work together on projects, as collaboration can inspire higher standards and shared accountability.
- Provide Constructive Feedback: Offer specific, actionable feedback that reinforces quality efforts and helps team members understand areas for improvement.
- Celebrate Successes: Regularly acknowledge team members who demonstrate commitment to quality. Highlight examples of quality work in team meetings or newsletters and share how it positively impacts the team and university.
- Promote Continuous Improvement: Encourage employees to think about ways to improve processes or services and provide support for implementing changes.
- Lead by Example: Model a commitment to quality in your work, demonstrating attention to detail and accountability in your own tasks.
For Individual Contributors
- Take Pride in Your Work: Embrace ownership of your projects, aiming for a high standard and understanding how your work contributes to the team and university’s goals. Pay attention to the quality of your own work, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and thoroughness.
- Seek Feedback: Actively request feedback from peers and supervisors to understand how you can enhance the quality of your contributions.
- Communicate Proactively: Share progress updates, raise any concerns, and clarify expectations to avoid quality-related issues.
- Collaborate and Share Best Practices: Collaborate with peers to share strategies and practices that enhance quality, building a team-wide commitment to excellence.
- Invest in Skill Development: Take advantage of professional development opportunities to continuously build skills that can enhance the quality of your work.
Through collaboration, communication, and an unwavering dedication to our values, we can foster a culture of shared accountability and pride in the quality of work across the university community.
This article was written by Stacey Ellis. For additional information, visit the Faculty and Staff Experience Survey website or email engagehr@gmu.edu.