It’s better to leave early than too late, according to Dr. Tim McMahon, and after fifteen years of working at University of Oregon, that’s just what McMahon is doing.
“You never want to overstay,” the UO professor and co-author of “Exploring Leadership: For College Students Who Want to Make a Difference” said.
During his time at UO as Professional Development Specialist, McMahon has given talks to a leadership Freshman Interest Group and various organizations on campus, and has also led presentations regarding how to affect students and improve teaching methods at the Center on Diversity and Community. For the past three years; however, McMahon has been working closely with the Holden Center, hosting “Leadership Lounge” from 4 to 5 every Thursday.
“Leadership is all about connections and relationships and about creating a vision for an organization,” McMahon said.
At “Leadership Lounge,” McMahon holds discussions regarding leadership with a diverse mix of students. Meetings often begin with a TED talk and topics vary from what makes people successful, to what makes people happy, to how people become motivated.
“It’s great fun and people seem to enjoy it. It’s a low-key way to learn about leadership and learn about other people,” said McMahon.
UO exchange student Awab Attieh liked the idea of the leadership meetings and thought it would be a good place to practice his English.
“I liked that he encouraged people to talk,” said Attieh.
He said he also enjoyed learning new things during leadership talks and appreciated McMahon’s ideas.
“Leadership Lounge is fun because it’s a safe place for exchange students to practice their English and they always have interesting things to say because of their background and perspective,” said McMahon, adding that “Leadership Lounge” is open to anyone.
McMahon mentioned that some of the highlights of giving leadership talks were the responses from students. About six years ago a worker for Nike told him that the leadership Freshman Interest Group and McMahon’s involvement in it was a great way for him to start his college career and aided him with his career path.
“That kind of stuff makes you feel wonderful,” said McMahon.
The leadership talks were also something McMahon looked forward to every week, regardless of his decision to pass his hosting position to someone else.
Jessica Thorpe, McMahon’s intern, will be replacing McMahon as host of Leadership Lounge. She sees that the talk allows participants to look at leadership from many different angles. She’s seen many different approaches to many different leadership styles in her time working for McMahon.
She added that people from many departments around campus, beyond the Holden Center and “Leadership Lounge,” will miss McMahon after he leaves.
“He’s met many people and is very passionate,” she said. “He can walk into a room and everybody knows who he is. He genuinely takes an interest in other people.”
Thorpe said that talks will be more student run with the ideas from students that attend regularly holding more prominence in each meeting.
“Tim is definitely a character that will be missed,” she said.