ACUP+ Lesson: Self-Awareness, Grace, and Leadership
Roughly 75 higher-ed and K-12 in-plant managers gathered in Dallas recently for the Association of College and University Printers (ACUP+) conference. In the opening keynote presentation, Mark Fallon of The Berkshire Co. talked about teamwork, generosity, and leadership styles. He emphasized the importance of grace, particularly in times of stress, and introduced the acronym GRACE: Generosity, Respect, Action, Compassion, and Energy.
About 75 in-plant managers attended ACUP 2026.
Fallon highlighted the significance of self-awareness by walking the group through the Johari Window model, a psychology tool designed to help people better understand their relationship with themselves and others. He explained that the “open” area—what you know about yourself and share with others—is your public self, but that real growth comes from examining the “hidden” quadrant – what you know about yourself but others don’t – and choosing to share more of who you are. He emphasized the danger of the “blind” quadrant—traits others see but you don’t—by recounting how his managers confronted him about his testy behavior when he cut back on coffee, showing how honest feedback exposes blind spots.
Attendees took a personality test to determine whether their communication style positioned them as a director, promoter, supporter, or analyzer. Then Fallon offered tips on how people in each category can best communicate with those in other categories.
ACUP 2026 attendees
“So if you're a director and you're talking to an analyzer, analyzers generally really focus on the numbers, on the stats,” he said. “You have to make sure you're giving them the details. And because they're analytical by nature, they're going to question you.”
Fallon also discussed the evolving nature of leadership, which has transitioned from a “command and control” model, where a heroic leader was credited with saving the company, to a more collaborative servant leader approach infused with humility, listening, and doing what is right for the team.
“That is so important, that your whole group grows together,” he said.
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Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited 200 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.
