Friday, July 17, 2015

Five Essentials (to Effective Leadership)

(courtesy davidrumsy.com)

Learning is truly a journey. Each day I look forward to what lies ahead. Getting better is expected. As I venture into another year in education, my fifteenth as a building administrator, there are some "essentials" that I will continue to refine. Following these will be just the beginning of my own leadership journey. Please, feel free to add your own thoughts, and suggestions, in the comment section below. Let's grow the list together.

1. Be ready to listen
. The greatest of ideas can come from the most unexpected places. We often are so eager to lead that we take for granted the art of an open ear. Encourage your colleagues to "bend it". Open the door to communication and sit back and hear what is needed be said. Not everything that is shared will be something that is implemented or applied, but you'll be better off to have heard than not heard at all.

2. Strengthen relationships. Every educator that I have met understands the value of knowing who the work with. The great leaders, those that stand apart from their peers, know that the deeper the relationships, the greater the outcomes of success of the organization. While you are listening, make sure to take note of what each member of  your team brings to the table. The more you know who they are, the more likely you are to get them to follow your lead. Relationships matter most.

3. Step aside. As an administrator we have the distinct responsibility to lead our buildings into academic success. Student achievement is our goal. Being the instructional leader is our charge and for the safety and well being of our community, we are the operators of our institutions. Knowing when to lead, and when to step aside allow others to lead, is a craft that only some posses. Sharing the role of who is at the helm builds strength within your walls of your school. Teachers aspire to lead, leaders aspire to create opportunities for them. Give them the support to take the reigns. Build capacity.


4. Model it.
From your demeanor, to your disposition, to how you lead, to how you learn and especially how you interact with your staff, students and parents, model at all times. If we expect it of others, expect it of yourself. Always in a constant state of change and an ever growing use of technology in our profession, educators (like any other career) must stay with the times. Model the leading, learning and work that you do. What we do is observed by all. Make it count.

5. Get (and stay) connected. Whether with the people you serve each day or the ones you meet through conferences, conversations or social networking, one of our greatest professional tools is getting connected with others in our work and learning through those interactions. Using platforms such as Twitter, Voxer, Instagram or the constantly evolving world of social media, it is those connections that will grow you as a leader and a learner. If you are not connected, you are not keeping up.

Challenge yourself to work on these five essentials as you begin to think about students, staff and your community entering your halls in the coming weeks. Create for yourself a blueprint for what it is you hope to accomplish this year in each of these areas. Where you find a strength, tweak it. Engage with others to help you discover which is an area that could use more attention, your weakness. Surround yourself with people that inspire you and motivate you. Don't sell yourself short. We each have the ability, and the positions, to lead like never before.

16 comments:

  1. Craig you are truly a servant leader. I couldn't express it in 140 characters, but I love how your pieces are always about helping others. Your staff, students and community are lucky to have you at the helm. Keep inspiring my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. http://innertradingcirclereview.co/ Binary options trading signals are indicators that are provided on the website of a binary options broker. The pointers are constructed by experts and professionals; however, in some cases they are generated by computer software.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Excellent Craig! Sharing with others now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love this list, Craig! My favorite is #4. We must walk the walk...not occasionally.. but every day. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  5. This nice and informative post. thank you for sharing this informative and valuable post with us.
    Buy Coursework Online

    ReplyDelete
  6. The teaching statement of purpose is excellent site that provide you complete instruction about teaching.

    ReplyDelete

  7. It's a complicated concept to identify but all international exchange are interchanged in 'pairs' like the US cash and the Japanese individuals people so when you buy cash MockingBird Method Software with yen and someone

    ReplyDelete
  8. Read about one of the best trading platforms for binary trading at StockPair review.

    ReplyDelete
  9. We take pride in offering great packing & moving services at reasonable prices. All our employees are experienced, courteous and careful. We offer personalised service for any kind of relocation whether it is local, Domestic.dishwasher repairs perth

    ReplyDelete
  10. This inflection with this manuscript is very are at odds of. It is acrimonious to most fiduciarys exactly who sphere always be righteous, nevertheless anything heckles may narrate on their motivate peppys.80s Costumes

    ReplyDelete
  11. Simply getting outside, walking around, taking a train and documenting the experience can be simplest introduction to globetrotting discoveries!.the squid

    ReplyDelete
  12. Schaffhausen, April 19, 2016 - Schaffhausen replica watches by the Lawrence World Sports rolex replica Awards Berlin ceremony held at the occasion of the grand launch of swiss replica watches the Parker Feno moon phase automatic watch 37 "Lawrence Sports Foundation "special edition.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You make so many great points here that I read your article a couple of times. Your views are in accordance with my own for the most part. This is great content for your readers. leadership principles

    ReplyDelete