Month: October 2017

What I know to be true is that leadership is an action and not a title.  Fortunately, I have been in the presence of a number of outstanding leaders that have helped me to grow as one.  As I reflect on those leaders, I am reminded of how they influenced me..

• Always assume positive intent
• Keep calm and carry on
• Have the courage to have fierce conversations
• Build a high performing team
• Value time
• Find a tribe that supports you
• Be kind, even when they aren’t
• Be vulnerable, tell your story
• Bring food!
• Family first
• Laugh as much as you can
• Reframe difficult situations
• Love your people
• Build relationships
• Highlight the good
• Celebrate successes
• Be a warm demander
• Release judgment and embrace curiosity
• Seek to understand
• Strive for 5 (level 5 energy)
• Admit your mistakes
• Never stop learning
• Stop making excuses
• Empower others
• People first
• Under promise then over deliver
• Stay positive among the negative
• Ask for feedback
• Do better when you know better
• EXCEL every chance you get
• Take care of yourself
• Ask for help when you need it
• Choose optimism
• Don’t exert energy on negative people
• Listen
• Look for opportunities to grow
• Make a difference
• Remember my purpose
• The best days are always ahead

 

Thank you to many teachers, principals, colleagues, professional learning network,  friends and family that continue to grow my leadership and influence me every day.

How will you influence others today?

Recently I had a coaching conversation that really resonated with me.  

The coach asked me how I was taking care of myself so I could lead a high school.  I honestly had no answer.  

People find it hard to believe that I am actually an introvert.  This doesn’t mean I am shy, it means people take my energy.  For extroverts, they get their energy from people.  I’m in a career where my energy is zapped nearly 24/7.  I am never not the principal and this job is all about people.  I love what I do and the best part of the job is the relationships I build with students, staff, teachers, parents and the community.  I honestly couldn’t think of any other career I would feel this passionately about.  But back to my dilemma of not being able to answer the coaches question.  Admittedly, I have been in a bit of a “funk” to begin this school year and I could not understand why.  The year has started off great, the teachers have given some pretty awesome feedback, the students and parents seem happy, so why did I feel this way?  

Then the epiphany hit.  

I needed to find a way to take care of myself during the school day when I felt that dip in my energy/funk.  Even teachers get a plan time and a lunch time.  I wasn’t giving myself even time to stop and eat lunch as I usually scarf something down on the run.  

After some further conversation with my counselor, we came up with some ideas to help me take care of myself intrinsically so I could be my best self for the staff and students at AHS.  This could be something as simple as closing my door for 15 minutes, meditating,  taking a walk in our outside of the building or even grabbing a quick soda.  I haven’t done any of these things and even though they are out of my comfort zone, I know that I need to do them to take care of myself.  This job isn’t easy and it’s often a lonely one, but knowing I have these options now actually does take some weight off my shoulders.  I may never need them, but I have a plan when I feel that dip/funk?

Now I’m curious…..do you have a plan?  How do you take care of you during your work day?