Teach & Serve IV, No. 16
Praise You Like I Should
November 21, 2018
School leaders should be looking for people to praise, identifying opportunities to share their gratitude, searching out those who have done their schools, their staffs and their students service. School leaders should take time to say “thank you” and they should do so many, many times a day.
Tomorrow, the United States celebrates Thanksgiving which is one of my favorite days of the year. I love the food for sure. There is nothing like a mean double decker pumpkin pie. I love the fall leaves on the ground, the smells wafting from the kitchen, the gathering of family and friends around the table.
I love all the trappings of Thanksgiving.
But I most especially love the idea of it. I love the concept of setting a day aside each year to give thanks.
One of my favorite quotes comes from Meister Eckhart who is credited with saying: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
I believe this is true for anyone in any walk of life, but I believe it is especially true – and it should be – for school leaders.
School leaders should be looking for people to praise, identifying opportunities to share their gratitude, searching out those who have done their schools, their staffs and their students service. School leaders should take time to say “thank you” and they should do so many, many times a day.
A written note is a great gesture. A comment of thanks in public at a meeting is a good thing to offer. Pulling someone aside to praise their work can affect that person’s attitude. An email of thanks goes a long way to make someone know – not feel, know – she or he is appreciated.
In my experience, leaders who recognize the opportunities to thank those with whom and for whom they work are leaders who understand that to lead is to serve and these are the types of leaders for whom I wish to work.
This Thanksgiving, as we express our gratefulness for our blessings of family and food and friends, we should also express our gratefulness for our students, their families, our coworkers.
This is what excellent school leaders do as a matter of course.