Years ago, I was blessed to be in a position to hold seminars with groups of educators designed to discuss and build leadership skills both informally and formally, internally – for the individual and externally for the school. As we discussed leadership skills and qualities, we would talk about new tools being put in our toolboxes as leaders. This year in Teach & Serve, I have decided to talk about many of those tools.
HUMOR
Last week, the tool I wrote about was self deprecation. In that post, I discussed how leaders should not take themselves too seriously and they should have an ability to laugh at themselves if they are going to be successful.
This week, the tool is an even simpler one, related, but simpler: humor.
Leaders not only have to be able to laugh, those who are effective can help others to laugh. They can see the humor in the work we do.
I once worked for someone of whom a coworker said: “that person is entirely without mirth.”
It was not a compliment.
Our vocations as educational leaders take us to some very serious places and into some very serious situations. The way through those, often, is humor.
Lighten up, leaders. Those you serve will be happy you did.