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.
EXAMPLE
The year is close to its end. We can see May coming and with it, summer. There can be a tendency to let the cares and challenges of the year wear us down as we round this final turn to the year’s end. It is all too easy when the finish line is in sight to allow ourselves exhausted slips in our behavior.
We are tired and we are ready to be done.
It has been a challenging year.
However, as educational leaders, this is the time of year when we most have to challenge ourselves to provide an example of energy and realistic positivity to our colleagues. If we let down, we give license to everyone to do the same. We have weeks to go. We have to model the attitude we would like people to have.
Providing an example to those we serve is an important part of this work and a tool that we should not forget to use. The attitude we take as leaders and the example we set makes a difference. If we lose sight of that fact, we lose sight of one of the responsibilities of leadership.
Leaders’ examples make a difference in the culture of the school.