Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Game time adjustments #12

Who is driving your bus?

Fact:   Good question.  I hope it is you!

Sure, it is a good question.  As the principal of your school or the leader of your organization I am sure you quickly answered, “me” if you were asked about the identity of the bus driver. But are you really the one driving or are you the one pretending to drive?

Last week we spoke about getting the right people on the bus, getting them in the right seats and getting the wrong people off of the bus.  Getting that formula right is the key to your success as the leader.

Now, if you are the bus driver, do you know where you want to go? Do you know your destination?  Do you have directions (plan)?  You better.  You need to have a vision and a strategic plan in place.  You have to know what you want your school to look like.  You need to be able to articulate this and what your school is all about. Yes, you must meaningfully communicate your vision, mission and plan to your clients (students and parents), your teachers and staff, your superintendent and your community. You have to believe in your plan and you have to live it in everything that you do and say.  Your vision and plan cannot be periodic or intermittent.  These philosophical statements must be real and alive.  These statements must be able to transcend the philosophical into the practical.  That is the hard part. It is your job to get what is in your head or on some piece of paper to come to life.  That is the energizing and exciting part.

I recall a short while ago asking an assistant principal, who was just appointed the principal of a high achieving high school, about his vision and plan.  I was dumbfounded when he looked at me as if I was from outer space.  He had no plan.  I felt sorry for his new school.

Last night I was out with some friends, practicing good social distancing techniques, when one of my friends was lamenting that there was an individual on the job, in an important support position, who was difficult to approach and held people hostage with her attitude and her reluctance to do the work on the boss’ schedule.  She had everyone intimidated, included her supervisors.  They had to tiptoe on eggshells around her and had to coddle her to do her job. There were only several people who could talk to her without lighting an explosion.

Guess what?  She has hijacked the bus.  She has become the de-facto bus driver headed to her destination at her own pace. By your passivity, you have now given up the seat behind the wheel and are tucked in a seat in the rear. You are supposed to be the driver. Dam it, act like it! You cannot let the bus be hijacked. If you do, you might as well get off of the bus.  She was now in charge.  As the leader, you have to stop this behavior as soon as a you see it.  The longer that you deny it, the more power that person will possess over you.  You have to now coach this person up and if needed coach this person some more.  You cannot go on in this manner.  You may need to stop and get her off of the bus before it is too late and if she already has the wheel, it might be too late. 

 Do not forget that the job you save may be your own.

Good luck!