Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Tip Sheet #9

We are all ambassadors.

It is important that we always remember that once you are hired you must become a good will ambassador for your school, school district, or place of business.  We must never lose sight of this.

In a school, your customers and clients are the students and parents.  Many educators find this thought hard to accept. However, I believe that it is true.  We are providing a service. And in the case of a school we are providing an education.  To me, it is similar to a doctor or lawyer practicing his /her craft.  Before anyone overreacts, I am not suggesting that the parents or students run the school. However, if you come from a district with an elected or appointed board, always remember that the board is made up of citizens within the community and sets the policy for the district. It is the administrator’s job to implement this policy.  (Yes, I know that sometimes board members forget this.)  Just like the doctor, the educator is the professional.  The educated practitioner.

As ludicrous as this may sound, that if there were no students in your classroom you would not have a job.  Many educators forget this simple concept.  If there were no students, principals and teachers would be out of work.  It sounds funny but think about it.  I have seen parochial schools in the area close their doors because of enrollments issues.  Once thriving schools are now abandoned. Public districts have sold off surplus schools.  Let me provide another concrete example.  In New Jersey, Physical Education is a yearly requirement.  What would happen tomorrow if that law was changed and PE now became an elective? There would be many Physical Educators out of work.  What if your district’s preschool numbers dwindled?  Once again, there would be many early childhood educators looking for a job.  I think you get my point.

So, what does it mean to be an ambassador?  Very simply, you have to sell the program.  You have to sell your school. I hope you have read past posts that discuss the concept of marketing in the schools.  Unfortunately, in the era of vouchers, magnets and choice, marketing has become an essential skill. You have to be able to paint the picture that your school, your classroom, your subject or specialty is too valuable to ever loose. When you engage in a conversation with a parent, share with them all of the good things happening, not the problems that may exist.  When you are on the soccer field on a Saturday morning, use that as an opportunity to sell, sell, sell.  It is easy to complain and the complainers will probably have a bigger crowd around them because you see, many times it is more popular to be that negative person.

Of course, I understand that there are problems in your school or business. There is not an organization out there that is problem free.  The next time you go to buy a car, see if the sales person tells you about all of the discomforts or problems in the vehicle that you are looking at.  Work through proper channels to change what is wrong.  Be the voice in the principal’s ear to address the issues in your building.  But always remember that there is a right way and a wrong way to do this.  Work within the system.

Please do not take you job for granted. Never take that paycheck for granted. Please do not assume your benefits will always be there.  (Although I certainly hope that they will.)  I also know that principals, superintendents and directors must do a better job of showing appreciation and gratitude for the work that all educators do.  I will address that in future posts.

Think about this—By being a good ambassador, the job you save may be your own.