Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Op-ed #7

Who is the face of your school / organization?

Fact:

Your school needs a special face to recognize and associate with your product.  And in a school’s case, the product is the education delivered to your clients(students).

Discussion:

Yes, your school needs a face.  Who is it?  What does he or she stand for?  For me, this has always been an easy answer.  A school’s face must be that of the principal and the district’s face must be that of the superintendent.

When one thinks of the school or district, he or she must see this face.  I would like to believe that this is a happy face which exudes both trust and integrity.  The face of the school must also show and live his or her expectations. 

Many times, leaders will run away from this visibility because he or she will believe that by staying in the background that this behavior shows humility. Others may want to stay in the background to avoid responsibility or embarrassment. 

However, more importantly, I want everyone in the school to be the face of the school.  No matter who it might be, each employee must display the same vision of trust and integrity as the principal.  This always must start with respect.

I think many principals miss the boat on this.  The principal fails to communicate his or her expectations to the team.  If you think I have missed the mark on this one, I challenge you to go visit a school and prove me wrong.  How are you greeted by the first person that you encounter?    Years ago, this used to be the principal’s secretary.  Nowadays, it is probably a security person.  My, how times have changed.

My experience tells me that this initial greeting might not be the best.  I will paraphrase the popular Farmers Insurance television commercial when I tell you the “I know a thing or two because I have seen a thing or two.”  I visit many schools and I am mostly greeted by an overworked and underappreciated secretary. It shows.  And this poor soul tells me much more about the school with his or her body language and facial expressions than they could ever speak.

I hope this person does not represent the principal as the face of the school.  Oh, but they do.  When I am greeted like the aforementioned greeting, my opinion of the school plummets.

So, what is the lesson of today?  It is not as simple as acknowledging that you are the face of the school.  The lesson is much deeper.  Do your people live and breathe your message?  Is that first person that one meets a good representation of you? Of your school?  Of your mission?  Of your values?

I doubt it.  You have work to do.  Go do it!