Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Tip Sheet #36

The manager sets the tone

 Now that my Yankees are setting the pace in Major League Baseball I think I will use this as a springboard for some of our summer tip sheets.  As the principal of your school there are a great many leadership lessons that can be learned from baseball.

Today I will start with a very obvious one.   Although it may be obvious, it nonetheless is critical for the success of your organization.  The manager or principal sets the tone for you team or school.  Your team, be it a team on the field or your team of teachers in the school will tend to adopt the personality of the head coach. If your manager tends to be the fiery aggressive type, your team may perform in that manner. Likewise, if the manager is more of a quiet, thoughtful leader, I would bet your team will operate in that similar manner.  So which style is better?

I do not think there is a right answer to this question.  However, it is essential that the leader be themselves.  You cannot try to be someone that you are not.  I have seen leaders fail when they try to operate out of their personal comfort zones.  Your team will see right through any phoniness.

It is important to know that different teams need different types of leaders. And many times, principals or managers are hired with that in mind.  If I am the principal of a school with a very inexperienced staff, I might have to be more directive.  If I have a veteran staff, I might be able to take a more laid-back approach.  I think a leader can in part adapt to the leadership needs of his team without abandoning his or her true personality.  You can develop more of a situational leadership style where you deliver what your team needs.

Regardless of your style, you need to bring our A game everyday as far as energy and enthusiasm are concerned.  Teams will tend to go through the motions if that is what they perceive their leader is doing.  Teams can become soft.  Your staff can become soft.  The principal has to keep the team ready to deliver and perform every day.

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that I believe the establishment and sustenance of your school’s culture is everyone’s responsibility, yet it is still essential that the leader, in this case the principal, sets the tone.  You set the tone in how you practice and how you play.  You set the tone in how you prepare and how you execute.  You set the tone in how you respond to successes and failures.  You set the tone as how the players behave in the locker room.  In other words, you set the tone in the faculty room.  Your team is following your lead. Never forget that the locker room and faculty room can become poisonous places if you allow it.  And you tend to allow it by things you do and things you don’t do.  You allow if by letting your players (teachers) give a losing effort.  Close your eyes to nothing.  Do not take things for granted.

At the end of the day, never forget that YOU SET THE TONE.