Timeout for Leadership-your one-minute leadership idea

Tip Sheet #51

“I am who I am.”

The meaning of these words that God said to Moses have been hotly debated.  This is not a course in Biblical Studies.  For me, these have been guiding words for me as a principal and leader.   They tell me to be true to myself.  You have to be about something.  You have to stand for something.  These words also will tell people that you will be there for them.   Being true to yourself is a good starting point for your leadership journey.  You can’t go wrong.

You need to be comfortable in your own skin.  I like to think I was my own person and that I set a standard for my staff and my students.  My standard was excellence.  This was the message that I tried to communicate from the first day of my first principalship.  Everything that I did, I tried to build on that concept of excellence.  I cannot live with mediocrity.  I despise the entire notion of mediocrity.  I never want to be just satisfactory. (I have written on this topic before-see past blogs)

For me it started when I created my Four E’s for Excellence.  My framework guided me on my leadership journey.  Remember my Four E’s and apply them to your job.  I think they work!

• Expectations-You must start by holding high expectations for yourself, your staff and your students. You must believe that you can win every game.  And if you are not sincere about this, people will see right through you and in part you will become a fraud.  YOU CAN NEVER BE SATISFIED.
• Enthusiasm-Every day you must bring a high level of enthusiasm to the job. I am convinced that your high energy is contagious.  If you are excited, those around you will be excited.
• Empowerment-As the principal you must empower your staff and your students. When you give people a voice, I remain convinced that their level of commitment will rise.  They will be more apt to accept responsibility and be accountable.  They will have pride in their work and accomplishments.
• Environment-It is your responsibility to create the environment that supports excellence in your classroom, school or office. Everyone must know that when they enter your area it is a place of excellence. This might be the hardest of my E’s to master.   Students get it because they see the inconsistencies that abound in their school.  Your direct reports may see the same things. How come I can go into one classroom with a given set of students and see a stellar learning environment.  A classroom where students are engaged and committed.  Then I can walk next door to an adjacent classroom, a period later with the exact same students, and see chaos.  The only variable is the teacher.  One teacher gets it and the other teacher doesn’t.

Do you get it?

Excellence can be the only way to go.  It may be the road less traveled, yet it is the road that will bring you the most rewards.  Take my word for it.