Developing a culture of shared leadership has been my goal since becoming a school leader. I didn't realize how difficult an endeavor this would be or what barriers I would face. I also didn't realize how vastly rewarding it would prove to be. As I work along side my team, I can't help but be proud of where we are and how far we have come to get here. We still have work to do, but I can say that we are moving forward everyday. Even in the times of failure I am seeing an attitude of "fail forward"....learning from the not so successful events with a spirit of we are not going to let this beat us. This culture is so different than just a year ago. As we continue to grow and develop as a team, I believe we must work on the work every day, in every way through shared leadership.
What is shared leadership?
-Building the vision together It is important that the team have one vision, one voice and one process.
- Walk the talk. Believe the vision, speak it, walk it, talk it.
- Support your team and validate their ideas. Work to lift each other up. Team members want leaders who share responsibilities, resources and recognize results.
- Build Community Everyone wants to be apart. Communities are built on caring, communication and collaboration.
Leading from the back provides an amazing view. One that sheds light on those reaching goals, stretching their "comfort zones" and working for change. It is almost as good as my view from the sidewalk!
Until next time, enjoy the view from your own sidewalk.
Here it is my first dedicated blog entry as an elementary principal. By that, I mean I have started about 10 blogs but they remain in draft mode on some website I can't remember with some log-in I have long forgotten. I have suppressed this inaugural launch for multiple reasons including that nagging little voice of self doubt telling me that no one wants to hear what this gal from central Arkansas has to say about education. I am stepping out on faith and holding tight to my one word for 2K15....BELIEVE. If I have learned anything through my professional journey it is the fact that educators are the most valuable resource to other educators ... MVR if you will. If I can serve as a MVR to one person and help them, encourage them, inspire them isn't that enough? Who cares if I'm not the most eloquent of writers or that I make an occasional spelling/grammar error. Is that really going to stand in my way? NO it is not. Time to kick self doubt to the curb!
So as I reflect on this idea of MVR I can't help but think back to those people that served as my Most Valuable Resources throughout my career and the traits they had/have in common. Through this reflective process, I realized the following about my MVRs and I am devoted to developing and refining these traits in myself.
Traits of a Most Valuable Resource:
1. Be honest. When someone comes to you for help be honest. If it is a bad idea...don't pretend it is a good one. Ask critical questions to help get a clear plan and define the true goal.
2. Be a good listener. Serving as a MVR requires strong listening skills .... don't try to solve everyone's problems. Most people already own a solution but need a critical friend to help clarify.
3. Share what you know without sounding like you know it all.
4. Network with other MVRs (develop and build a strong PLN)
5. Believe in the good of mankind and be POSITIVE.
6. Talk in solution mode, not in problem mode. Problems appear bigger than they are if that is all you focus on.
Most Valuable Resource.... be someone's today!
Until next time, enjoy the view from your own sidewalk!