Education Leadership

While it may seem counterintuitive, the best education leaders often act as servants. If you want to be great, if you want to be important; then you must find a way to serve others. When we put others in a position to win, it helps the entire organization to win. Unfortunately, it is hard for most people to understand this concept because most people are selfish. They believe that to be great, they have to outshine everyone else. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Servant leadership 101

As an education leader, you have more resources at your command than the average person; you must share them with people on your leadership team. You want them to have everything that they need to be successful. When they shine, the whole team shines. When they do, you want them to get all of the praise, and you want to stand in the background. Also, when they fail, you want to step up and take the blame.

Great education leaders believe that success should be shared with everyone because there is no “I” in team. When you share credit and accolades with others, you build loyalty, trust, and admiration that enables you to push the envelope even further.

What? So you want me to take none of the credit when we win and all of the blame when we lose? This is hard for most would-be education leaders to understand. If you can’t, you are exhibiting weak leadership character, and you will never reach the pinnacles of leadership. It means that you still don’t get it. Being a leader is about serving others, not your self-interest.

Concluding thoughts

A selfish leader can be successful but not as successful as they could be if they were selfless. That is because being selfless is the best way to empower others and to develop leaders within their organizations. You are not afraid of people outshining you, because like a parent, you want your mentees to eclipse you in life.

Smart education leaders know that their journey is often more rewarding than their destination. That’s why they take the time to enjoy life and what they have already achieved because they know nothing can last forever. When you are patient, you will be amazed by how satisfying life can be.

Patience beats impatience every time

Education leaders shouldn’t be in a rush to climb the ladder. Just commit yourself to do outstanding work and serving others, and you will ultimately end up where you want to be. Take time and enjoy your leadership journey, because once it is all over, and when you are somewhere sitting in a rocking chair, you won’t be concerned with accolades, you will be reflecting on the good times that you had with friends family and colleagues. So make time for the things that are truly important in life, and you will see how fulfilling it can be.

And really, what does being impatient ever give us? It gives us a nasty case of anxiety, high blood press, premature aging, and gray hair. What will be, will be and you can’t make things happen any faster than they are supposed to. Those who have tried ended up burned out, with nothing to show for it but poor health. So take it from me and be patient. Your achievements will come in due time and on their own timetable.

Concluding thoughts

Now, being patient doesn’t mean that education leaders lack urgency. They know that some things, such as emergencies, and pressing needs, must be handled immediately. They take care of these items with swiftness and then move on to the next task. Knowing which things require patience and which require urgency is all a part of being a good leader. It may seem hard to figure out the differences between the two, but with time and practice, you will become a pro in no time.

A steadfast belief in a cause can often be a driving force in an education leader’s ability to affect change in their school or district. This conviction often comes from being inspired and staying inspired throughout your leadership journey. Of all of the leadership skills, this is hands down one of the most essential.

A little self-confidence goes a long way

Smart education leaders know not to expect results overnight, whether it is a new anti-bullying policy or a new academic initiative. They know that it will take days, weeks, months, and even years for their hard work to pay off. During this time, there will be a lot of naysayers that believe that you should just give up, but in the face of doubt, you must have the conviction to keep going. When it’s hard to defend your position, you will have to push back against some of your initial supporters, who are now opponents. They will say, “Your way is not working out, and we need to reverse course.” In times like this, you find out who you really are.

Education leaders know that patience is not about waiting around for results; it is about executing the plan, following through and not giving up when you face obstacles, working diligently, and learning how to love the journey as much as the destination. Since you have already anticipated setbacks and naysayers, you will be able to fight back and expose all of the reasons why everyone needs to stay the course.

The defendant’s lack of conviction gave him away

Let me end this tip with a story that demonstrates the importance of having conviction. There was a man who was on trial for murder, and although the body had not been found, there was lots of circumstantial evidence. His lawyer knew that he needed to do something grand to ensure that his client would not be convicted. He instructed the jury and everyone in the courtroom to look at the door because, in 60 seconds, the man that his client supposedly killed would come walking through the door. Everyone was on the edge of their seat, wondering if he was right.

At the end of 60 seconds, he confessed that it was all a ruse, but that, based on the fact that the juror’s eyes were glued to the door during his exercise, they must have believed that there was a possibility that it would happen. This meant that they had a reasonable doubt as to whether or not his client was guilty. He also informed the jury that before dismissing them for deliberations, the judge would tell them that returning a verdict of guilty meant that they all were 100% sure that his client had committed murder.

A few minutes later, the judge gave his instructions and released the juror for deliberations. One hour later, they came back with their verdict. The jury foreman announced that they had found the defendant guilty of murder, and the defense attorney was livid. He chided them for returning a verdict of guilty even though they had reasonable doubt. The jury foreman said those doubts dissipated when they noticed that the defense attorney and his client never glanced at the door during those 60 seconds because they didn’t believe it themselves, which means that the defendant is guilty. The moral of the story is, how can you expect other people to believe in you if you don’t even believe in yourself?

It takes a lot to affect the status quo. Education leaders not only have to be energetic, but they also must understand how to find and utilize their time productively. Remember, working long hours does not always equal success because time is a finite resource. However, energy can be fueled by staying healthy and active, passionate, and positive about your work as well as establishing productive rituals.

You can’t fake being energetic

Remember the old adage, you are only as young as you feel? Well, to a certain extent, this holds up. You can hold on to your youthful vigor forever, as long as you don’t lose sight of this. As a young professional, conditioning your mind and body in a way that is conducive to hard work will help you handle heavy workloads when necessary. This ability can be utilized into old age, though it may wane a bit.

Your energetic spirit is what will set you apart from your competitors. That is because, in the face of hard work and stress, many people crumble, and their bodies shut down. This usually comes out of the blue, and it takes a nervous breakdown or heart attack for them to get the message.

Being energetic is not about sacrificing your health to be successful or working long hours continuously. It is about balancing your health, work, and personal life, and knowing when to slow down a bit. This allows your energy level to stay at equilibrium and for you to remain on top of things. Take care of yourself, as you only get one life. If you die today, your job will probably be posted before your funeral arrangements have been made.

Concluding thoughts

Don’t define yourself by a position or title and don’t define your level of success based on what others think. Just work hard each and every day, using your endless energy to affect change. Even if other people don’t reward you for your efforts, the skills and confidence that you gain should be recompense enough. I know, because although I often felt overlooked at my teaching and leadership stops, I gain millions of dollars worth of connections and skills. I used these connections and skills to build my own education company, and now the only person that I try to impress each day is myself.

Effective education leaders learn how to live within the flow of life. This means taking action without judgment, resistance, or regret. You are, in theory, living your life disconnected emotionally from circumstances and disconnected mentally from judging the conditions that life throws your way. This is very advantageous because it allows you to perceive events from an observer’s perspective, enabling you to make better choices and decisions as you go about your day as an education leader.

Just go with the flow?

Living within the flow of life requires you to think abundantly. This involves the process of thinking about what you want to accomplish, do, have, etc. It involves the process of seeing opportunity where there is none or seeing solutions where other people only see obstacles and problems. When you think abundantly, you will have feelings of abundance, and this will illuminate your thought process and allow you to make more informed choices and decisions.

When you choose to live in the present moment, it does not mean that you cannot think about your future goals and objectives. It means is that you are concentrating all your energy on the present to maximize your comprehension of the present moment and the situation you find yourself in. This enables you to make better decisions that will help you attain your goals and objectives.

Concluding thoughts

What do you think? Can living within the flow of life help education leaders make better choices? I think so, and as a matter of fact, it is the only way to lead. I have been practicing this technique not only in my business dealings but also in my personal life. It has brought me untold success, happiness, and a deep sense of serenity. I am confident that it can do the same for you. You just have to embrace it wholeheartedly and live in the here and now.

Even though having a consensus is beautiful, it is rare and unnecessary. As an education leader, remember that, on average, 20 percent of everyone in your school or district will be against something. You will never come remotely close to having a consensus on your vision or on a solitary initiative. But that is quite ok.

Are you sure I don’t need a consensus?

You are the leader, and they pay you to make the tough decisions, not to get people to unanimously agree on a course of action. When you understand this, you realize that you don’t always have to compromise; you just need to make the right decision for your organization, whether everyone likes it or not. If you always try to reach consensus, you are being influenced and led by 20 percent of your employees.

Lions do not care about the opinions of sheep, and education leaders do not care about the opinions of others unless they have some validity. They make the right decision at the right time, and if people don’t like it, they can find another job, as your boat only has one captain.

I know that I might get some push back on this one, but tell me, when was the last time you were able to reach a consensus with a group larger than 10? If you did, it was difficult, and you had to negotiate and make a lot of concessions. Also, to please everyone you, you may have comprised your original goal or objective. In the end, everyone loses.

Concluding thoughts

Now don’t get me wrong, allowing stakeholders to help you make a decision is a good thing, as they can help you think about all of the possible ramifications of various choices. However, once they have done so, you have to be one that makes the final decision based on the information that you have gathered.

As an educator, you will be faced with many tough decisions. Sometimes it will feel like you are sailing in the dark, with no way of knowing how to get to shore safely. However, if you never want to feel this way again, all you must do is stay student-centered. If you use students as a compass to help you lead, you can never go wrong.

How can I accomplish this?

You accomplish this by factoring in how your decision will affect students. Recognize that many of the adults around you want you to keep their best interests at heart, but remember, it is not about them. They were hired to help students grow academically, psychologically, and behaviorally, so ultimately their job is to serve, not be served. Always do right by your students, even if it means making the tough calls. Always do what’s best for the kids.

Being student-centered does not mean that you cater to them; it means you do what it takes to help them turn into good citizens. This might mean suspending the football team for an entire year because of a hazing incident. Or asking teachers to buy into a new curriculum that adds a little more work to their plate, but has the potential to dramatically increase academic achievement.

Concluding thoughts

Now while being student-centered, don’t be anti-teacher. Remember, for students to grow up to become responsible adults and citizens, they will need a lot of great teachers to help them along the way. It’s ok to factor teachers into your decision making because they are the engines that keep the education train moving down the track. When it comes to making decisions that are student-centered, they will be some of your staunchest supporters. However, if you make decisions that negate their value and well being, you might have a mutiny on your hands.

Education leaders understand that timing is everything. Knowing how to make the right decision is one thing, but knowing how to make the right decision at the perfect time is even more critical. For instance, when does an educator need an inspirational pep talk, and when do they need a challenge to step up? When is the best time of the year to purchase a new education app? When should we implement our new bullying awareness campaign? When should we build a middle school? These questions might seem trivial, but they are not. Making the right decision can help your school to be extremely successful, and getting it wrong can complicate your already full leadership plate.

Timing in action

Understanding timing is all about seizing opportunities at the right time and helping your school or district to move forward. Leaders who understand the importance of timing in decision making end up having long careers in education. Everything they touch turns to gold, and their organizations seem to outperform all others in their industry. Those that never learn leadership timing end up being forced out of the field.

The enemy of timing is impatience, as it makes us experience an unrealistic sense of urgency that disrupts the natural flow of things. For many, impatience is a compulsion that they must fight hard to resist. Even though you know that it is best to be patient and wait to act or decide, there is a biological urge to go against your better judgment to move now. In times like these, remind yourself that if you give in to this urge, there is a high probability that you may undermine all of your hard work and make a mess of things.

As an alternative, until you become better at leadership timing, ask your leadership team for advice. They will be able to help you sift through the pros and cons of acting now and waiting a while.

Concluding thoughts

Do yourself a favor and start to consciously work on anticipating the right time to make a decision. It may take some time and experience to get good at it, but when you do, you will realize that it was worth the wait. It will allow you to stay one step ahead of everyone else, and write your own ticket. Yes, timing is everything.

Motivated education leaders want to achieve above and beyond what is expected of them. It is just in their DNA. No one has to tell them to work hard, or to put in extra hours, they just do it. It is what separates great leaders from good leaders.

So, where does this motivation come from? It comes from their passion, pride, and the desire to help students grow up to be well-educated citizens. They understand that for their students to grow, they need to do all that they can to create an environment that is conducive to learning. This does not happen overnight. It takes months, if not years of hard work and dedication. I would compare it to building a house one day at a time, brick by brick. To complete your house of learning, you have to stay motivated and work hard each day.

Ok, what’s the secret to staying motivated

To succeed as an education leader, you need to be motivated, and no one else can do that for you except yourself. If you are an education leader that doesn’t possess a high motor or self-motivation, you may be asking yourself, how do I develop these skills? Thankfully, self-motivation is a skill that can be learned and perfected with focus and hard work.

When you wake up each morning, remind yourself why you do what you do. Why did I become an education leader? How can I better serve the school district I work for? I can’t answer these questions for you, but I know that the answers to these questions can be extremely motivational. I know because I used to perform the same exercise when I did not feel motivated to teach. You know, those days when you want to call in sick, but you force yourself to keep pushing on.

Self-care is pivotal

While staying motivated, make sure you create a self-care regimen. A self-care regimen is meant to keep your mind, body, and soul in equilibrium and to prevent you from burning out. It can mean mandatory relaxation time each day, weekly trips to the masseuse, making time for family, friends, hobbies, etc. Your self-care regimen can look however you would like it to look. Remember, it’s hard to stay motivated when you are constantly tired and burned out.