Wednesday 17 October 2018

Navigating Negativity: Five Steps to Strength-Based Leadership

People don't typically don't come to me when things are going well.

This isn't a complaint. It's the reality of the life of a school administrator. We are the problem solvers, the peace keepers, the crisis responders. On any given day, I will usher crying students, angry parents and frustrated teachers across the threshold of my office. As I walk the hallways at break and lunch, I am bombarded by questions and queries, complaints and conflicts. When my email dings or my phone rings at eleven o'clock at night, it's rarely good news. 

So in the midst of what can sometimes feel like a sea of negativity, it is even more essential that I maintain a positive mindset and strength-based approach to leadership. 

I have developed the following strategies to assist me in this approach:

1. Start with relationships. Relationships form the foundation for any successful organization. Students and staff need to feel connected and cared for. As such, leaders need to take the time not only to learn the stories of those around them, but to also share their own.

2. Assume the best. Research shows that individuals will rise, or fall, based on the expectations of those around them. If we believe that students and staff can achieve great things, they will. I try to begin every conversation with a student, parent or teacher with the assumption that they want to do their best, but might need some guidance on how to make that "best" a reality. It is my job to see the potential, the capacity, for great things in every individual. 

3. Shift the focus. Education in general can be very deficit based. We tend to focus on what needs improvement rather than what is going well. As such, many conversations are focussed on identifying problems rather than finding solutions. It is important to be realistic about challenges, but it is equally important to identify and celebrate strengths. I do my best to re-frame obstacles as opportunities. I have learned to embrace challenges as an impetus for change.

4. Listen more, talk less. More often than not, individuals just need an opportunity to vent. Sometimes my most effective "problem solving" approach is to simply listen and provide a space in which they can discover their own solutions. In this way, leaders can build capacity in those around them. 

5. Keep calm. While I am sometimes the target of anger and frustration, I have learned that it is rarely about me. In my role as a school administrator, I may represent an individual's previous negative experiences rather than their current reality. I remind myself that everyone has a story, a context, and I do my best to maintain a calm and professional demeanour in the face of heightened emotions.







Friday 5 October 2018

The Power of Your Words

On World Teacher's Day, a reminder of the impact of our words and actions in a child's life...

For sparking imaginations,
For inspiring creativity,
For igniting passions,
For shaping minds,
For all that you do,
Thank You.

YOU make a DIFFERENCE. 


Sharing Our Stories

       It is "Back to School" Eve. After over 30 years in education, the feelings of excitement and apprehension are pretty famili...