WHAT
We often find ourselves worrying about what is going on around us in schools rather than what is happening right in front of us. The job of a great leader is to help everyone see a collective vision and eliminate barriers that stand in the way of getting there. The vision, like the view out of the front window, should inspire and keep those in the organization moving in a positive direction.
INTENTION
Being intentional means controlling our behavior in an environment so the environment doesn’t control us. When we are intentional with our actions in the environment, we have a much bigger impact on what happens in that environment. We can’t always control the environment but we can control our actions in the environment. Being intentional starts with a focus on knowing yourself. Knowing ourselves, understanding what we are looking for as an outcome, and being focused on the behavior we demonstrate to get there have a profound impact on the result. What are the intentional behavioral practices put in place to ensure success for you as a leader and for those you lead?
CONNECTION
Connection follows intention because if you don’t know your focus and are not aware of the impact your behavior has on the environment it is hard to connect people to lead in that environment. Connection is about focusing on the intended outcome and finding a way to build momentum toward that outcome with the group you lead. Ensuring everyone you lead knows and understands the intended outcome is truly important, but many leaders stop there. They set the goal, profess the goal, maybe send out the data that tells people why that goal is important or add the goal to some letterhead. The clarity of the goal is important, but the connection to why the goal is important to those working toward said goal it is just as essential. When we have a personal connection to why the work needs to be done we invest more. Those we lead feel the same way. Making the connection between the personal “why” of what we do and the collective “why” of the organization keeps everyone not only focused, but invested in the outcome. What connections are we making from staff to staff, staff to community, and community to staff to ensure success for you as a leader and those you lead?
DIRECTION
Organizations move forward together when there is a focus on getting better daily. If our group is better tomorrow than it was today, even by a little, the impact over time is profound. The issue with that generalization is the “how” needs to be part of the conversation. Just telling the group that we want to get better every single day, which I have done on multiple occasions early in my career, is great for a poster, but doesn’t give clarity to those you lead. The best coaches in the world don’t tell their players to play harder, they show them what it looks like. The best CEOs don’t tell employees they need to produce more, they help them along the way so everyone is invested in the outcome. Direction combines the intentionality of our behavior and the connection to we lead while walking with them toward the destination, not way in front or way behind them toward the destination, but with them. What practices are specifically designed to build the capacity and create opportunities for those you lead?