Have you decided on your New Year’s leadership resolutions?
How do you plan on stepping into the new school year? What is your “why” for 2016? Which of your actions will speak louder than words?
Together, we’ve spent close to a semester embracing the mantra of “Empower, Trust and Verify”. We have spent time visiting classrooms infusing technology in the learning process, participating in a host of before- and after-school activities and refining expectations for our school buildings. Soon, the New Year will bring new opportunities for student and leadership success. What resolutions/theories will help take your school or team to the next level?
In his Dec. 11 weekly update, Dr. Spence wrote, “there is no single theory of leadership that will lead to fundamentally sound leadership. That’s why it’s so important to remain open to new thinking and be willing to apply learning in context. Good leadership, then, might be considered the conglomeration of these ideas made real through practice and experience. Put simply, good leaders know when to draw on what strategies to rise to the occasion.” I referenced this excerpt to emphasize the idea of new thinking for the New Year. New thinking for leaders is renewed thinking. While the winter break is certainly a time for family, it can also be a time for personal reflection.
Since this is the “season” and the contagious spirit of reflection and potential resolutions is abundant; I would like to share a few leadership resolutions—or shall I say “points to ponder” to connect theory and practice—to assist as we go into 2016.
Revisit your “Why”
Think about your “why.” What have you done to clarify your goals? How do you connect your “why” to your day-to-day operations? How is the staff embracing the “why?” These reflective questions are essential to continue to bring your “why” to life. What are the successes to your “why”? How have those been celebrated? People need to see progress to keep moving in the right direction. Kick off the New Year with a celebration in an effort to get people reconnected to the why.
Which actions will speak louder than words?
Move beyond the words of “why.” It is imperative to model actions that connect to the “why.” As a leader, what are the two or three most important actions that you take on a day-to-day basis? What do you put in place to ensure you stay committed to those actions? A key element for accountability is building leadership capacity so you are surrounding yourself with staff that not only is committed to the “why,” but which takes the actions to move closer to your goal.
Without a doubt, we are all committed to working hard and doing whatever it takes to help students and teachers be successful. And, while assessment success is essential for school measurement, it is by no means the only measurement. Our work or “why” should lead to smiles, validation, and a level of fulfillment greater than a test score.
As leaders, we all face that internal push/pull when considering appropriate mid school year adjustments. So I encourage you to take a few moments to reflect on the work that has happened in our building so far and resolve to take the remaining steps to reach your leadership goals.
As Lewis Carroll so clearly states to us… “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.”
With that in mind, revisit your teams “why” and continue to take the belief in all children, rigorous pedagogy and vision, to practice. Our students are depending on us.
Happy almost New Year, VBCPS leaders! Come back after the break ready to spread more awesome sauce!
Rashard Wright serves as the Chief Schools Officer in the Department of School Leadership. Wright pens the monthly Leadership Matters column for Kaleidoscope, which you can find posted on the 15th of each month. For more leadership insight, follow Wright on Twitter @VAeducatorRJW or find the hashtag #LeadershipMatters.
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