A Reader Writes... (E-mail and Cell Phone - Part 2)

In response to the posts, “Get Your Own E-Mail and Cell Phone,” a reader writes,

“I will heed the wisdom given on this topic but I also believe we should not operate out of fear. The Bible says one phrase more often than any other, by far: "Do not fear."

If it gets to the point that someone is going after my emails and phone logs; number one, if they find something legitimate to hold against me, I should be gone. Number two, we are held to a higher standard as administrators and our communication is to be above reproach whether it is phone, email or stone tablet. Yes, I will get my own cell phone at work and my own email address, but I refuse to operate out of fear. Fear is a demonic oppression that clouds a whole life time of work, and I will not succumb to it.”

SC Response:
The purpose of the posts on e-mail and cell phones was not to scare anyone. It was to forewarn school leaders and change agents of the tactics that are used to stop them. You wouldn’t let your friends walk blindly off a cliff or your troops walk unaware into a mine field. You would warn them, so they can take the necessary precautions.

As for your point, if they find something, “shame on me.” That is the thinking that destroys good people. And by “destroy,” I mean to render ineffective or force to leave. Given enough information and the willingness to twist the facts to meet my agenda, I can make Mother Theresa look bad. As I was being prepped for a hearing with a terminated employee, our lawyer told me, “If all goes well, you’ll just come off as looking incompetent.” And this was a case where every fact was on our side.

So act with mission and purpose. Out think, out work, out perform the competition, and most importantly, never willingly give to the other guy the stick to beat you with.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

A Reader Writes... (E-mail and Cell Phone)

In response to the posts, “Get Your Own E-Mail and Cell Phone,” a reader writes,

“Pay close attention to Cain on the cell phone and e-mail issue. Though these issues haven’t bit me yet, here is the point. It does not matter that you have a great message and that you are right. It does not matter that your ideas are sound, researched based, reflect best practices, and that you have the data to prove it. After teachers find out they can’t fight the message, they will attack the messenger. They don’t need much to attack you. If they can’t dig up cell phone bills or emails, they will make it up. If they don’t make something up, they will simply say about you, “she doesn’t respect us,” or “she makes us feel insignificant”. After a few months of this negative spin to the community, hang on.”

SC Response:
When I’m working with schools that are in crisis and we are having to force change at an uncomfortable pace, there is a bright sign that lets me know that we have turned a corner. When we start the improvement process, the attacks generally center on the need, strategy, or pace. When the malcontents start to attack you personally, that means you’ve won the battle of need, strategy, and pace. All that is left to is to attack the messenger. The key is to not take it personally, stay on message and keep pushing.

The first thing I tell anyone that finds themselves in a change leadership role is, "If you need a friend over the course of the next year, get a dog." The second thing is to keep reminding yourself, “This is why they pay me the medium sized bucks.”

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Get Your Own Cell Phone

As a book end to the previous post, “Get Your Own E-mail,” here is a second practice that can help you avoid self-inflicted career injuries. Get you own cell phone and pay for it yourself.

Again, if the district provides your cell phone or pays for your service, your cell phone call log is public information. So that long list of calls that occur during the day that aren’t business related will come back to haunt you. All the calls after hours and on weekends that aren’t business related will also come back to haunt you. And who is going to ask for the information? The teacher you put on a growth plan is one. The opposition lawyer in a special education hearing is another, as are the crusading reporter, the district business office or your boss. Not one of which you want going through you life with both a fine toothed comb and an agenda.

Now, the first refuge of the guilty mind when it comes to e-mail and cell phone service is the thought, “There is safety in numbers. If they come after me, they have to go after everyone.”

If you are having that thought, I have a one word answer – WRONG! The situations that I have described are like speeding tickets. It doesn’t matter that everyone else was speeding, you are the one that has been pulled over, and you are the one that has to deal with the consequences. On the other hand, own your own phone and pay for your own service and there is no public information, and hence, no problem.

There is another powerful reason for owning your own phone. We are in the people and information business. As such, communication and access is not only vital, but it provides us with a competitive advantage. Like the carpenter and his tools or the lawyer and her law books, the 21st century school leader needs a phone with data access. Anything less leaves you at a performance disadvantage. Yes, it’s an expense, but so is that cup of Starbucks coffee and a manicure. Equip yourself to lead.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn…