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“In response to the request for interesting advice that we have received in the past, one piece definitely stands out for me. My current principal often shares with us, ‘Seek first to understand, then to be understood.’
I think this is especially profound in the field of education. It can be applied not only to our interactions with students but also with co-workers. I have seen my principal lead with this type of thinking on our campus, and it has definitely brought forth positive change.
I remember this advice often when I get frustrated or upset with the way people respond or handle situations. When I try to understand their perspectives first, I find myself responding in a much more positive and constructive way. It has been a very important part of my short time as a school leader on my campus!”
SC Response
Excellent. Now, if the person who sent me this piece of advice will send me a mailing address, I’ll send you, your koozie.
Send in your favorite piece advice and your mailing address and if it gets posted on a Sunday, you’ll get a world famous Lead Your School can koozie.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A Democratic Revolution?
On Saturday's, I sometimes allow the blog to go off on tangents. This is going to be one of those tangents. We'll get back on track with the next posting.
I am fascinated by what is going on in Iran right now, for two reasons.
1 - We could very well be watching a democratic revolution in its infancy; and
2 - The overthrow of the Shah and the capture of the American Embassy was the first major world political event that I was old enough to follow and understand at a basic level.
This means that I am a junkie on the democratic process in both theory and practice; and I'm getting old.
That being said, I am including a link to Fareed Zakaria's column, "Fatal Wound Inflicted on Iranian's Regime's Ideology." In one page, he sums up the major points and implications of what we are currently observing.
Consider the following your weekend Social Studies homework. There may be a quiz.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/19/zakaria.iran.elections/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
I am fascinated by what is going on in Iran right now, for two reasons.
1 - We could very well be watching a democratic revolution in its infancy; and
2 - The overthrow of the Shah and the capture of the American Embassy was the first major world political event that I was old enough to follow and understand at a basic level.
This means that I am a junkie on the democratic process in both theory and practice; and I'm getting old.
That being said, I am including a link to Fareed Zakaria's column, "Fatal Wound Inflicted on Iranian's Regime's Ideology." In one page, he sums up the major points and implications of what we are currently observing.
Consider the following your weekend Social Studies homework. There may be a quiz.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/19/zakaria.iran.elections/index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
Friday, June 19, 2009
If You Missed the Speaking Tour
In response to recent Lead Your School reader suggestions, I have posted the conclusion of the "Be the Shepherd," presentation on-line. The audio clip can be accessed through the following link:
www.leadyourschool.com/Jump_Start_Your_School.html
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
www.leadyourschool.com/Jump_Start_Your_School.html
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
A Reader Writes... (Who is Brezina - Part 4)
In response for the call to expound on the legend of Brezina, a Lead Your School reader submits the following:
“Brezina taught me about the culture of a school district. I learned in the leadership training academy that if you are not cognizant of the culture of the school and you dive in, you will have a tough road ahead of you. The board has a personality of its own, and you have to bend your philosophy towards their quirky ways. This has been valuable information for me at my own district. I became educated on the "hillbilly" ways of doing things, and it has helped be super-successful. Brezina was right.”
SC Response
Here is the context behind the advice, which the poster understands, but might be missed by the casual reader. You do not compromise your ethics, passion and vision. Think of yourself more as a coach from year to year. As your personnel changes, you modify your approach in a way that maximizes team performance. You have to take the responsibility for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and then lead accordingly.
If we (me and the poster) missed something, Brezina will fill in the blanks.
Think Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
“Brezina taught me about the culture of a school district. I learned in the leadership training academy that if you are not cognizant of the culture of the school and you dive in, you will have a tough road ahead of you. The board has a personality of its own, and you have to bend your philosophy towards their quirky ways. This has been valuable information for me at my own district. I became educated on the "hillbilly" ways of doing things, and it has helped be super-successful. Brezina was right.”
SC Response
Here is the context behind the advice, which the poster understands, but might be missed by the casual reader. You do not compromise your ethics, passion and vision. Think of yourself more as a coach from year to year. As your personnel changes, you modify your approach in a way that maximizes team performance. You have to take the responsibility for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and then lead accordingly.
If we (me and the poster) missed something, Brezina will fill in the blanks.
Think Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
Thursday, June 18, 2009
A Reader Writes... (Who is Brezina - Part 3)
In response for the call to expound on the legend of Brezina, a Lead Your School reader submits the following:
“I was working with a school in South Texas and had scheduled to meet with the staff during the early Spring of 2007. When I got there, I met Bob for the first time. He was sitting in the meeting room with the room full of teachers, the campus Principal, and the district Superintendent.
Bob had the floor first and proceeded to tell the entire room that, 'You all just aren't getting the job done.'
Everyone reading this blog knows how that went over. After he finished (less than one minute of talk time) he leaned over to me and said, 'I have to leave, I have a plane to catch. Now figure out how to get this fixed and get them all on the same page.'
Needless to say, I spent four long hours in that room trying to get them to focus on the problem. Although it was very uncomfortable, they buckled down and got a plan together. Low and behold we managed to get them off the unacceptable list and we all made it out of there alive.
I didn't realize that this was going to be the meeting where we had to have the 'hard conversation,' but Bob cut straight to the chase, and still does. – JM”
SC Response
One reason why Brezina is successful, and brings out the best in his people is that he cuts off our avenues of easy escape. Left to our own accord it is easy to dance around the real issue for hours, days, weeks and even years. With Brezina, the real issue is the only issue – fix it and move on.
Now where are the rest of stories? I know they are out there.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
“I was working with a school in South Texas and had scheduled to meet with the staff during the early Spring of 2007. When I got there, I met Bob for the first time. He was sitting in the meeting room with the room full of teachers, the campus Principal, and the district Superintendent.
Bob had the floor first and proceeded to tell the entire room that, 'You all just aren't getting the job done.'
Everyone reading this blog knows how that went over. After he finished (less than one minute of talk time) he leaned over to me and said, 'I have to leave, I have a plane to catch. Now figure out how to get this fixed and get them all on the same page.'
Needless to say, I spent four long hours in that room trying to get them to focus on the problem. Although it was very uncomfortable, they buckled down and got a plan together. Low and behold we managed to get them off the unacceptable list and we all made it out of there alive.
I didn't realize that this was going to be the meeting where we had to have the 'hard conversation,' but Bob cut straight to the chase, and still does. – JM”
SC Response
One reason why Brezina is successful, and brings out the best in his people is that he cuts off our avenues of easy escape. Left to our own accord it is easy to dance around the real issue for hours, days, weeks and even years. With Brezina, the real issue is the only issue – fix it and move on.
Now where are the rest of stories? I know they are out there.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A Reader Writes... (Fear - Part 10)
In response to the posts on, “Fear,” a reader writes:
“The ‘Fear’ blogs have really hit home with me professionally. As I have moved into leadership positions, I have found that occasionally the fear monster creeps into my life and steals the passion that I have about education right out from beneath me. However, I am learning that it has not always been a negative experience. Each time that I have moved outside my comfort zone, I have learned from the experience.
It is funny that I have realized that you are never too old to learn simple life lessons, such as your seemingly worst enemies can teach you the greatest lessons. Remember that those that fear you will always find a way to point out your negative attributes…and let’s face it, those are the ones that need improvement if you are to become a successful leader. I have learned to work on making the enemy my ally by finding their most important assets, pointing them out to the person, and motivating them to share with others. Negativism can become cancerous to your staff, so why not work on using their power of persuasion in a positive way.”
SC Response
I have two thoughts that relate to this comment. First, fear is nothing to be ashamed of. Leadership is a huge responsibility. Even in the relatively safe confines of a campus - lives, careers, and futures can hinge on a single decision. Couple that with the fact that the more proactive and aggressive you are, the more you have to rely on incomplete data and information. But as the reader reminds us, there is more growth and knowledge to be gained outside our comfort zone, rather than in it.
Second, I like the idea of using the strengths of your enemies to win them to your side. That doesn’t mean we slow down, but I do understand that an eventual neutral is much more useful than a consistent naysayer.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
“The ‘Fear’ blogs have really hit home with me professionally. As I have moved into leadership positions, I have found that occasionally the fear monster creeps into my life and steals the passion that I have about education right out from beneath me. However, I am learning that it has not always been a negative experience. Each time that I have moved outside my comfort zone, I have learned from the experience.
It is funny that I have realized that you are never too old to learn simple life lessons, such as your seemingly worst enemies can teach you the greatest lessons. Remember that those that fear you will always find a way to point out your negative attributes…and let’s face it, those are the ones that need improvement if you are to become a successful leader. I have learned to work on making the enemy my ally by finding their most important assets, pointing them out to the person, and motivating them to share with others. Negativism can become cancerous to your staff, so why not work on using their power of persuasion in a positive way.”
SC Response
I have two thoughts that relate to this comment. First, fear is nothing to be ashamed of. Leadership is a huge responsibility. Even in the relatively safe confines of a campus - lives, careers, and futures can hinge on a single decision. Couple that with the fact that the more proactive and aggressive you are, the more you have to rely on incomplete data and information. But as the reader reminds us, there is more growth and knowledge to be gained outside our comfort zone, rather than in it.
Second, I like the idea of using the strengths of your enemies to win them to your side. That doesn’t mean we slow down, but I do understand that an eventual neutral is much more useful than a consistent naysayer.
Think. Work. Achieve.
Your turn...
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