An Unexpected Lesson Learned

Recently, two former school principals were witnesses to a deadly accident. Well, not exactly witnesses.  Let me explain.

First, the two former principals were in a public (not a school) venue when they heard a commotion in an area where they knew there were children. Both principals, without looking at the other, ran towards the commotion, when at the time, the crowds were running away from the area.

When they got to the crisis area, the people who remained were figuratively frozen.  The two principals took positions on opposite sides of the event and started ordering people to exit the area, physically pulling people towards safety.

The principals were unable to ensure everyone’s safety, but they definitely reduced the number of people adversely effected by the incident.

Here was what the two principals took away from the incident.  

1. The principalship is great training for crisis management.

The event was outside the scope of any formal training that the two principals had, but the assuming command in a chaotic situation was a reflex action for both of them.

2. If the best case scenario is a bad, learn from the incident and move on. 

There was a fatality.  And with 20/20 hindsight, the two principals could have done a few things slightly different.  But the bottom line is their response, at the very least, prevented others from being injured and/or traumatized. And as the first responders (or in this case the second responders) reminded the principals, in some cases, reducing a loss is the only win.   

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

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A Reader Writes... (Advice for the First Year Principal - Part 12)

In response to the post, “Advice for the First Year Principal – Part 10,” the LYS leader referred to, writes:

SC,

Thanks! Funny thing with a crisis like that is that regardless how much you prepare for 'the moment' to finally come, no one really has any good advice.

The ‘lack of backbone’ piece has really opened my eyes. I've learned a lot in a very short period of time, to say the very least!

SC Response
What you are experiencing is the crucible of education leadership development, the principalship. Nothing you did before truly prepared you for it, and once you go through it, you have an edge on every other leader in education that didn’t sit in that particular chair. Because when push comes to shove, you won’t think that you can run a school, you will know that you can run a school.

When I was a principal, when the going got tough I would sometimes remind myself of the following:

1. They don’t pay me the medium sized bucks to do the easy stuff.
2. If they are going to fire me, it will be for exceeding my authority, not abdicating it.

Then later in my career, I would tell my principals the following, “We can work through the did something. I have no time for the did nothing.”

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

Disguised Opprotunity

Recently, I was talking to a group of principals that work in a district that is going through both planned and unplanned transitions (no, I’m not talking about your district).

A number of the principals were stressed, concerned, scared, and/or completely freaked out about dealing with all the unknowns. My advice, “Don’t be.”

Now before you decide that I’m being glib, understand that I am completely serious. One of the best things that can happen to you and your staff is to be thrust unexpectedly into a crisis situation. Crisis sharpens the senses, forces you to disregard the unimportant, forces you to rely on your team, forces you to be creative under a deadline, and forces you to face and conquer your fears. In short it forces you and your team to ignore what is petty and deal with the issues that are critical to survival.

If you manage a crisis correctly and you will build a motivated team that will find “routine” problems a piece of cake. The technical term for this is "shared ordeal," and it creates powerful and lasting bonds. In practical terms, this means that a good crisis is a gift. Don’t waste it.

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...