What i have learned about leadership (Nov 4 2015)
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Lessons about leadership I have learned as a leader in three school districts. Presented at the BC ERAC #it4k12 conference in #ignite (Pecha Kucha) format - 20 slides, 15 seconds each, 5 minutes total
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What i have learned about leadership (Nov 4 2015)
Editor's Notes
- Transformative change requires strong leadership I've learned a lot serving as a leader for 24 years in three school districts I've learned a lot by reading books, blogs, magazines I've learned a lot by trying, failing, trying, succeeding… I will share some of the things that I've learned about leadership with you today
- Leaders should ask more questions than provide answers Create sets of questions for different encounters and situations as you consider what you need or want to know and do Tap into the people you meet and discover their thoughts and ideas Be inquisitive
- Leaders lead people To do so, they need followers Make it your priority to connect with as many types of people as you can Get to know the people on your team, in your organization, from other organizations and companies - how can you help them and how can they help you Leadership is about creating a movement and movements are all about getting people on board
- As you connect with people, carefully select from your questions and get people talking Speak less, Listen more Active listening is key - it conveys connection, interest, sincerity Look people in the eye, softly though - don't freak them out But, listen like you mean it
- You don't always know what you need to know Be teachable as you connect with people - soak up their knowledge and experience Be a fearless learner - try new things, take chances Demonstrate that you are learning from others by testing their ideas
- As you've met people, listened to them, and learned from them, relationships form Good relationships with a diverse group of people are important You get sounding boards, people that speak truth into your life, people you can consult, and trust Leadership can be a lonely activity so you need relationships to feel connected and supported
- Be a real person Let people in to get to know who you really are, share your interests, family stories Be honest, truthful, sincere, but gentle Say what you mean, do what you say - be integral People want to know that you will follow through
- Engage with people inside and outside of the organization, often I like to go out of my way to walk past cubicles and say hello, have a short conversation, listen to people's stories Not just my own team members but in other departments as well Take a lunch break and sit with people you don't know well Be seen, available, and accessible as much as possible I have an open door practice, and people take good advantage of it - they know I am available to them
- Leaders must acknowledge that they are not alone in achieving their vision - the people that they lead are who make the vision come to life People gravitate to and want to follow and support a humble leader I've learned to get over myself - I know I cannot go it alone - I know that those who support me are smarter than I am in their areas of expertise Together we are better
- People want to know that you care about them Leaders must genuinely demonstrate that they do care Write personal notes - I hand write birthday and thank-you cards to my staff Attend funerals of loved ones Be available to listen to their personal and professional struggles - offer to help or just listen
- Along with caring, learn to be empathetic Really make an effort to truly understand where someone is coming from, see things from their perspective Really appreciate what people are going through, where they are coming from Don't jump to conclusions
- When walking the halls, going to meetings, encountering people, smile Have you noticed how someone's face will light up when you smile at them I often smile at strangers - for some that might seem awkward but I bet it makes them feel better Smiling is a sign of optimism, caring, wanting people to feel good and have a good day It's free, it's simple, and our faces are designed to do it, so do it!
- We all have experienced low trust environments where people want it in writing, they don't believe each other, they are suspicious, out to get one another Integrity + intentions + capabilities + results leads to credibility which leads to trust Trust enables organizations to move more quickly, get people on board, embrace change Consistent behavior is key
- Okay, you've done all the right things to earn the right to be a leader, now what? You need to crystalize a vision, a positive story of where you and your organization will go Your vision needs to be aspirational, something that is out of reach but feels like it could be possible You need to invite people to join you on this journey with you - you need them to share and pursue your vision with you
- Leadership is about taking the long view You need to be a futurist which means you need to be hyper aware of what's going on in the world around you, what the trends are, what futurists are saying You will want to contextualize the possibilities of the future to how it affects your organization You need to be positive and optimistic about the future while also being realistic
- From your vision and future-orientation, will come your strategy or master plan Your master plan must articulate how you will achieve your vision and views about the future It will consist of a scripted set of moves that will guide your team and organization forward to the aspirational future This does not need to be a 50 page document that nobody reads - less is more - be focused on the key steps required to get moving forward
- Leaders must be communicating often This is how people will know what you are about, what the vision is, your views on the future, what challenges you face You can share and communicate in meetings, individual conversations, broadcast emails, newsletters Always be ready and willing to communicate clearly, calmly, and confidently, especially during a crisis or to support a change initiative
- As leaders we need to be aware of the impact that change has on people People love change, as long as it doesn't affect them But seriously, some people thrive on it, others embrace it, while others need support and time to make the change - we must differentiate how we help people adopt change We must provide the vision, clarity of purpose, and clear direction about how the change will unfold and how people can navigate it
- We are wired to make change, to improve things for people, to embrace the future It would be so easy to just maintain the status quo but as leaders, we just can't do that So we initiate change… There are a lot of obstacles, setbacks, naysayers, budget problems, political shifts, etc. that can upset our well laid plans Leadership involves a lot of sticktoitness, we must hang in there, find a way around a problem, rise above a frustrating setback, overcome sabotage
- Leadership, it is a very rewarding, exciting, challenging, frightening, exhausting pursuit We can all probably think of some amazing people who have lead us through change to new places How humbling it is that we get to do the same for others