Where did those words come from?

Last night, during the Teach Like a Pirate twitter chat (Mondays 8pm to 9pm CST, search the hashtag #tlap), I replied to one of the questions with a statement that I have been thinking about all day.  The question was, "How do you empower your students and colleagues with shared leadership?"

I responded with, "Don't be a school leader that doles out permission.  Be a school leader that clears paths for innovation."

Wow!  I am quite sure I channeled someone much wiser than me to get those words out.  I can't stop thinking about the realities of fully bringing this ideal to life.  So many times, folks have great ideas so they go to their supervisor for permission.  How do we move to a place where people grant themselves permission based on a few questions:

1. Is this best for students?
2. Does this idea move us towards achieving our vision or our goals?
3. Will any of the other excellent facets of our campus suffer because of this?

With the right answers to these questions, permission would not be needed!  Instead, wouldn't it be excellent if the school leaders could respond with:

1. I can't wait to see how it goes!
2. What paths can I clear for you?
3. How can I support your leadership?

Finally, can this be done in a classroom full of students?  With excellent design, I think it can!

Seven Days, Seven Scary Things!

On December 1st, I wrote about my plan to do one thing each day that scares me.  Well, I have gone through seven days in December and done seven things that scared me and I just noticed something.  Not one of those scary things included a parachute, a Youtube video, or local law enforcement!

All seven things did include some kind of conversation.  Not a single one was confrontational or even a disagreement.  It made me wonder, what kinds of things can make it hard to chat?

It may be tough to fully listen.  I have always told students, "Try to listen with your eyes, your ears, and your heart."  Listening with all three can be a challenge!  Empathic listening, from Habit Five, is something I believe in.  It is also not always easy!

It may be tough to be honest.  As we all know, honesty is the best policy...unless it isn't.  If we are ever out in public and I ask you if my clothes match, please just say, "Yes!"  If I ask you before I leave my house, be honest.

I think the toughest challenge may be to stay true to your beliefs.  When people disagree, conversations can be tough, especially if there are several correct thoughts, or answers, or beliefs.  Sometimes, we whitewash what we say to be sure that we don't offend each other.  Sometimes, we defend out beliefs so strongly, we dishonor a differing opinion.  Can you stay true to your beliefs while honoring someone who thinks differently?

I am sure there is much more to this entire concept than I have written here.  I should re-read Fierce Conversations, by Susan Scott.

As I forge on through December with my plan to do one thing each day that scares me, I'll be watching my conversations to see if I can learn more about why they can be scary.  I'll also continue to steer clear from local law enforcement!

Is your table round?

Have you ever organized a meeting and sat around a table with a bunch of folks to brainstorm?  Perhaps you were looking for a solution to a problem or an improvement to a process.  Maybe you were designing something new?  Regardless of the purpose, once the design has been created, tasks must get done!

Who will do each task?  A well-rounded table typically sees each task fall to the person who happens to show strength, expertise, or passion for it.  The schedule-driven person may create the timeline and manage the process.  The talented writer may take care of the communication.  The artsy folks may lead the creative process.  People typically fall into the roles for which they are best suited.  This is one of the advantages of a well-rounded table.

This leads to the question, "Is your table round?"  In other words, is your team made up of folks who may not necessarily agree on things, but certainly bring individual strengths to the table?  Sometimes, we end up inviting people to the table who think like we do.  There are definitely advantages to this.  Easier conversations and quicker answers would most surely happen.  But does it give you the best end to your assignment?

Dr. Stephen Covey says, "If two people have the same opinion, one of them is unnecessary."  The point is that if your table is surrounded by people who think like you do, the team may not reach the greatest levels of success.  It takes courage to invite folks who think differently than you to the table but it just may lead you to something far better than you could have imagined!

Next time you invite folks to your table, make sure it is round!

The To-Do List

One of the best school counselors I have ever known, was the master of the To-Do list.  She wrote down everything she needed to do and everything she wanted to do.  She got things done!  Her method of organizing herself each day was quite scientific.  She wrote her tasks in pen and crossed them off with a Sharpie.  It always made us giggle when she would walk back into her office, write something down that she had just finished, then immediately drew one, straight line through it with her Sharpie!  She would say, "I didn't have THAT on my list but I gotta write it down!"

Her list included the important things:  counseling kids and teachers, working with parents, teaching guidance lessons, helping a teacher, planning for school improvements, etc.  Her list also included regular tasks such as:  cut-out shapes for lessons, make copies for meetings, and order supplies for Red Ribbon Week.  She used her list to get the important things done and the rest of it too!

Dr. Steven Covey says we need schedule our priorities.  If it is truly important and vision-focused, it is worth prioritizing!  Ensuring that the important things were accomplished increases effectiveness.

I tried to use her method for myself, as I was always trying to find ways to increase my own efficiency.  After a few days, my list looked like a mess!  This method didn't work for me.  I modified and adjusted in an attempt to make it work. A few more days, and it still didn't work!  I asked her how she was able to keep it going so well and how she didn't let the little things get in the way of the big rocks.

She told me that no matter what order her tasks were written, she knew she needed to take care of the people on her list first.  (The people were highlighter yellow!)  If someone was counting on her, it got done first.  She did the little things along the way.  She also told me that her list was her way of celebrating all that she did for the people that were counting on her!  In other words, her list helped her effectively take care of her relationships because without them, nothing else mattered.

At that point, I changed my perspective.  For me, I focused on the people that were counting on me, rather than creating a written record of all that I did each day.  What a difference!  Thanks, Lorie!  You helped me improve!

31 Scary Days!

My first glance at my Twitter feed this morning reminded me that today is December 1st and we have 31 days left in the year.  I saw numerous tweets and a few blogs about making these last 31 days count, trying new things, being a better friend, listening more and talking less, practicing generosity, and so on.  All good things to remember during the holiday season!

I also saw my little note to myself that has been stuck to my desk for almost two years.  It reads, "Do something every day that scares you!"

I'm sure that I saw this on Twitter and wrote it down.  It is an interesting thought!  I don't think it necessarily means that you need to perform death-defying stunts each day.  It probably should not include attempts to get to work in record time, breaking every traffic law on the way.  But, can I do some thing each day that scares me just a bit?

For the next 31 days, I'm going to record my, "...something that scares me..." each day.  I hope to publish this list to my blog soon afterwards.  Today, I had a conversation with a friend about his health.  He mentioned that he needs to lose about 80 pounds.  I took a deep breath, and bravely told him that I was worried about his health too.  I told him that every day he waits to turn his health around will make his turn-around tougher to accomplish.  I looked him in the eye and honestly told him that he needs to prioritize his health.

I think he was surprised to hear me say it. I was a little surprised too, but what I told him was the truth.  Usually, we want our friends to tell us what we want to hear.  Sometimes, we want our friends to tell us what we need to hear.  It can be quite difficult to know the difference.

I also told him that I believed he could do it and that I would do some push-ups with him every day if he wanted me too!

Thirty days to go!  Join me!  Record yours for 30 days!