Leading in today’s schools is a challenging task for many reasons. One area is the rate of change happening in society and also upon schools. As John C. Maxwell has shared, “Change is inevitable. Growth is Optional.” To that end, we want to visit further how leaders can grow with their influence and help their school organization improve as well. In this sense, when we talk about change within a school system we are referring to the leaders leading a specific initiative designed to improve the school system. This could be a new curriculum resource, a new schedule, implementing graduation requirements etc… During this time there are things that leaders should continually do on a daily basis and also things specific to the change process with the initiative that they should consider as well. We will reflect on both.
Items leaders should continually do during a change process:
- Remember your “WHY”
I have learned not to get caught up in the never ending workload, stress, external demands upon our time and frustrations that may dominate my thoughts. Yes, hard work is needed and there are times I get frustrated. However, I strive to focus on the right work which is helping others feel valued and supporting their work. It’s important to continue to make positive connections, challenge the status quo and communicate effectively to all stakeholders. If you make decisions from your “why” and use your core principles to guide your behaviors, then you will be supporting efforts to help others which is our purpose.
- Be Firm with your Principles, Flexible with your Practices
Consistency is paramount when it comes to leading others. If people know your core values and what you expect, they will do their best to meet those expectations. To lead in an era of change in our society while supporting people so they have balance within their lives, leaders need to be “firm with their principles, flexible with their practices.” This allows consistency in decisions but also allows leaders to adapt to meet the unique needs of staff and students.
- Display the right attitude (Mindset)
As a leader, you must be comfortable with criticism that others will launch at you. The key is to focus on your “mindset” and continue to be positive and build your school’s culture. During turbulent times, people will look to their leaders for guidance, how to respond and reassurance that everything will be okay. Leaders recognize the importance of being authentic with staff and students but also being the calm, steady leader at the helm of the school ship.
- Connect back to the heart
Leaders express pride in their school and leadership is truly a “Labor of Love”. There will be many challenges but we must remember that we are working with people and if we treat each staff member like a “10” then they themselves will believe in themselves and help contribute to the work and be happier as well. To this end, you must value people, magnify their strengths and develop a culture of “people – not programs”.
Expect the best in others by:
- Show them you believe in themselves
- Be clear about your expectations
- Give Feedback
- Personalize recognition
- Get close to people – get to know their strengths
Items that leaders need to do specific to the change itself
As any change process is being considered, it is important that leaders consider the following:
- Rate of change
- Size of the change
- Impact of the change
- How it will be measured
Understanding these variables will allow leaders to identify who needs to be involved in the change process. There should be stakeholders involved before the change is implemented so there is proper planning and understanding of the potential impacts. This allows the group to see potential blindspots and navigate around challenges. The stakeholders should include staff, students and families so there is a well understood purpose behind the change.
As leaders facilitate the change process they need to also share with stakeholders the following areas to effectively implement the change.
- Provide a picture of what the change will look like
- Provide the path or steps of change
- Remind others of their purpose as educators or as students within the change process or as family members
- Share each person’s part to contribute in the change
Any change process will have setbacks or challenges. Typically, the change is hardest at the beginning, messiest in the middle and best at the end. Keep in mind that any change is not a single event but rather a process. It is important to help stakeholders remember that “Secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” (Socrates). Communication must be adapted to meet the needs of others and it also needs to be clear and consistent messaging. Leaders must be purposeful with their communication, and timely in their delivery. If people are busy but yet we want them to read our communication, then consider making your communication:
- Concise
- Connect back to the work of the school system
- Provide platforms for feedback
The communication to stakeholders also should include:
- Clear goals
- Celebrating small wins
- Give support and resources for those implementing the change
- Keep big picture in mind and remind everyone it comes back to people
Leaders must remember that creating positive change requires that we must be intentional with our efforts. This includes each person recognizing their pathway within their work and then understanding how to move forward in their roles. I hope this blog allows leaders to remember our purpose in the change process and perhaps, reflect and adjust our focus so we can be our best for others. It is never too late to change or adapt to create something better. We owe that to our students and staff that we serve. I encourage you to reflect and better understand how we each have opportunities to strive to get better and that includes learning from others but also supporting others. Comment below or reach out to me at leadlearnerperspectives@gmail.com
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Lead Learner Perspectives 