I recall some time ago when Southwest Airlines CEO, Gary Kelly was videoed working at a Southwest baggage drop off counter at an airport. His actions were caught on camera and used in Southwest Airline commercials, and seemed to be a hit among customers and Southwest employees alike. Earlier this year CBS began airing a show called “Undercover Boss”, a program in which the head of an organization shows up to work with a disguise on and learns of employee behaviors that are often untoward in the world of business.
Early last year, former Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District Superintendent surprised staff members in the Westbrook Public Schools when he took a rake and went outside of the Central Office Building in Westbrook, ME to do his part to clean up leaves and debris that were in front of the building. In doing so, Dr. Namin expressed to the faculty and staff in his district how important that he felt a neat and orderly presentation was for parents and students. I have learned and continued to learn that small actions such as these can make a huge difference in the attitudes and beliefs of those who work in every facet of a school or any other organization for that matter.
Tremendous research on the topic of Leadership now exists along with publications and websites that were created and maintained by successful leaders in all facets of business and education. The Institute of Leader Arts has a website that provides 30 pieces of advice to would be leaders. I have posted the website at the bottom of this post. Some of the highlights are:
Make others feel important. People will follow you when you make them feel important, not when you make yourself feel important.
Promote your vision. No one will follow you simply because you decide you want to lead. You must have a clear idea where you want to take the group you lead - then you must promote it and convince those you lead that the goal is worthwhile.
See and be seen. You've got to get around to really know what's going on, to fix what's wrong, and to capitalize on what's right. It's also the only way those you lead can be sure you're for real.
Recently I was told about a school district in which the budget was so tight that it was not possible for the teachers and staff to enjoy a cup of coffee or juice prior to their welcome back assembly as they have for dozens of years. Rather than go out and purchase a few pounds of coffee, a couple of gallons of juice and some pastries, the leader of the district informed all of the staff in writing that the organization would not be able to supply the usual accompaniment of juice, coffee, and cookies before their opening day assembly. A more equipped leader might have spent a small portion of his/her $150,000.00 + salary on a small token of appreciation for those who do the bulk of the work and just said, “Thank you for all that you do.”
So why do I point all of this out today?
On Friday I noticed my friend and colleague, CAPS Educational Collaborative Executive Director, Dr. Edward McCaul in and around our school several times. At one point he was wearing polo shirt, and then later in the day he was wearing his sports coat, a dress shirt and a tie. Then at the end of the day he was outside with his polo shirt on again, only this time over his dress shirt and tie. I went out to ask him what he was doing. I discovered that in the absence of one of the bus drivers he decided that he would drive the wheelchair van to pick students up and drop them off at home. Many people might find this surprising, but I did not.
Actions such as this define Dr. McCaul as the type of leader that we all have the potential to be. Our actions do not always have to be as profound as an Executive Director who decides to also drive the busses. It could be in a Superintendent who believes that his or her staff deserves a cup of coffee. It can be in a seventh grader who stops in the hall to pick up debris on the floor that he or she did not put there. It is in a Director of Food Services who also does the dishes and in a counselor who drives to the home of a student for a signature on a form. This leadership is in all of us, and each and every time it is displayed our school becomes an even better place to be.
Early last year, former Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District Superintendent surprised staff members in the Westbrook Public Schools when he took a rake and went outside of the Central Office Building in Westbrook, ME to do his part to clean up leaves and debris that were in front of the building. In doing so, Dr. Namin expressed to the faculty and staff in his district how important that he felt a neat and orderly presentation was for parents and students. I have learned and continued to learn that small actions such as these can make a huge difference in the attitudes and beliefs of those who work in every facet of a school or any other organization for that matter.
Tremendous research on the topic of Leadership now exists along with publications and websites that were created and maintained by successful leaders in all facets of business and education. The Institute of Leader Arts has a website that provides 30 pieces of advice to would be leaders. I have posted the website at the bottom of this post. Some of the highlights are:
Make others feel important. People will follow you when you make them feel important, not when you make yourself feel important.
Promote your vision. No one will follow you simply because you decide you want to lead. You must have a clear idea where you want to take the group you lead - then you must promote it and convince those you lead that the goal is worthwhile.
See and be seen. You've got to get around to really know what's going on, to fix what's wrong, and to capitalize on what's right. It's also the only way those you lead can be sure you're for real.
Recently I was told about a school district in which the budget was so tight that it was not possible for the teachers and staff to enjoy a cup of coffee or juice prior to their welcome back assembly as they have for dozens of years. Rather than go out and purchase a few pounds of coffee, a couple of gallons of juice and some pastries, the leader of the district informed all of the staff in writing that the organization would not be able to supply the usual accompaniment of juice, coffee, and cookies before their opening day assembly. A more equipped leader might have spent a small portion of his/her $150,000.00 + salary on a small token of appreciation for those who do the bulk of the work and just said, “Thank you for all that you do.”
So why do I point all of this out today?
On Friday I noticed my friend and colleague, CAPS Educational Collaborative Executive Director, Dr. Edward McCaul in and around our school several times. At one point he was wearing polo shirt, and then later in the day he was wearing his sports coat, a dress shirt and a tie. Then at the end of the day he was outside with his polo shirt on again, only this time over his dress shirt and tie. I went out to ask him what he was doing. I discovered that in the absence of one of the bus drivers he decided that he would drive the wheelchair van to pick students up and drop them off at home. Many people might find this surprising, but I did not.
Actions such as this define Dr. McCaul as the type of leader that we all have the potential to be. Our actions do not always have to be as profound as an Executive Director who decides to also drive the busses. It could be in a Superintendent who believes that his or her staff deserves a cup of coffee. It can be in a seventh grader who stops in the hall to pick up debris on the floor that he or she did not put there. It is in a Director of Food Services who also does the dishes and in a counselor who drives to the home of a student for a signature on a form. This leadership is in all of us, and each and every time it is displayed our school becomes an even better place to be.
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