One of my favorite games at a fair or amusement park is the one that involves shooting water straight at a balloon target. That target helps the horse move up the pole. It takes a laser focus and unwavering aim to win that game and watch your horse slide to the top. Over the years, it's become the one game I still play. I know the rules, I know the technique and I usually have a chance at moving that horse.
Up until this year, I felt the same way about leadership.
With over 10 years in teaching and over 10 in administration, I've been fortunate to have this career.
With each step I've made beginning in Indian Lake, NY and ending here, I've learned from every experience and have tried to use that in the next step of the journey. I can still fondly recall so many from each school I've been in that (still) impact me and my practice. Taught me so much. Helped kids so much.
So, it would seem I would feel more successful than I really do right now. Perhaps, it's the carb overload from Christmas break that is impacting my thinking. There's a lot of downtime over these breaks which allows for maybe a bit too much reflection. Perhaps it's safer to get so caught up in moving all the time that it allows you to avoid taking stock at what might really be happening.
Leaders aren't supposed to admit when they've hit these rough patches and I am not sure why that is. I've been in education long enough to know that we all have rough days. As professionals, our intentions are misunderstood by others at times. Misconception can be based in fact or in fiction or in equal parts of both!
It takes resolve, communication and building relationships one at a time to make things better. The pace at which that can be done won't always match the pace at which negativity might be stirred.
That can feel uncomfortable. It can also feel grossly unfair.
At times like this, it feels like the only choice is to embrace that vulnerability and look forward. I want so much for this to pass but realize in this discomfort, there is still a lesson to be learned by many of us, including me.
Up until this year, I felt the same way about leadership.
With over 10 years in teaching and over 10 in administration, I've been fortunate to have this career.
With each step I've made beginning in Indian Lake, NY and ending here, I've learned from every experience and have tried to use that in the next step of the journey. I can still fondly recall so many from each school I've been in that (still) impact me and my practice. Taught me so much. Helped kids so much.
So, it would seem I would feel more successful than I really do right now. Perhaps, it's the carb overload from Christmas break that is impacting my thinking. There's a lot of downtime over these breaks which allows for maybe a bit too much reflection. Perhaps it's safer to get so caught up in moving all the time that it allows you to avoid taking stock at what might really be happening.
Leaders aren't supposed to admit when they've hit these rough patches and I am not sure why that is. I've been in education long enough to know that we all have rough days. As professionals, our intentions are misunderstood by others at times. Misconception can be based in fact or in fiction or in equal parts of both!
It takes resolve, communication and building relationships one at a time to make things better. The pace at which that can be done won't always match the pace at which negativity might be stirred.
That can feel uncomfortable. It can also feel grossly unfair.
At times like this, it feels like the only choice is to embrace that vulnerability and look forward. I want so much for this to pass but realize in this discomfort, there is still a lesson to be learned by many of us, including me.
Embracing Vulnerability - Brene Brown
(worth a watch if any part of this post resonates with you)
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