Live Well, Lead Strong: Three Ideas To Help You Shine This Year!

Hello, my friends! I’m grateful for those of you who are taking a moment from your busy day to check out the MEMSPA newsletter today….especially because this article is for you, and your success this year!

Did you know that experts on leadership believe that anyone with the will can develop the skill to be an exemplary leader? It’s true! So that means that the face you see in the mirror each day is already filled with the promise of becoming the very best leader you could ever hope to be! Let’s start with three habits that will lay the foundation for a strong start, okay? Here we go!

First, ensure your people feel known, seen and valued by frequently offering specific praise and appreciation. Especially in the opening weeks of the year, your people will wonder what their leader is thinking about their work—even our best teachers do! This is exactly the time to “up the ante” on writing those short notes acknowledging the effort you’re seeing. Always remember, the specificity is what matters, and the impact of what you’re seeing (the reason you think it’s so important) is key to making the gratitude meaningful. It truly doesn’t take much time to write these notes, and they’re a powerful vehicle for building good will and a positive feeling tone across the building! 

Form connections by asking questions and seeking to understand. As you try to be as visible as possible during the time when staff and students are in the building, you’ll find that people love to talk about what they’re doing! When I transferred to an elementary building, I hadn’t taught first and second grade—I felt so inhibited by the masterful literacy teaching I saw going on! Finally I realized I just had to be honest! I began to sit with teachers and say, “I’d love to know more about how you decide what your next writing prompt will be…” or “Tell me more about your progress monitoring with Jeremy, will you please?” I was actually surprised—They were happy to share with me, and I learned so much; I now realize those questions became the beginning of an authentic and deep connection between my staff members and me, based on rich conversations about our students.

Seek stability and self-composure by setting boundaries and taking control of your calendar by mid-September. I know….I said “mid-September!” That’s because it’s a bit unrealistic for any of us to feel in control in the opening weeks of school—there are just too many variables, right? But, dear friends, I encourage you to think of this: 

Our people need us to remain stable, hopeful, compassionate, and trustworthy as leaders. They need our energy to remain constant, and our resilience and well-being to be in place so that we can supply strength to others. In order to do that, try these steps. 

• Engage your administrative assistant as your partner to control your calendar
• Plan one night a week to stay in the office till 6 or 6:30. Work with your spouse or partner to make meal arrangements or whatever you need.
• On other nights, leave the office by 4:45. You heard me. 4:45.
• On your calendar, schedule 45 minute blocks twice a week called “Response Time” That’s your work time. For me, it was often 1 pm to 1:45 in the afternoon that worked well.
• Close your office door during these times, and tell your assistant to let you know if there’s an emergency. You’re not allowed to feel guilty for doing this! It’s an investment in your strength and well-being.

One barrier that our leaders sometimes have in taking control of their calendar is they feel they must be the “concierge principal”---meeting everyone’s needs all the time. That’s not a sustainable model, friends. You have the right to claim boundaries, to take care of some of your own needs, to monitor your own energy level and stamina, and to make choices that honor the long-term stability of your exemplary leadership. That’s the goal, and that’s what can happen by doing some thoughtful and intentional planning. 

So how about it? I encourage you to start this fall by practicing gratitude and appreciation, by asking great questions that lead to connection, and by taking control of your calendar to set boundaries for your well-being. By employing these three simple ideas, you’ll be well on your way to a strong start for your year!

May your courage shine,

Debbie McFalone, Ph.D. 

To connect with Debbie regarding subscribing to her Monday Messages on leadership, or ordering her book Meeting The Moment, please go to www.LiveWellLeadStrong.com. Thank you!