(by Amber Dembowski)
Leading is hard because you constantly feel like you’re carrying the load.
Here’s the good news (and I’m sure it’s not new to you) …
A successful school may have one designated person at the top who makes final decisions, however, without everyone leading from within, the goal everyone’s trying to reach -- is limited. It’s finite.
We all know it. But knowing it, and living it, are two completely different things.
Here’s the blunt truth …
If you don’t live in an organization of shared leadership, and you are the “school leader” then you are the weak link. We don’t want that! You are full of strength. Full of awesomeness. Which also means, you are full of influence. So let’s find ways to show that to the world!
John C. Maxwell talks about this in his book the 360 Degree Leader. In his book he describes 3 ways people can lead from anywhere in the organization. Sharing the load. But it starts with you showing the way.
He writes about leading up, which means you’re willing to do what others won’t. You help lift the load. And when you lead up you find ways to succeed even when working with difficult people, and you find ways to connect with all people across the organization. When you lead up you know when to hold back and when to push ahead. You’ve learned the importance of timing. When you lead up you know that learning and growth are constant and you step up and take on the next challenge when it matters. Model this.
John also writes about leading down. When you are leading down you serve as role models and mentors. You are encouraging those around you and others see you as approachable. When you are leading down you are transferring a vision that will inspire others to lead from the middle as well. This may be more familiar to you.
The one leadership practice I'm going to focus on today though is Leading Across. When people Lead Across they are caring, learning, appreciating and contributing. John created a visual for this called the Leadership Loop. I want you to picture a ferris wheel in your mind right now. The name of the ferris wheel is the Leadership Loop. When you get on the ride you are at the starting point, which John describes as Caring.
Leading Across does not work if you don't start with caring first. When you show you care you see the value everyone has to offer -- not just those who you like or are friends with -- but everyone. If you can't get past this point, if you don't show others that they are important to the entire team, then you are a weak link.
The next stop on our ride on the Leadership Loop is learning. And it's not just about learning how to do your job. Equally important is learning about those who you work with. Discover what your colleagues are good at, ask for their opinions on work-related issues, and appreciate their differences.
The ferris loop begins to go around again, and then stops at appreciating. Once you care and learn, it is easier for you to then appreciate. Like John stated in his book, "we tend to appreciate people who can do things we admire or who think like us." But if that’s all we do, we are missing the boat, and again becoming the weak link in the team. To lead across we must seek out the talents and goodness of others who have different life experiences and perspectives.
Contributing is our 4th stop on this ride. Contributing to the team seems to be an obvious thing to do when leading from the middle. Yet, our natural tendency is to protect our turf and our ideas. When you go out of your way to add value to your peers, they know that you really want them to win. And by adding value, that doesn't mean telling them "this is how you have to do it". Or “I figured it out for myself, so now you need to figure it out too.” Instead, it means honoring their decisions, offering suggestions when appropriate, and filling in for their weaknesses -- not overstepping them, but alongside them. It also means to expand your circle of acquaintances regularly. When you expand your realm of relationships beyond your inner circle, you also expand your expertise, strengths, and prejudices. This isn’t about going out finding ways to impress others, but rather opening your eyes to see the greatness in others. It’s about them impressing you and you celebrating with them about their awesomeness.
The Leadership Loop continues with 3 more stops or 3 more attributes: verbalizing, leading and succeeding.
The bottom line? Success of the whole team is more important than anything else that consumes your day. And everyone needs to move forward with the mindset that they contribute to this success.
Everyday -- every single person -- should be striving to lead. Lead up, Lead down, and Lead across. And the leadership loop -- which starts with caring -- should never stop. It’s the never ending ferris wheel ride. Every organization needs people who can lead in every direction. No matter what your job title. In the end, when people seeing you leading in all these ways, they’ll realize they can lead too – sharing the load.
Be aware of how you are leading. 99% of all leadership doesn’t actually come from the top, but instead from everyone on your team. You don’t need a specific title to influence others and be a successful leader. Others can help you carry the load, and it starts by leading from a variety of perspectives and working your way through the leadership loop. Build respectful relationships and motivate others to give their best each and every day. The greatest impact is often from within the school, not at the top. So be that person! Be the person who is an encourager, a motivator, and influencer … a leader in every direction. And enjoy the ride.
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