Give it away, give it away, give it away now…
by Jon Harper • • 0 Comments
While watching Game of Thrones has provided me with much entertainment over the past few years, it did not teach me a single thing about becoming a better leader. In fact, I learned more about leadership from a five-minute rereading of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree than I did from the forty plus hours I spent watching kings and queens jockey for position. Leadership is about giving, plain and simple.
What I got I gotta give it to the teachers…
Leaders have so much to do in the course of the day; the last thing they have time for is micromanagement. When we give power and decision-making ability to teachers we free ourselves up to actually get in the classrooms and see some of the amazing things that are taking place every day. This is being done in places like New Milford High School where principal and digital pioneer Eric Sheninger is giving his teachers what he calls Professional Growth Periods, during which they can explore their own learning passions.
Of course there will be times when teachers make mistakes. But when this occurs, it gives us the opportunity to sit down and discuss what could’ve been done differently. It affords us the opportunity to have meaningful conversations about ways for us to move forward and improve as a team. When teachers feel empowered they become powerful. Why wouldn’t we want the most powerful teachers possible working with our students?
“The courage of leadership is giving others the chance to succeed even though you bear the responsibility for getting things done.” Simon Sinek
What I got I gotta give it to the students…
Students are told what to read, how to read, what to write, how to write, when to use the restroom, when to line up, etc. While I do not believe for a moment that students would excel in an environment in which they were able to do whatever Give it away, give it away, give it away now… | Connected Principals: