“Come on Mr. McCord, YOU are the principal!” This statement from an impassioned
and frustrated parent still rings in my head, years after it was spoken. The remark speaks to the belief that we have
power to direct changes that many times we do not possess as educational
leaders. Rather than a top-down
leadership structure, ours is more diffuse in nature. Our power is the power to influence. It is relational in nature. This also applies to teachers in the
leadership of their learners.
In my experience, effective leaders in education embody the
role of a servant. A servant leader doesn’t
seek to sit atop of a pyramid of power.
Conversely, a servant leader seeks to be at the bottom of everything. Balancing our leadership from the bottom can
be awkward to say the least. Sitting at
the base of this inverted power structure requires mastery beyond what most
executives are required to muster as leaders of their organizations. We can visualize this type of leadership as
an inverted pyramid.
With this in mind, what steps can we take to create balance
as we lift others to success?
1)
Hire for
service mindset. Education is a
human business. It is messy and filled
with shades of gray. Fuzzy boundaries
are the norm. Hiring adults that have a
heart for kids and one another is critical.
When we are in service to one another we stay focused on what is really
important. For teachers, it moves us
away from a strictly academic focus and toward developing the whole child. For education leaders, it moves us away from
professional development of our staff toward human development. A sense of connection and relationship is the
foundation for everything.
2)
Maintain focus
on those you directly support. Balancing from the bottom of an inverted
pyramid is precarious to say the least! The
majority of our time and energy needs to be on the close relationship with
those that we are serving directly from below. This is the zone of our greatest
influence. As a teacher, attention to supporting
and building capacity in your students should be your goal. As a principal, my attention needs to be
support and capacity building for my teachers.
When I am struggling to get into classrooms to give my teachers the
feedback they crave, I have lost focus on where I can make the greatest impact
for our students.
3)
Communicate
clearly with those you support and those who support you. In a highly interconnected pyramid, communicating
effectively, above and below is critical. Actively listening is a key for
success. When we focus on understanding
others rather than seeking to be understood, clarity ensues. When communicating, remember to start with your “why” so others can develop an understanding of
the direction you intend to go. Develop
consensus and clarity to avoid unbalancing your organizational pyramid.
4)
Keep your
feet a shoulder’s width apart. One
of the mantras that my first football coach repeated constantly was, “Keep your
feet a shoulder’s width apart.” What he
knew was that having a broad base increased our balance. For those of us who seek to lead from the
bottom, we must have a clear understanding of our beliefs and values. These
provide the broad base from which we make decisions and provide support. We are
in the best position possible when we stand firmly upon our values and embody
them.
5) Remember who is on top. Students are at the top. It is imperitive to
remember that our decisions should be student-centered, not adult-centered. At the top of the pyramid are the kids – we
are there for them, not the other way around. Our lens should always be, “Is
this best for kids?" Many times this is not what is easiest for adults.
6) Celebrate gains. Success in schools is
all about improvement. As we lead from
the bottom, we need to provide feedback and encouragement for the things that
go well. Too often we withhold our positive
feedback for some nebulous point in the future.
Commit to speaking your positive in the moment.
7) Show struggle and strain . It
is acceptable, even preferred, to let people know about your failures and
struggles. This is hard work! When we
model authenticity and vulnerability, those that we serve see that we are
human. Knowing this, they are more likely to connect
with us. Showing a façade of perfection
only drives others away from us. Be real
and your chances for success increase greatly.
8) Put your ego aside. This work is not
about you. It is not about me. It is all
about the kids. When issues arise,
servant leaders take responsibility, even when we don’t have complete control
over all the variables involved. When
things go well, we give the credit away to others.
Without question it is difficult to make ourselves servants
to others who we have authority over. Despite that challenge, this is the job of public educators at every level. If you are a "boss" in an educational setting, you will only get low level compliance that must be constantly policed. If you are a servant leader, you will inspire others to do great things, even when you aren't looking.
Sir Isaac Newton is credited with the quote, “If I have seen
further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I challenge you to not simply stand on the
shoulders of other’s at the top of a perceived pyramid of power. Instead, let your legacy be that of a servant
leader, standing steadfast at the bottom of an inverted pyramid of
support. In doing so, you will become a “giant” whose shoulders others have stood upon. In this possibility lies the beauty of inverted leadership.
Special thanks to Dee @DeniseToler for creating the sketchnote!
