Authenticity Is Key
I believe the most effective trait a leader must have to navigate change is being someone who authentically cares about the people with whom they work as well as the mission and vision of the organization. In schools, our leaders must demonstrate in their everyday words and actions that they truly care about the students, the students' families, and the staff and the community. By doing this, leaders will facilitate change because those mutually invested in the journey will see a shared pursuit, with each person highly valued and respected as contributing members of the culture and climate of the school.
—Sandy Shacklady-White, educational consultant, Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network, Pennsylvania
An Appreciation for Past and Future
Connecting: People to purpose, content to context, past to present. A leader who can "bridge" a past and a future provides a pathway for staff. Many change initiatives seem to negate or even refute the past as if it were a failure to be left behind. Harnessing all the assets and learning from our past and bringing them forth to the future is kind, empathetic, wise, and necessary. This trait also recognizes that "this" change is not likely the last one we're going through, so it sets up change as ongoing, not merely one event.
—Scott Murphy, leadership coach and teacher, Public Education and Business Coalition, Denver, Colorado
Stop Saying This
"Quit taking it personally" needs to be eliminated as a phrase when a teacher is confronted by a malicious parent, disrespectful colleague, or any other attack on their professional conduct. The word teacher describes who I am at my very core. From my 84-year-old father to my 17- and 18-year-old students, I am teacher. It is personal.
—Kay Young Wolfe, teacher, Mesquite Academy, Mesquite, Texas
Be a Lifelong Learner
Educators trust leaders who promote and participate in shared learning with them, and this leads to higher level of change. The best example of this is when a leader is present in a collaborative team meeting and participates by asking questions and assisting educators with how to develop lessons.
—Heather Collins, director of teaching and learning, Kennett Consolidated School District, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
All About the Buy-In
Effective leaders must build trusting relationships to navigate change. In education, we cannot just mandate a specific compliance, rather we have to seek buy-in when searching for philosophical change. Leaders must have the ability to build consensus via relationship building.
—Peter Banhan, vice principal, Peel District School Board, Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Put Aside Perfectionism
The most effective trait a leader must have to navigate change is a growth mindset. Learning and growing are change processes based on continual/iterative exploration, practice, evaluation, and reflection. There is no room for maintaining the status quo. Risk taking that is done thoughtfully, with thorough research and field input, as well as buy-in, sets the stage for failing forward and building capacity. Vulnerability, transparency, and an authentic desire to do what's best for students must supersede protectionism among administrators and school board members.
—Deanna Nelson, technology and professional learning coordinator, CESA #1, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
