Lead in All DirectionsAll day long you work hard hard helping teachers with technology. You pour your heart into supporting teachers, and you give up your time and sanity to help them. But if someone asked, you wouldn't claim the title of leader. “The leader? I’m not in charge!” You would say because you aren't the one making any decisions, you aren't the one who stands up and leads the meetings. You would throw you hands up and say “I don’t have any say in the decisions! I can't make change happen!” This just simply isn’t true. John Maxwell’s book 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization states that leadership is merely influence. You have the ability to influence everyone around you whether they are your peer or your superior. You can lead from any position, no matter how little input you feel like you have. Find ways to lead in all directions: North, South, East and West. Lead NorthLead by Helping Those people above you are busy people. Make yourself available to lighten your leader’s load by offering to take on tasks or projects. These might start small at first, but if you can show your ability to complete projects effectively, you will become a go-to person for the leader when he or she needs help. This puts you on their radar for future opportunities to lead and offer input. Lead by Bringing Ideas If you want to see change in your school, be proactive. Without waiting for prompting by your leader, find the research that supports the change and bring it forward to the leader. When you present the change to your leader, be prepared and use your leader’s time wisely. Also, be prepared to hear "no" or “not right now” - but you can continue to bring more evidence to your leader to keep it at the front of his/her mind. Lead SouthLead by Modeling Your peers are watching you, whether you think they are or not. They notice what you do and how you do it. This is your opportunity to model the way you hope to see technology used in the classroom. It is your chance to model the digital tools you hope they will use. If you want them to use Google, share everything in Google format. If you want them to create videos, share information via video. Find ways to reinforce and share what you are doing so they can learn from you. As long as you approach is humble, others will be interested to hear more. Lead by Noticing Your peers are not celebrated often enough. Always be the first to praise and encourage your peers when you see them doing something meaningful - even if it is only a baby step toward transformation, at least they are moving forward. Your power to influence and provide input to a peer is increased exponentially when someone feels like you value them. Make it a point to ask teachers what they are doing in their classes and celebrate the efforts they’ve made. Lead East and WestLead by Coaching
Once you have won the right to be heard and someone comes to you asking questions about using technology or transforming the classroom, they’ve opened the door for coaching. Offer to observe the teacher’s class to see how they teach and give them some suggestions for incorporating technology. Being observed can be a scary thing for a teacher, so be sure to offer it casually, but be intentional. Follow up with a real meeting, not an email. Don't give directives, but instead ask LOTS of questions about what you saw and what their goals are. Then, once you have an idea of the teacher’s perspective, offer a single tool or trick they can try. Offer to be available when they teach using the tool. Then repeat the cycle. Coaching is one of the most rewarding opportunities for leadership. Lead by Raising up New Leaders Look for those teachers who are already thriving and making great strides toward a 21st Century classroom. Encourage these teachers to present at conferences and find ways to share what they are doing on Twitter or through blogging. Connect them with a professional learning network and help them realize that they have plenty to share with others and that they are leaders in the field because of the efforts they've made so far to create change. They will become partners in your efforts toward change in your school once you've encouraged them to share and explore the world of their PLN. Leading in all directions isn't easy, but it takes INTENTION. It takes focus and thought and the effort to make every interaction with another person meaningful. If you are intentional about identifying and raising up value in other people - you will be seen as a leader to them. And when you find ways to Lead North, you become valuable to the leaders above you who need your input. |
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January 2016
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