I had an epiphany today. For most of you who lead change, run a company or ministry this is probably obvious. But for me– not so much. I was listening to John Maxwell on TV today and he shared something I had never considered. My mission, my purpose in all the work I do, whether keynoting, conferences, working with for profits like Intel or Microsoft or non profits like the EETT grant work and especially in the building of PLP, has to be about adding value to the lives of others.
I know..I know.. for you guys it is a no brainer, but for me it is transformational- and here is why.
Traditional Approach
My standard mode of operation has always been to come up with an idea, dream about it, obsess over it, talk about it and bring others on board to help shape it and help me achieve my dream. I passionately talk about it in ways that made others see it and want to help. I constantly sell the vision. Like when Darren and I started K12Online. It was never about helping all the folks that volunteered to find their passion and bring their ideas for that amazing collaborative to fruition, rather it was about us delivering what we had conceived would work and enthusiastically getting others to ride the wave with us. This takes energy and commitment, as few people will immediately buy into a radical vision, and some will join the show much more slowly than others. Don’t get me wrong, I am passionate and I care about those working with me. A lot. It is just I believe so strongly in the change I see needs to happen that I have been known to put it before those working with me- even though my mantra is people before things.
CEO of Something
So then I hear John say his motivation for all the work he does with his company is adding value to people’s lives and it hits me– woah.
That is where I have been missing it. The focus with those that work with me needs to be on their passion. Me helping them achieve their dreams. For example, my daughter sent me this article. I read it and thought heck yeah that is what I need to do. I need to find gifted folks and put them in charge. Have them figure out what they are into and do well. Ask them- What is your passion and how can we use that to push the goal of building capacity in our community members- forward? Capacity that will result in educators who understand how to manage change, build community, and grow as connected learners. How can you support folks in developing skill to produce the kinds of change that will make schools relevant in the lives of the students we serve?
My Role
How can I help the folks who work with Will, Robin and I at PLP accomplish their dreams, learn as passion-based learners and add value to their lives? How can I truly lead from a distributive leadership model and make my job adding value to the lives of those I serve? I think part of my role as a 21st Century leader is to realize that by helping others self actualize- by helping them to reach their dreams, it will mean that they will move on and start their own companies or develop their own ideas that will make the world a better place.
See the big shift for me (and I am being transparent here) was realizing that I can’t have one vision for PLP participants and another for PLP staffers. That while we are all moving through the PLP model I need to let go– let them do it– practice what I preach– and spend my time helping them reach the highest level of tribal leadership for themselves. I need to become one who adds value to the lives of those I touch; a dream catcher who inspires others to reach their dreams, not mine- and in doing so I will have accomplished the very things I sought to accomplish in the first place.
Photo credit: www.designsbywillow.com/…/DreamCatcher.jpg
Wow, Sheryl! What an amazingly honest post! It is so hard not to get caught in creating the vision that we see. But if we can empower others to dream and then find the connections between the dreams, the result will be just that much more powerful. I too tend to want to carry others along with my “insights.” You’ve helped me see the difference. Thanks!
Sheryl,
WOAH is right! So THAT is why my windows were rattling earlier today. I felt the shockwave from your exploding mind all the way up here in Jersey.
Having had the privilege of working with you a little bit over the years, and experiencing your intensity and passion firsthand, I can only say, Will, Robin and everyone else you interact with regularly just got a major upgrade in their professional productivity arsenals.
What I mean by that is … you work for them now. Not “for them” in the reporting sense but “for them” in the sense you are invested in their success, because their success defines your success, and the organization / initiative / community in which you co-reside.
I’ve worked for a lot of people in my 48 years on the planet, and the very best – I can count them on a few fingers – honestly, actively, and relentlessly worked FOR ME – making sure I was achieving what I needed to so that the organization kept moving forward. And, when I’ve had the opportunity to manage others, one of the first things I try to convey is that I work FOR THEM. Usually blows peoples’ minds; and, forget about me trying to have that convo with a manager who doesn’t already get it – that dog won’t hunt.
So, congrats, enjoy, let it soak in, and, in very short order, I predict, you’ll be witnessing even more amazing things happening in your world. Good stuff.
Stay gold,
-kj-
Thanks for sharing this. It resonates with me and puts into words how I think I try to approach things- and I mean it when I say some of that approach started for us with our year in PLP.
My approach with my teachers has been to try to help them be the best they can be at curriculum design first and technology integration second. I’ve been working hard at trying to transfer my owning it to them owning it and its started to work. I frequently refer to myself as their agent and have found that I am increasing talking about working for them and serving them. At the latest METC conference, I gave 1 talk and let them give 11. They looked good! I have a great faculty and I’m doing what I can to help them shine and in the process, we as an institution are moving forward and getting better-
I think if we empower and unleash in others its a good thing – its the truest sense of collectively we are more- think about the power of unleashing our collective dreams-
Sheryl,
This is a fabulous reminder and something I think I have realized after the “initial” rush of all the web 2.0 experience. And yet it is also something I have to learn over and over again.
Being a librarian, I’m somewhat used to being the “support team” but I do also find that sometimes I want credit or my moment in the “sun” so to speak. But I love the way you have put this–and it helps me gain new insights into what I already try to do.
I also want to say, that even when you think perhaps you were leading us to your idea–experiences you have brought others “into”-like helping with k12online, enriched my experience immensely! So I can’t wait to see what deepening your experience brings
Sheryl,
Great post. I like the metaphor of the dream catcher.
I’ve been in education for a very long time and as I moved from being a teacher to an administrator I knew I could apply many of my skills and strategies to interacting with a school staff rather than a group of children. I had to learn (and relearn) many of the managerial tasks of being a school principal. But I built everything on the foundation of treating people like they already were who they wanted to become.
My first position as a principal was at a small elementary school. At the time, I was mistaken in thinking that good teaching meant the way I would teach. As I got to know the teachers on our staff and spent time in their classrooms, I realized that there were strong, effective teachers who did thinks differently than I did. Their classrooms looked differently. Their lesson plans were differently than mine. Yet students were happy and they were learning. It was a humbling moment for me. I didn’t have all the answers. And I didn’t need to make everyone a teacher just like I was. So I set out to celebrate the differences in teaching and the happy lives of children learning. It was one of the biggest lessons I have ever learned.
When I was interviewing for my most recent position as principal of a brand new school, I worked hard to anticipate and prepare for the questions they would ask me. I felt really prepared for the interview. I was clear about my vision for this new school and I knew what I hoped would happen for children. Near the end of the interview, the team asked me a question I hadn’t anticipated but I instantly had an answer. They asked if I could go back would I do anything differently. My words came quickly without a lot of thought but directly from my heart. I said that I would want to go back and teach every child again. With more experience I knew I could support them in new ways and help them become who they wanted to be. I try to work with teachers now in the same way. Some of them simply need a nudge. Some of them have much to learn. Some of them have so much expertise to share with others. But I can’t decide who they will become. I need to listen and watch. Learn what drives them and what their passions are. Then I can scaffold their journey.
We are each on a journey. If we can support and scaffold our colleagues their journey will be a magical one because they will have done it and we just stood behind and watched over their shoulder.
Hadley,
Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot coming from you.
Kevin,
Great advice. Relentless servant leadership. I like that. You are right. I think the difference here though- I am not leading. I am a co-learner. My role is to get out of the way in most cases.
Elizabeth,
I am glad PLP served as a great model for you. I think we do a pretty good job with the participants in PLP. I do feel as though we are able to help many find their passions, model distributive leadership and more.
Carolyn,
Thanks for your kind words.
I hope you didn’t think I was saying I wanted credit. That isn’t what I was trying to say. I hope we do a great job with PLP communities. The vision–the model works if followed. The feedback is amazing.
My revelation was the push from transformational leader– who inspires PLP staff to a greater good –a good that we all believe to be in the best interest of kids– to someone who helps those working with us (community leaders, fellows, experienced voices (you))to get what you need from the experience and learning journey.
My ah ha was that the learning journey is for all of us– not just the participants. I hadn’t seen that before. It wasn’t that I wanted credit-rather I wanted all of us to sacrifice for the good of the whole. I realize now that part of my job in ensuring the best outcome for all is to make sure that we all become co-learners and co-leaders in the journey.
Thanks so much
Karen,
I guess where I am right now is thinking that all your teachers need to be co-leaders with you in the school. That none of you are further up the ladder than the other. That your role is to help each teacher have the time, resources, and connections to lead outside the classroom. That in addition to what is happening in the classroom, the culture of your school should be collaborative leadership, where your teachers are sometimes leading and you are following. And sometimes it is the other way around. Does that make sense?
I see my role as value add. Tell me what you need to make this journey as a contractor with 21st CC or PLP to be life changing. How can we help you make your dreams come true as you help others going through the PLP journey realize theirs.
Sheryl,
I agree wholeheartedly with you. We have been working hard to establish co-learning and shared leadership. I think many on the staff would agree. Because many of the teachers came from other schools with different models of leadership, it took awhile to embed our visions for learning and leading. Many decisions are made collaboratively and a leadership role is taken on by many.
Our teachers are learners.
If you are ever in our area, I would love to have you visit. In the meantime, I am trying to think of a way to describe our school (in text and/or visual). I will be working on that.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Karen,
I will make a way to come visit. Are you transparently sharing as you reculture? So many could learn so much from you as you reshape leadership in schools. Are your teacher leaders sharing?
Sheryl,
At Cary Harrod’s recommendation I am reading “Tribes” by Seth Godin. I’m sure you’re familiar with it, but what you said reminds me of a lot of what he is talking about in terms of leadership.
I had a bit of an aha moment when I realized that the filter failure problem I have is more about my approach to information online than any lack of appropriate tool or system. (I wrote about it here: http://thoughtsfromschool.edublogs.org/2010/02/15/thinking-about-educon-again-and-filter-failure/) So, I’m trying, again, to take in some of that information out there rather than just read over it. I’m sure I’ll have to try again a bunch of times.
Sheryl,
Love your candor. Love your post. You explain this concept so that it really hits home.
In order to succeed with others we have to talk to them about them.
I wrote a short blog explaining why others follow… love your feedback.
http://leadershipfreak.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/why-others-follow/
Regards,
Leadership Freak
Dan Rockwell
Sheryl,
Wow! Terrific post!
“Adding value to the lives of others.”
Oh, my…a seismic shift just occurred in my world. These seven words are a game changer for me. Re-order, reframe, renew.
As always, thank you for your transparency and thank you for adding value to my life.
Deeper reflections to follow…
I’m sure you’ve already seen this book, but your article makes me think of “The Spider and the Starfish: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations” by Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom.
The final section of this book talks about how leaders, and technology platforms like eBey, can support the ownership and actions of millions of users. It’s in this context that I point to your blog, and many other on-line resources from my own blog, web sites, email newsletters, and Chicago conferences. If I can help others can find and use these ideas, then there will be more people working to help disadvantaged young people move through schools and into more hope-filled adult lives.
Thanks.