If You Lead, I Will Follow

Steve Farber, best selling author of The Radical Leap and The Radical Edge, says "real leaders take us places we've never been, turn nothing into something, and change the pieces of the world they touch for the better."

Extraordinary education is often accomplished only because of tremendous behind-the-scenes efforts of extraordinary school leadership. Sustainable change requires visionary and dedicated principals and district leaders. But what makes a leader extraordinary? What makes us want to follow them? 

This summer has given me the privilege and opportunity to pose these questions to thousands of teachers, and this is how some have responded.

"I will follow, IF you lead with...":

1. Unrelenting Dedication to Teacher Improvement: Successful leaders realize students have the best chance when taught by knowledgeable, effective, and empowered teachers.
2. Investment in Teachers, Not Programs: Schools that work do not have more resources or money, they just invest it differently. They invest it in improving the quality and capacity of their teachers. Leaders in these schools provide teachers with the time and resources needed for planning, data analysis, collaboration, and the professional development necessary to sustain their efforts.
3. Long Term Commitment to Excellence: Transformative education doesn't happen by simply sending teachers to a one-day workshop or providing them with 3-ring binders full of activities. Leaders that make a difference improve the quality of teaching and learning with long term planning. They understand there is no magic program or quick fixes. For them, improving excellence is a journey taken one careful and deliberate step at a time.
4. Trust:  Great leaders are guides to excellence. They understand teachers are the key agents of change and in turn give their teachers the respect, responsibility, and resources necessary to do what matters most. They encourage teachers to experiment with new approaches, without fear of failure, recognizing and trusting that teachers who know better--will do better.
5. Involvement: Successful leaders not only understand the complexity and the urgency of the work, they are involved in the work. This involvement can take many forms: attending trainings; visiting classrooms; or participating in planning sessions.  Regardless of the form, powerful leaders are aware AND there.
6. Courage to Change: Leaders who are unwilling to change will find it hard to lead a change. You must be the model of adaptability,open-mindedness, and strength that you wish your teachers to be. Or in Gandhi's words,"Be the change you want to see."

What's missing? What qualities inspire your teachers to follow you?

Steve Farber, best selling author of The Radical Leap and The Radical Edge, says "real leaders take us places we've never been, turn nothing into something, and change the pieces of the world they touch for the better."

Extraordinary education is often accomplished only because of tremendous behind-the-scenes efforts of extraordinary school leadership. Sustainable change requires visionary and dedicated principals and district leaders. But what makes a leader extraordinary? What makes us want to follow them? 

This summer has given me the privilege and opportunity to pose these questions to thousands of teachers, and this is how some have responded.

"I will follow, IF you lead with...":

Comments

[tfteacher]

The number 1 comment you got from teachers was "Unrelenting Dedication to Teacher Improvement"?

Seriously? Most of the teachers I talk to want Unrelenting Dedication to Administration (Principal) Improvement!

[Arica]

These are powerful habitudes for our leaders to live by. Leaders who do, grow teachers who, in turn, grow young leaders.

[Arica]

These are powerful habitudes for our leaders to live by. Leaders who do, grow teachers who, in turn, grow young leaders.

[David Brown]

In my view great leaders in education (as elsewhere) do three critical things very well.

FIRST - they build consensus around a shared great and always external vision, (and what each persons part is in achieving that vision, and what milestone checks there will be on the way).

In this respect whilst improving teacher capabilities are undoubtedly the means to better student education (as has been shown in many places including recently in New Zealand maths education research) the ultimate great vision needs to be focussed outwardly on well educated students. Not inwardly on excellent teachers or even on internal transformational educational processes. It is the great external vision that the leader really needs to be totally committed to and lead the staff to be committed to, even when teachers ask the leader to be committed to them instead, or to internal aspects of the organisation's capabilities instead.

SECOND - great leaders resource their people with time and training and materials so each can do the tasks allocated to them. The points 1 to 4 are about aspects of this.

THIRD - great leaders say thankyou, along the way, and at each milestone, and at the end of the journey. (Your point 5 is part of this).

[Ellen Weber]

Great post and much to think about here, Angela. Thanks for a fresh look at the role of a leader in action. Thanks also for asking readers' ideas:-)

You likely covered this embedded in your well designed leader qualities, but I've been thinking lately about great leaders who inspire others by how they risk for growth. What is the evidence of their courageous risks that would inspire others to step beyond the broken systems that hold learners back?

After 30 years in the field, I remain deeply concerned that we have clung to broken systems and built boring routines on tattered turf. Leaders who inspire others around them, also tend to value differences, foster equity, jumpstart innovation, add relevancy to content, welcome risks, and test in intelligence-fair ways.

Great leaders shine brilliant lights away from broken places to inspire another trek to finer peaks - where learning captures minds. Gandhi said it best, and you inspire its pathways here. Great discussion!

[Angela Maiers]

David and Ellen-
You both make powerful points that must be infused into the discussion and understanding of leadership. David, the idea of external vision is important. Staying deeply committed to that external vision absolutely requires the risk Ellen was speaking of.

Ellen, you quoted Ghandi, but I quote you when you say: Great leaders shine brilliant lights away from broken places to inspire another trek to finer peaks - where learning captures minds. Those are words to hang onto. Thank you both for adding to the conversation!