my version of transparent, collaborative leadership...with a Teamann twist

Leadership Lessons from Lyrics: Embracing the Anti-Hero Within

by Leave a Comment

This is week two of “Leadership Lessons from Lyrics…did you see last week’s post? Loved the comments on Facebook, X, and even on IG of how it resonated with all of my leader peeps. So glad it’s not just me who feels like brutal honesty is NOT how we want to give…or receive feedback!

This week the lesson that has popped up ALL week long is from “AntiHero”, by the TSwift.

It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s meAt tea time, everybody agreesI’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirrorIt must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero

I’ve been replaying these lyrics in my mind all week…and it baffles me that self-awareness isn’t a cornerstone of every leadership training program out there. Team members and leaders who can openly acknowledge their own shortcomings set the example for a culture of humility and ongoing learning among their teams and colleagues. It builds an environment where it’s okay to fess up to mistakes and learn from them. However, if you’re in a place where no one seems able to admit they’ve dropped the ball, it will impact the culture, eroding trust and fostering resentment. And when things hit the fan, that reluctance to own up could seriously hinder open, honest communication.

If the expectation is that leaders should step back from the spotlight in times of success but step up in challenging times, shouldn’t this principle be practiced consistently?

Is an unwillingness to accept fault based on a lack of confidence or fear of consequence?

Click To Tweet

Being able to acknowledge that you don’t know everything and are willing to reset, regroup, and try again is crucial in education. Every situation and student (or staff member!) is different. They are coming to the table with different experiences and therefore, a different lens.

Just because you are in charge doesn’t mean you always get it right.

When a team member consistently refuses to acknowledge their mistakes, it can diminish both trust and respect. People tend to follow leaders who are honest and transparent about their shortcomings, as it makes them more relatable and trustworthy. By openly acknowledging mistakes, you’ll model a growth mindset and resilience. This behavior encourages others to admit and learn from their errors, fostering a culture where learning from failure is not just accepted but encouraged. It demonstrates that making mistakes is a natural part of the learning process, not something to be ashamed of.

Acknowledging mistakes is the first step toward correcting them and preventing similar issues in the future…which your team needs to hear.

Click To Tweet

The phrase “I’ll stare directly at the sun but never in the mirror” suggests that while you’ll take on other people’s issues, and be willing to tackle tough challenges with others, but aren’t so willing to do so when you are the one making the mistake. Growth as a leader means you have to be willing to check in with yourself as well. I know that ego plays a part in this, and am willing to acknowledge several times that it’s gotten me tangled up as well. I think transitioning from a position where I felt confident in what I was doing to a completely different “lane” of education has allowed me quite regularly to admit that I need help and support. Balancing that with the confidence of leadership feels awfully antihero.

It’s not just about steering the ship with a steady hand; it’s also about being brave enough to admit when we’ve hit rough waters because of our own doing. This journey of self-reflection and acknowledgment isn’t just for the brave or pop singer—it’s for every leader/team member aspiring to foster an environment of trust, risk-taking, and innovation.

Here’s to embracing our inner anti-heroes, learning from our missteps, and leading with a mix of confidence and humility. Can’t wait to see where next week’s lyrics will take us!

Staring at the mirror &

Embracing Humility: Learning from Unexpected Sources

by 1 Comment

When I talk about this space and what I share, I am always quick to mention that it is primarily a place where I share what I got wrong and my reflections on the experience in hopes that others could learn from it.

I’ve even blogged about my lack of experience in new professional settings…especially that first year, all the things I got wrong…or this gem from 2017 (lil’baby leader Amber!)

I was reminded this past week, even in all my glorious middle ageness that I STILL have so much to learn and how open I need to be to the possibility of just being…wrong. I had the opportunity to be the opening keynote for an Opal EdTech/EduAcademic event that was held in Orlando. Orlando…where I can get a DOLE WHIP? In.

Orlando is also where one George Couros lives. George often refers to himself as my big brother in this edtech/leadership space. 13 years ago we connected and it has been years of banter, fights, and political punches. I adore his family and he has been a huge cheerleader for my beast in her early education endeavors.

George is also the person (other than MT) whose feedback I am most sensitive/resistant to. I, of course, blame him because of his directness and lack of empathy when delivering any of his hot sports opinions on what I’ve shared or written.

So when he asked if he could come to hear me speak, I immediately said no.

I was ADAMANT that any feedback he was going to give me would be hypercritical and it would make me so self-conscious…why would I want to invite that panic into my head? George speaks to massive audiences ALL the time, literally, weekly…I do it 4-5 times a year. I didn’t want to hear how…not George…+ I was. Of course, I caved, and “allowed” him to come.
Thankfully, the evening went well and I didn’t fall down. 🙂

Ya’ll. His feedback was sincere, purposeful, and beneficial. The suggestions he provided, which were about what I could have further emphasized or made more impactful, proved to be incredibly helpful. The way he recommended connecting with the audience at the end will genuinely change how I close moving forward.

All that to say…man, was I wrong…AGAIN.

(which is just so annoying! That makes George right…again.)

What is the resistance to being better? How big is my ego that I can’t accept hearing what could potentially be true and helpful, just b/c I am scared of it being critical? How often do I miss an opportunity to be better… just because?

Why do I resist having confidence not in my knowledge, but in my ability to learn? 

One of my purposes in education is to help others be more than they think they already are, and sometimes that means DIRECT FEEDBACK. And yet…am I willing? Do I come across as willing?

Such the hypocrite I can be…

George wrote a fantastic blog about the ability to soak up the greatness of those around you. Give it a read. Don’t be like me, be open to hearing how you could be better …even if it’s not delivered in a pretty complimentary package with a bow. 😉

I hope you have people in your life who challenge you, not for the sake of them being right, but for the sake of making you better. And may you always be willing to let them.

Click To Tweet

 

Begrudgingly better &

Amber

Videos to support leadership learning…and why you shouldn’t stop!

by Leave a Comment

Hiya stranger friends!

I’m working to build a repository of “leadership” supports for my team that meets all the varied modalities of learning that they may have. I love to read but maybe a podcast floats their boat…or maybe they want a one-pager to reference in moments of “uh oh”. Whatever it is, I’m starting with videos. Whether you’re a new principal, a seasoned district administrator, or somewhere in between, there are always lessons to absorb!

Authentic leaders never stop growing.

For those starting as campus leaders, Yale’s “Connected Leadership” offers research on aligning your actions with your values. As an administrator, it’s crucial to embody the traits you aim to instill in students and staff. I’ve found that leading by example and practicing what I preach as an educator builds trust and buy-in across the school community. You can also register for a FREE course from IUBM on “Developing Interpersonal Skills” if you want to hang up a gold star once you ace it, 😉

Every one of us has those inner critics who ask for more, better, and always!

For my middle-of-the-pack people, Brené Brown’s “Daring Leadership” is a must-watch. With her signature blend of research and storytelling, Brown advocates for a paradigm shift from armored to daring leadership. Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of people. Her talk is a great reminder to stay grounded in authenticity and vulnerability even as our responsibilities grow. Want that gold star? You can pick up concrete engagement strategies from the University of Michigan’s “Leading People and Teams short course. Their segments on thoughtful feedback models have strengthened my ability to motivate faculty and tease out opportunities for talent development. Practicing active listening, asking coaching questions, and setting clear expectations with those around me have led to increased collaboration and job satisfaction. (on both our parts!)

It’s YOUR job to develop psychologically safe spaces for a foundation of efficient teamwork.

Finally, all the ones who have been doing this thing we call leadership for longer than we thought we ever could, the Open University’s talk on “Leadership: External Context and Culture” provides some hard-won wisdom. Having navigated major organizational changes, the speakers share how to drive complex initiatives by understanding your unique institutional history and landscape. Their advice has me reflecting on how to better frame change narratives (both within and without out of our control!) to unify stakeholders in our district. John Maxwell’s video “The 5 Levels of Leadership.” is another great one. Maxwell draws on his decades of leadership consulting to outline his framework moving from Position, to Permission, to Production, to People Development, and finally to Pinnacle. Regardless of your years of experience, his seasoned insights will have you reflecting on ways to guide your team to the next level.

 

As we know, trying to lead in the challenging educational system hasn’t gotten any easier. We’re also smart enough to know it never will. There are no silver bullets, and if it were simple, everyone would do it. In any given moment we can decide how to perceive our reality. And depending on our choice and attitude, we are more or less likely to overcome challenges and be successful. When you feel overwhelmed, remember we all struggle to get it all done. Keep leaning on your teams, focus on your “why,” and lead with the heart that made ya want to do it in the first place… Our students and schools need us now more than ever!

 

Learning while leading &

Leadership and the summer: How to ensure your 23-24 success by planning ahead NOW

by Leave a Comment

Summer is an exciting time for educators, but it can also be a challenging one. Planning feels like the last thing you wanna do…summer is when we get to reset, reflect, and renew our commitment to the reasons we do this job in the first place. My June was always spent in reflection mode. What went well? What didn’t go well? Where did we go off plan? The new year was too far off to really plan for, but this month of closing it all down was crucial. An autopsy of our school year allowed us, through hindsight, to see what we’d missed and how it had happened. Then we’d get a lil’break and coming back in July meant it was time to start thinking ahead.

 

Best Practices for Summer Leadership and Planning

To overcome the challenges of summer and ensure team success, leaders must be proactive in their planning and communication. Here are some best practices to follow:

Set Clear Expectations

At the start of the summer season, it’s essential to communicate clearly with your team about what is expected of them. I made meeting calendars and developed any “new” protocols. Establishing a skeleton of a timeline meant as my team started coming back, we had an outline to start with.  By setting clear outlines and directions, you can help prevent misunderstandings and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Plan Ahead

Obviously, there are calendrical things we know are going to happen. I’m also a big believer in that if you can predict it, you can prevent it. BTS chaos? Traffic flow pushback? Make a plan to address thoroughly on the front end. In “Lead With Appreciation” we talk about how to work ahead for the big events/days and who can support you in all the many capacities. (Budgets, plans, snacks, etc.) If you’re a theme person, (and really, shouldn’t you be?) you can start divvying out tasks and responsibilities to prepare for what you have planned. This also helped with budget allocation and knowing where we were heading as a leadership team.

Pre-Train Your Team

Leadership meetings, retreats, and refreshes are all opportunities for you to expose those who you see as leaders on your campus to the campus vision and a recommitment to the values that are crucial for a culture of achievement.

Utilize Technology

Technology can be a valuable tool for summer leadership and planning. Consider using video, texts, zooms, shared calendars, etc.,  to track progress and ensure that everyone is on the same page. A closed FB page is a great place to share summer memories or future plans with your team. We used to schedule Facebook posts to connect with our families as well. Keep up that page traffic!

Don’t forget…you need a step-away break as well.

Effective leadership and planning are crucial for ensuring team success but

if a leader is stressed and unable to have some downtime during the summer, even the most efficient of leaders will eventually break

Click To Tweet

Take time for naps, lunches with friends, and read some nonacademic, potentially simplistic novels. (I share all mine on the IG, if you’re interested!)

More summer planning resources:

Summer ways to make your leadership life easier!

5 things a principal can do this summer

PD Bingo

 

May this May find you winding down, wrapping up, and getting ready for summer. You’re almost across that finish line!

 

Cheeringly and

Calm in the Change Chaos

by Leave a Comment

Change is a constant in any organization, and this is especially true in the world of education. One significant change that can occur in schools is a shift in district leadership…in particular in my world, a new superintendent. I’ve long been a fan of the statement that all change is hard, even good change. Adapting to change can be challenging, but there are steps that professionals can take to ensure a smooth transition.

Clear and consistent communication is where the calmness begins. Surveys, conversations, transparency… all strategies that will show a willingness to be collaborative.

Another key action for adapting to change is to remain flexible. Change can be unpredictable, and leaves all previously final plans more… fluid. By staying open to new ideas and approaches, educators can better navigate the transition and maintain a sense of continuity for students and the community.

Here are three of my favorite quotes when it comes to the importance of leadership… ones to keep in mind to help your people adapt to changes in district leadership:

  1. “The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things.” – Ronald Reagan

    Click To Tweet

This quote reminds us that leadership is not just about one person, but about the collective efforts of a team. When a new leader takes over a school district, they need to work with teachers, staff, and community members to set goals and create a shared vision for the future. Leaders should unleash employees’ potential, rather than trying to control or contain their ideas and they should inspire employees to explore solutions, rather than motivating them toward fixed ideas.

  1. “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” – Sheryl Sandberg

    Click To Tweet

A change in district leadership can create uncertainty and anxiety for teachers and students. This quote reminds us that effective leaders leave a lasting impact that extends beyond their time in the role. By empowering teachers and providing a sense of stability, new leaders can create a positive legacy that endures long after they have moved on. Good leaders fight against a scarcity mindset, focusing instead on an abundance of things like respect, capacity, and trust.

  1. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

    Click To Tweet

This quote highlights the importance of leadership as a catalyst for growth and change. When a new leader takes over a school district, they have the opportunity to inspire teachers and students to reach new heights. By setting high expectations and providing the support needed to achieve them, new leaders can create a culture of excellence that benefits everyone in the district.

If you’re in a season of change, whether at the campus or at the district level, remember that changes in leadership can be challenging, but they can also provide opportunities for growth and improvement. Relationships can’t be rushed but if you’re willing to embrace change, there can be calmness in the chaos.

 

 

Flexible and