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

Seasonally supportive..leadership through the ebbs and flows with the Enneagram

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Melinda Miller and I joke about how October and February are the armpits of the school year. By October the newness of the year has worn off, the honeymoon is over and the hard work of growing students stretches out in front of you.

As an administrator, one of the challenges is for you to mentally maintain not only the joy of your staff but also the joy of yourself. It’s easy to forget that old adage of putting your own air mask on first before you try to help others, but its crucial during these critical months that you do think about your own well-being. Knowing what fills your bucket is a great first step.

I’ve become really interested in the Enneagram and how that applies to me, my marriage, and my staff. Determining our personality “type” through the Enneagram can help you see through the different lens from which we experience the world. Our personality is an effective way to express ourselves, but challenges arise when our points of view become rigid and we get stuck in automatic habits.(Unpack that thought…it’s a good one!) By discovering these unconscious patterns, we can lead more fully, more comprehensively, and hopefully, encourage our people to understand the actions and reactions of those who operate around us. (You can take a free enneagram test here!)

There are nine basic types of personalities. Here are, according to the Enneagram Institute are those 9 types. You can click on each type to read more.

1 THE REFORMER

The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic

2 THE HELPER

The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive

3 THE ACHIEVER

The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious

4 THE INDIVIDUALIST

The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental

5 THE INVESTIGATOR

The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated

6 THE LOYALIST

The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious

7 THE ENTHUSIAST

The Busy, Fun-Loving Type: Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered

8 THE CHALLENGER

The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational

9 THE PEACEMAKER

The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type: Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent

 

At the beginning of our school year, our team leaders and PLC leaders all took the test, and it’s been interesting to see those types manifest through the course of the year. I abide by the theory of “If I can predict it, I can prevent it.” and being able to understand on a different level has been very helpful.

Especially in this season, as a 2, I can take on too much and can tend to “feel” too deeply when my attempts to please all, aren’t successful. At least, through the Enneagram, I recognize that as a handicap on MY end, versus those around me.

 

Lead on, my friends through the holiday season…keep your eyes up, your chins up, and your weight down!

 

Joyfully &

I wish you knew… #leadership

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A couple of weeks ago I posted something on the Instagram about how I had a week where I felt like I was underwater the whole time. You’ve had those weeks, right?

The ones where you are giving all that you’ve got but it doesn’t quite seem like enough? When your days are long and your nights are too? When despite feeling like you’ve done #ALLthethings, your husband isn’t happy, your kids aren’t happy, and you just can’t win?

 

Well, that was that week for me. So I had posted a lil’scripture that spoke to my heart, b/c that is what that space is for me. A place for sharing what speaks to me. I think I’ve shared this before, but quite a while ago, I was in a place and position that was not only toxic emotionally, but also professionally. I couldn’t see past the forest for the trees. Sharing a positive “happy” on FB (which then led to IG) made me feel better. It was a good “footprint” to leave but it also was a reminder that there is always something to be positive about.

Anywho, I had a teacher in the hallway who told me that she felt so much better after seeing my post, b/c it made her feel better about also feeling like she was drowning, and that she didn’t know I ever felt that way. 

Ya’ll. It stopped me dead in my tracks!

Those quotes I post each day speak to my heart, and are so directed at me…it just so happens that someone usually also feels impacted by it, but genuinely…I go back to that Zig Zigler quote that says “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” which is OH so true for me!  It then made me think about other things that I wish people knew taht probably isn’t obvious froma quick social media scroll…

  • I cry when I am stressed, it’s the go to emotion…which is super annoying, but doesn’t mean I am weak. 
  • I worry that it actually does mean I am weak.
  • Imposter syndrome…it’s a real thing.
  • I once had a co-worker rebuff my attempt at asking a question b/c “I get paid to speak, why would I be asking her anything?”
  • I can be a great mom, a great wife, and a great principal…but rarely at the same time. 
  • I worry more than I should about what people think.
  • I make really quick decisions.
  • I hate working alone…and am so thankful to always have really great people around me, balancing out those quick decisions.
  • I get ridiculously nervous in front of my district peers but am completely fine in front of an audience of 1000. 
  • I don’t want to be average, ever. in anything.
  •  I have a 5, 10, and 20 year plan. 
  • I have trust issues. Please see #6.
  • George Couros is like my edtech big brother…and without him…eek. I don’t even want to imagine who I’d call when I need, well, #allthethings.
  • I have people I consider BEST friends…that I see every other year-ish. (When I was named principal, I called my husband…then conference called and Joe and Tony. We’d met IRL once.)
  • I regularly can’t fall asleep at night, worrying about what I haven’t yet accomplished. 

 

All that to say…unless you KNOW someone…you don’t actually know them.

Unless you KNOW someone…you don’t actually KNOW them. You only know what you think.

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Making assumptions, or heaven forbid, judging someone if you’re not a part of their circle is not only unfair but also usually inaccurate. Most of us are just trying to be the very best we can be, and to do the very best we can.

Give grace friends…the world could use more grace.

 

Reflectingly &

 

 

Planning an Open House? Make it a night to remember!

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Here’s what we shared with our team this year in planning for our open house.

More exciting…we have coupled our time with families on the same night as a home football and are hosting a “pirate picnic”…a time for us to come together, eat at the stadium, and then go cheer on our feeder pattern high school, those Wylie High School Pirates!! I’m so excited to have all of our Wolves there, to see what they have to look forward too! parents will bring their own food, so our campus just gets to hang out and enjoy some Friday night lights!

 

Hiring an assistant principal? Reading suggestions for new leaders! #cpchat **UPDATED with book links

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My amazing assistant principal was named principal of another school here in our district this past week. (!!!) We are SO excited for her, but that means I’ve got an incredible opportunity to bring on a new partner in crime. A new leader is bright…shiny…full of energy, ideas, and motivated to do their best.

A new leader means I also now have the INCREDIBLE RESPONSIBILITY of having a new partner in crime!

I remember the exact moment I realized as the new principal that the growing, molding, and motivating of my assistant principal (and actually, my whole office staff!) was my responsibility. While she herself, obviously, played a large role in her own development, it was me who would help guide and direct her as the leader of the campus. It was a weight I’d never contemplated so seriously before..but one I won’t take for granted.

You manage things; you lead people. —Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

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My new AP is fresh from the classroom, and I know she is excited and bringing incredible strengths to the table. When we meet for the first time, I have this tool that another principal in our district shared (Thanks, Dr. Helm!!) to go over.

 

 

Here’s a PDF version!

What could I add? Any experienced admin have any suggestions?

I have several books to hand her as well.

I’ve also already got an order placed for several books that I feel are vital to the well-rounded, multi faceted leadership approach that we embody here at our campus. These are books that I either read and reread regularly or feel have led to the kind of leader I want to be, the perspective I want to share with my teachers. I can’t wait to share copies with her!

 

Leverage Leadership

Innovators Mindset

What Great Principals Do Differently

The Principled Principal

Start. Right. Now.

Unshakeable

The Happiness Advantage

 

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success…

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Team buildN &

 

The Power of Positive Leadership

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I posted something on Instagram this week about choosing happiness. So much of our attitude and mentality is within our control…but it’s up to us to harness it! As I sit, awaiting our state STAAR scores…I thought it would be a powerful reminder that my happiness is my choice. 😉
( I love Twitter. @8amber8)
  • 1. Positive People Live Longer – In a study of nuns, those that regularly expressed positive emotions lived on average 10 years longer. (The Nun Study)
  • 2. Positive work environments outperform negative work environments. (Daniel Goleman)
  • 3. Positive, optimistic salespeople sell more than pessimistic salespeople. (Martin Seligman)
  • 4. Positive leaders are able to make better decisions under pressure. (Heartmath.org)
  • 5. Marriages are much more likely to succeed when the couple experiences a 5 to 1 ratio of positive to negative interactions whereas when the ratio approaches 1 to 1, marriages are more likely to end in divorce. (John Gottman)
  • 6. Positive people who regularly express positive emotions are more resilient when facing stress, challenges and adversity. (several studies)
  • 7. Positive people are able to maintain a broader perspective and see the big picture which helps them identify solutions whereas negative people maintain a narrower perspective and tend to focus on problems. (Barbara Fredrickson)
  • 8. Positive thoughts and emotions counter the negative effects of stress. For example, you can’t be thankful and stressed at the same time. (several studies)
  • 9. Positive emotions such as gratitude and appreciation help athletes perform at a higher level. (Heartmath.org)
  • 10. Positive people have more friends which is a key factor of happiness and longevity. (Robert D. Putnam)
  • 11. Positive and popular leaders are more likely to garner the support of others and receive pay raises and promotions and achieve greater success in the workplace. (Tim Sanders)
I’m ok with ALL of these things!!
(I’m pretty sure Troy Aikman agrees with #9. IJS.)
Add being positive to your 2018 summer to do list…let’s see if our positivity buckets can all overflow!
Sunshine SpreadN &,