Patience is one of those skills that no one tells you is a critical component when you’re preparing for an administration position. It’s under valued and over expected. It’s a skill that has to be developed, nurtured, and like SO many other things…it has to be intentional.
Patience…
…when you think everyone understood what you said, but find out some didn’t.
…when you figure out people can’t read your intentions, just your actions.
…when that student is sent to you again.
…when you wish so & so would have handled that differently.
…when you wish YOU had handled that differently.
…when you see things moving slower than you think they should be going.
…when you realize that you can’t MAKE people change, but only inspire them to want too.
Patience is a virtue, but it can also be the difference between being respected and being ignored. Impatient leaders lose the ability to bring people on board. Patience makes you pause, makes you reflect, makes you not so quick to jump. Change requires patience. Communication requires patience. Collaboration requires patience. Patience allows others to share, others to feel heard, and you to think.
Practice more patience. I know it is a skill that is evolving in me as a mom, as a wife, and most definitely as an assistant principal. Can one ever be too patient? Let me practice more this year and I’ll let you know!
Zen-ly,
Amber
Amber this is a skill that is ever so important and one in which I am working to hone. As a father of two young children I have learned that patience is a must. As a vice principal I have learned that if I model patience then I will see more from staff and students. I recently read a great book titled 10% Happier that was a quick read and stressed the importance of slowing down and being patient. Thanks for sharing this and please feel free to remind me of this if you ever notice my posts or tweets going astray.
Amber…I agree….Pateince is a virtue. Nothing happens over night. I, too, am learning to more patient-most especially with myself 🙂
Sammie Sam Sam! The person who deserves your patience the MOST is you! 🙂