Be a True Leader: Get Your Hands Dirty.

I received a text message from my brother the day before school started for this year.

It read, “Go after greatness this year. And get your hands dirty while pursuing it.”

I took some time to reflect on this. What does getting your ‘hands dirty’ look like in leadership positions? How could I approach this school year with more of a mindset of getting my hands dirty? And, equally important, what was the ‘greatness’ I was going to pursue?

With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I visited our new elementary school for the first day of school.  This past year, we realigned our attendance zones. As well, we consolidated from three elementary schools to two. To put it in perspective, our largest elementary school last school year had about 400  students. Our new elementary has blossomed to over 725 students. 

I stood in the cafeteria watching the controlled chaos. Parent volunteers roamed about everywhere. In fact, it appeared there were equal adults to students.

As I surveyed this scene, my attention was drawn to the food line. There in the midst of the students lining up was the building principal, demonstrating his expectations for how to line up and proceed with the lunch period.  And, not far from where he was, the assistant principal was working with a different group of students on where to sit- and outlining behavioral expectations for the cafeteria.

This is ‘getting your hands dirty’ in action. Often times, as school leaders, we can issue edicts from behind a computer screen. It is easy to ‘tell’ the way. It is not always easy to ‘show’ the way. As these two leaders’ actions showcased, if we are willing to get out in front and allow our words to become actions, we don’t have to share our leadership philosophy. People will see it. And seeing is believing.

My challenge is this: how can you be more proactive with applied leadership (aka ‘getting your hands dirty’)? What tangible steps can you take to allow your leadership philosophy to become more than words on a paper penned in silence?

Getting Your Hands Dirty for School Leaders:
- Teach a class. Demonstrate a new instructional practice.
- Get in the cafeteria.
- Spend less than 60 minutes in your office a day.
- Don’t miss dismissal time.
- Substitute for a Day.
- Serve Food in the Cafeteria
- Learn Your Students’ Names
- Ask Your Staff Questions.

"We must be silent before we can listen. We must listen before we can learn. We must learn before we can prepare. We must prepare before we can serve. We must serve before we can lead."
 ― William Arthur Ward

Other thoughts on tangible ways we as leaders can get our hands dirty?

The Car Wash Communication Plan

My dad passed away on July 3, 2015. This year, to honor his memory, I decided to wash the car. Strange you might say...but I have many childhood memories of washing the car with my dad. Although my dad had many laudable traits, patience was not one of them. Washing the car usually resulted in one or more of my brothers and me getting yelled at for some odd reason or another.

I set out to break the cycle. My six year-old was eager to wash the car and be a good helper. As we gathered up the materials and headed out to the driveway, I made a pact with myself that I would not yell. I would not get irritated. I would not get mad.

Washing the car ensued. David, always wanting to be the good helper, asked if he could give the car a pre-wash. I let him. He didn't see me bending down in the front of the car to scrub off the bugs.

I was soaked. But I had not failed at my mission (yet).

We continued to work together. As we were about halfway done with the car, it all started to make sense to me. If I clearly explained my expectations, and if I showed him how I would like the task to be completed, my irritation completely subsided. Those times that he set off on his own without clear direction, I found myself fighting irritation.

David was promised a popsicle for helping. As he was in the house devouring it, I had some quiet time alone with my thoughts. What a great lesson in leadership. Clearly, methodically, intentionally explain your expectations. As leaders, how many times do we do this, assume our people know our thoughts and expectations? I know for me, I continually operate in a presumptive mindset. I assume those around me know my thoughts and my expectations. And, often, when these expectations are not met, I well up with irritation. Yet, the irritation should and will reside with me.

As leaders, we must continually communicate our expectations. Begin with the end in mind; what needs to be communicated? How are you going to communicate? Where are the blind spots in your communication? How will you assess if you have effectively communicated?

The leadership lesson I took away from the car wash was not earth shattering. In fact, one friend I shared this nugget of wisdom with said, "No duh. That's leadership 101." While I do not argue with this statement, there are leadership lessons all around us. We need to be intentional and reflective in our thinking to grasp them. And, most importantly, to to take these learned lessons and implement them.

As you take time to reflect, what might be some dysfunctional family cycles you need to break? As you pinpoint those irritation moments in your life, is it a result of your failed communication plan? What areas of your leadership communication need to improve? As Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, To Thine Own self Be True.

The Effective Presentation

I spent the morning attending a conference. One of the sessions I attended dealt with 'delivering an effective presentation'. As I sat through the presentation, I thought to myself, this is one of the worst presentations I have ever sat through. Dull. Drab. Boring.

Don't get me wrong; the content was spot on. The presenter provided some of the science behind delivering a solid presentation. As well, there were ideas shared on alternatives to the tradition powerpoint. All good stuff. However, it lacked a key, main ingredient: enthusiasm.

It was as if the presenter was going through the motions...delivering the slides- with no emotional connection tied to it.

As I reflected on the session, I drew this conclusion: the most dynamic presentations I have sat through have been delivered by people who passionately believed in their message. And, they left an indelible impression on me- along with other attendees.

I inherently believe if you want to deliver a presentation that people will talk about long after you left the room, put your heart into it. If  you cannot muster the strength to put your heart, soul, and passion into what you are presenting on, go find something else to do with your life. Life is too short to be wasted on going through the motions. If you have to present, present like you want people to walk away from your speech truly changed.

Determining the size of font- and how many words you have on a slide are important. And, if not done well, can be a major distractor. However, if you get the nuts and bolts right- yet lack passion, don't be disappointed when people pull out their phones to check Facebook or Twitter.

Delivering the effective presentation? Simply put: Bring your thunder stick.


“Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.” -D. H. Lawrence  

Leadership and the Path to the Super Bowl

As you may be aware, I am a die hard Pittsburgh fan. I am still reeling from that crushing, devastating, embarrassing loss. After the loss on Sunday, I pretty much vowed I would not watch the Super Bowl.

Until I read this article on the Falcons Head Coach (Falcons Believe in all of Dan Quinn's Corny Sayings...).

I am a leadership junkie. I love to read about leadership in action. This article on Coach Quinn truly embodies leadership.

Leadership is about pulling together a team. The team can be on a field, a court, a classroom, a board room, or an office. It is about gelling together a group of people to unite for a unified cause. Anyone who has ever led knows this is no small feat wrought with obstacles, frustrations, and challenges.

Yet, in spite of the difficulties, the truly great leaders are able to take the focus of the individual and place it on the greater good of the team- and the ultimate mission of the team. When a team truly bonds, and comes together, amazing feats are accomplished.

Many coaches, bosses, managers are able to rattle off certain leadership buzz words they may have read or heard about it; leaders can use the same verbiage, coupled with relationship building, and produce vastly different results. This is what separates leaders from managers.

Coach Quinn embodies what is right with leadership. Unifying a group to accomplish a goal. Leadership at its finest.

It pains me to say it, but Go Falcons. I am a bigger fan of leadership than I am of the Steelers.

"We talk about brotherhood every single day."-Dwight Freeney on Coach Quinn. 

The Path to Success in 2017: Reading.

As the new year dawns, many, including myself are brainstorming areas for improvement in 2017. As I have spent time thinking about areas I would like to grow, I have not given much consideration to how I will get 'there.'

I read a fascinating article yesterday on successful people and their respective reading habits. The article talked about Warren Buffet. WB said he will read for about 80% of his day. Many times during his life, he would read anywhere from 600-1000 pages a day. Similar to Warren Buffet, Bill Gates is an avid reader. He regularly sets a goal to read 50 books a year.

I spent the better part of the day reflecting on this. I have always enjoyed reading. And, I do read everyday. Am I reading enough? In comparison to the aforementioned, no. Not even close. I thoroughly enjoy watching sporting events. I won't think twice about watching the Steeler game for 3 hours at a time. Not sure I remember the last time I read for 3 hours at a time.

Yet, as I think of the areas in my life I want to grow, I wholeheartedly believe reading is an avenue to get there.

So, as you prepare for the start of a new year, I challenge you with this: make growth in your reading habits a priority. Put down social media. Pick up a book - or a magazine. Find something to read that will make you grow. In turn, take time to reflect on how much you have grown- and read.

Here's to a great year of reading and growing...

"Being an avid reader gives you a strategic advantage in life. It improves your thinking, relational skills, and more. But you can leverage that advantage by reading books that stimulate personal improvement."- Michael Hyatt

"You stay teachable most by reading books. By reading what other people went through." 

— Retired Marine General James Mattis

The Right Mindset

I have continually preached this message this year: our job as educators and leaders is to reach EVERY one of our 3,000 students.

We will measure our success by how wildly excited our students are to come to school each day. Is this a lofty dream? I am sure skeptics out there will say I am crazy. They will bombard me with excuses of why we can reach perhaps 80%, but never 100%. Too many variables we cannot control.

Yet- which of those 20% are we willing to discard? How many doors are we willing to knock down to reach each of the 3,000 that have been entrusted to us? How hard are we willing to fight to see each of our students be as committed to learning as we are to teaching?

Rethink education. Find a way to engage ALL students. Continually strive to create an environment rich with passion- with emotion- with zeal. That in the midst of this crazy world we live in - perhaps our students can find a respite in coming to school each day.

I read this quotation tonight- which really prompted my desire to write. If we as a collective profession took on this mindset, we would win this next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers.

Let us fight for our students. If we do, and we remain committed to this fight- regardless of the obstacles we face- we will win.

“I am a soldier.  I fight where I’m told and I win where I fight.“George S. Patton

Calling All Future Teachers!

I read with great heaviness an article this  morning, "Where have all the teachers gone?". In short, the article goes on to explain the shortage of teachers facing Pennsylvania. There was a statistic in the article I found staggering: Pennsylvania issued 25.212 teacher certificates during the 2012-13 school year. That number fell to 8,615 for 2014-15 school year.

I have been following a recent teacher strike in the western part of the state. As I read the article and the subsequent comments below the article, one comment stood out to me. On reader noted, "They should fire all of the teachers (at said striking school district). There are a ton of teachers our there looking for jobs that could  replace these ones." Simply put: this is not true.

Although I believe we have excellent teachers in our current workforce, my fear is for the future. If we keep going at this rate, our candidate pool stands to dwindle considerably. Although I can conjecture as to why the interest has tremendously waned, I would love to hear from would be candidates as to why. If we, as both a commonwealth and nation at large, are to continue to be the best, we must train up our next generation of teachers and leaders. If not, we stand to royally fail our  next generation of students.

I recently had a conversation with an assistant principal. As we discussed his future and the future of  education at large, I asked him what  his greatest fear is in becoming a head principal. His answer shocked me. He stated the thing that gives him the greatest pause is that as the current elder generation of teachers retires, who is going to replace them?

Reading articles and statistics like the aforementioned affirms my fears and concerns of fellow administrators. This trend must be reversed. The central question is: HOW?

I would love to hear your feedback. Or, if you are a college aged student thinking about education as an occupation, what are your thoughts?