Leading Through Challenging Times

‘Challenge is the Crucible for Greatness’ Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner write in their ageless book The Truth About Leadership.

Leaders are no stranger to adversity. For some, it’s the single most important reason they get into leadership in the first place. As Kouzes and Posner examine and highlight, challenge provides us the opportunity for leadership.

The truth is we’ve led through many complexities navigating education in a world living through a pandemic. Many times throughout the last two years I thought ‘this is the most complex and challenging part’, but alas the 2021-2022 school year, for many of us, is proving to be the most challenging part of this pandemic.

This year is where our pre-covid education and mid-covid education worlds collide. We are working normal schedules and normal expectations, yet nothing is quite normal as we contact trace, quarantine and manage the many additional responsibilities and emotions that go along with living through a pandemic.

No matter how many insurmountable challenges educators face, we CAN lead through these hard times and ensure our community comes together and hears our message. Regardless of our circumstance we have hundreds and sometimes thousands of students waiting to hear our message, our teachers hear our message! As Kouzes and Posner write, greatness can be upon us if we stay the course.

We're all in this together and I've found Three actions for leaders to help get through challenging times:

• Reflect: Remember your WHY. Visit people and places in your school and community that reminds you why you do that you do. For me, it is when I am present with our students. Nothing can turn a tough day around more than spending authentic moments with children. You can also find purpose talking with school staff. They find ways to see your courage and inspiration amid challenges.

• Communicate: Tell your story. One of the most important roles of a leader is to see the big picture. Part of this is reminding yourself AND your group of your mission and importance. Even through very challenging times, if leaders take the opportunity to communicate their story of overcoming obstacles and celebrating the small wins toward the mission can cultivate powerful moments of collective efficacy!

• Appreciate: You CAN NOT do it alone. Do you hear me? Build a team. Build leadership capacity around you. You are better for a diverse set of ideas and groups in leadership. When you continuously tell your story and remind everyone of the mission, the team often moves in the same direction together. People who know their role in the organization and feel appreciated and valued are often inspired to be more and do more.

I am a part of a Facebook group Principals Principles and I’ve found day after day on this forum it is clear we are all leading through many of the same challenging circumstances. We CAN turn these challenges into unprecedented opportunities with purposeful leadership!

Just like groups in history that have persevered through challenging times, your school community has the opportunity to gain strength and purpose. Use that momentum to propel your classroom, school or district to the next level.

One day, when we look back on the horizon of these unprecedented times, we will be able to say ‘I’ve served among hero’s’ and we’ll be better for our leadership!

Oh and also….If you see a teacher, administrator or support professional, be sure to thank them. It’s tough out there!