The Secret: Take a Look Around

Last week with encouragement and support I uploaded my first blog post to focus on my passion for transformational leadership. I committed, regardless of the response, to do it for a year. I didn't expect much except a cathartic way to share my deep thoughts and feelings about bold leadership and education reform.

What happened though, was astounding. I received an outpouring of messages from people at all stages of my life and educational career. People who had inspired me to search further inside myself and my leadership for them, for our kids, for our mission. Reflecting on these messages and the people who have been an influential part of my journey, it hit me.

THE SECRET. The secret to success we are all searching for. For me, this secret is as simple as taking a look around you. It’s about the PEOPLE, it’s about the STUDENTS. The secret to success and building a high functioning organization is a mutual respect and care from the people within.

When you boil it down, it is actually pretty simple. It's about investing in people and building relationships and bonds that withstand any hardship and motivate us to do more, be more, reach more.

As the leader of a building, the success we have is not about me. It's about all of the people around me.

Your greatest asset are the PEOPLE around you. Here are a few practical tips to building a people first culture:

• Invest in People: This takes time. It takes purposeful time working to connect with people in your organization. Get to know the People around you and their story. The decisions leaders make impact all members of an organization. When you invest in people you understand the scope of your influence. Reflect often how well you are supporting and investing in the people around you and the feelings will be reciprocated.

• Build Collective Values: Strong guiding principals are a necessity for any people first organization. These values should be inclusive of all beliefs and open for opposing viewpoints. Help cultivate an organization that has a sense of belonging for all members. When everyone has a voice you create a safe environment for people to take risks and share innovative ideas.

• Focus on Transparency in Communication: Explicitly share priorities that will support the advancement of the organization. Strong cultures with clear values confront organizational inequities and focus on their vision. People want to know what to expect and observe actions that directly align with system priorities. Transparency in communication helps break down any barriers that don't allow easy access to information and keeps the focus on the mission and values within an organization.

• Recognition of People: Celebrate the people within your organization. Celebrate the small wins and continuous effort often. This allows people to see how their work benefits others and the organization. Personal growth is cultivated and motivated through continuous recognition. This doesn't have to costs money. Some of the best ways to acknowledge and celebrate people are through personal conversations or a simple note.

• Empowerment: People first organizations build capacity and allow for members of an organization to make decisions and act on ideas that advance the vision. The people within the organization have the best ideas for improvement and potential breakthroughs. Listen, evolve, try to new things alongside the people within.

Investing in the people around you is the secret to building a high functioning organization. That's what makes the work in business and life worthwhile.

It’s not always about the destination, it's about the journey. I wouldn't be here today without those who have been alongside me. The triumphs and tragedies, the wins and losses all happen to us together.

So next time you're thinking about how to transform your organization or enrich your life...take a look around you and inside of you. The answer is right there. Your greatest asset in business and in life are the people in it.