This morning during a crisp winter walk, I reflected on the importance of leadership, especially during this most troubling time. Leadership has been front and center throughout this pandemic and the influence of leaders has been essential in the education world. System and school leadership has been remarkable over this time and has demonstrated the deep talent that exists in our schools and districts here in Canada. I know that all principals or superintendents are not perfect (yes there are bad ones out there) but I’ll guarantee the percentage of poor politicians far exceeds that of poor administrators!
Educational leadership has come a long way since I was in school or began my own teaching career in 1985. At one time, many leaders were chosen out of the physical education ranks and tended to be successful coaches and most were male! It was about rank and privilege rather than what leadership is all about…responsibility! Often, these individuals could motivate their players through fear and motivation with good results and sometimes they employed those same tactics on the adults in the building. Unfortunately, the result for the adults, similar to that of an autocratic teacher, was compliance over commitment. Leaders today still need to motivate but more importantly, they need to inspire the adults in the building and that can’t be done through intimidation.
I’m not suggesting that every “jock” led or leads like this but it was more common than not in the past. In fact, some of my best leaders and closest allies in my administration career were former coaches who were able to lead and serve rather than manage and demand. But also, some of the best leaders that I worked with were “non-jock” women! I will always be forever grateful to my first principal in High Prairie, Dorothy Cowell, who taught me about servant leadership. She did it better than anybody else!
In systems where female leadership is more prominent, leadership tends to be more collaborative, more compassionate and more relational while still obtaining excellent results. While I believe that female leaders in many circumstances need to fight harder to be recognized, their motivation to success is far more related to responsibility than rank and privilege. In my tenure as superintendent, three of four members of my senior education were female and much of the credit for my success and the success of the entire division rests with them. Maybe even more than a responsibility, they saw leadership as a calling, without ego and with great humility.
I think the above quote hits the leadership nail square of the head. True leaders see their role as one of service rather than of one to be served. It is certainly not for the faint of heart or for the selfish in being. It requires a tough skin without losing a compassionate heart. And, given that it has such a potential impact on others, it must always be considered a privilege.
The leaders we need now, regardless of the realm they lead, need to believe in responsibility. While the situation may not be their fault, it is and always will be their responsibility. That’s what leaders do…take responsibility! They have been placed or elected into roles of great service not self serving. Decisions made, even the toughest ones, need to be made with compassion and seldom are those decisions enacted without reviewing collaboratively with a team, ALL of the OPTIONS and POTENTIAL OUTCOMES! It is not easy, it shouldn’t be easy because it is leadership!
