Reset
It's been awhile since I've posted here, and I'm not sure why. I've had lots of thoughts and ideas that are worth sharing, but it's just been a bit off my radar. The irony is that during this time I've been pushing others to publish and to put their thoughts out there. The time has come for me to lead by example again!
Much has changed for me professionally, I now serve as the Assistant Head of School for Bridgton Academy and with that I've moved back into more of a leadership role. This opportunity came at a good time, I was wrapping up my 30's as the appointment was announced, I had spent the previous decade and a half developing my strategic and analytical thinking skills, I had been in my previous position for five years and I was feeling the itch to do something new. All that said I was also very comfortable in my previous chair, I had my 10,000 hours well tucked away and my comfort with the world of marketing enabled me to have the confidence to feel very on top of my game. My how this past year has changed that feeling!
I now lead an incredibly talented and diverse group of people that make Bridgton Academy what it is on a daily basis. From teachers and coaches, to maintenance personnel, to dorm staff, to administrators, to Board members, to alumni, to parents, and of course students- I have the opportunity to work beside them and encourage them to all pull in the same direction. While I've held several jobs in the past that required me to lead a team, none of them were of the size or variety of talent that this crew has. In addition, we are a school- and with that comes a fierce sense of pride and excitement as it relates to working with students and working towards a mission.
What this has required from me has been a very humbling experience.
A few things I've learned in the past year:
I don't listen as well as I thought I did, and listening really is as important as everyone says. Need to work on that.
I don't communicate as well as I thought I did, and communication really is as important as everyone says. Need to work on that.
Collaboration and brow beating are two very different things and they have very different outcomes. Collaboration is the way to go- but it requires listening and communication.
While being the smartest person in the room can be fun, it usually means your the only one in the room and that means you can't collaborate.
Clarity and focus are important, and just because you have clarity and focus doesn't mean you've communicated that clarity and focus to others.
Aggressive patience is a needed oxymoron.
Ideas are rarely the issue- how to execute good ideas is.
Having opposing viewpoint is needed, it can be maddening, but it is needed- and it makes you a better leader.
Providing usable feedback in a timely manner to your team members, even when it feels like you are delivering bad news, is critical. It's not always easy, it's not always comfortable- but it has to happen. But do it with tact, empathy, and if possible a bit of style.
That's a good starting point. It's been an amazing year, and while I've worked (hours wise) a solid 25% of my needed 10,000 hours, I realize that only a portion of that time has been devoted to becoming a good leader. So I know I've got a long way to go. The exciting part, it's a worth while journey.
Much has changed for me professionally, I now serve as the Assistant Head of School for Bridgton Academy and with that I've moved back into more of a leadership role. This opportunity came at a good time, I was wrapping up my 30's as the appointment was announced, I had spent the previous decade and a half developing my strategic and analytical thinking skills, I had been in my previous position for five years and I was feeling the itch to do something new. All that said I was also very comfortable in my previous chair, I had my 10,000 hours well tucked away and my comfort with the world of marketing enabled me to have the confidence to feel very on top of my game. My how this past year has changed that feeling!
I now lead an incredibly talented and diverse group of people that make Bridgton Academy what it is on a daily basis. From teachers and coaches, to maintenance personnel, to dorm staff, to administrators, to Board members, to alumni, to parents, and of course students- I have the opportunity to work beside them and encourage them to all pull in the same direction. While I've held several jobs in the past that required me to lead a team, none of them were of the size or variety of talent that this crew has. In addition, we are a school- and with that comes a fierce sense of pride and excitement as it relates to working with students and working towards a mission.
What this has required from me has been a very humbling experience.
A few things I've learned in the past year:
I don't listen as well as I thought I did, and listening really is as important as everyone says. Need to work on that.
I don't communicate as well as I thought I did, and communication really is as important as everyone says. Need to work on that.
Collaboration and brow beating are two very different things and they have very different outcomes. Collaboration is the way to go- but it requires listening and communication.
While being the smartest person in the room can be fun, it usually means your the only one in the room and that means you can't collaborate.
Clarity and focus are important, and just because you have clarity and focus doesn't mean you've communicated that clarity and focus to others.
Aggressive patience is a needed oxymoron.
Ideas are rarely the issue- how to execute good ideas is.
Having opposing viewpoint is needed, it can be maddening, but it is needed- and it makes you a better leader.
Providing usable feedback in a timely manner to your team members, even when it feels like you are delivering bad news, is critical. It's not always easy, it's not always comfortable- but it has to happen. But do it with tact, empathy, and if possible a bit of style.
That's a good starting point. It's been an amazing year, and while I've worked (hours wise) a solid 25% of my needed 10,000 hours, I realize that only a portion of that time has been devoted to becoming a good leader. So I know I've got a long way to go. The exciting part, it's a worth while journey.
posted by Sven at 3:48 AM
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