Echoes of Easter
I have been blessed by moments of pause and reflection, ‘I wonder’ opportunities, as I have read Jim McKenzie’s devotionals during this past season of Lent and in particular throughout Holy Week.
Who Is On Your Team?
By George Petrusma | September 16th
Do you ever feel like an imposter?
I’m picturing you on the “stage” of your school, strolling through the halls with all things under control. I’m imagining you answering questions with confidence, but in your gut, you question your own words and advice. You may even wake up some days and ask yourself, “How did I get here?”
Recently I laughed when someone suggested I was good at many things in my leadership role. After trying to convince the other person of my flaws, I thought about why someone may have that impression. Sometimes, it’s only the public product that people notice. But that product isn’t the exclusive responsibility of the leader. The real story involves the team.
Gone are the days of a leader knowing all things, being the smartest person in the building, and using those realities to convince people to follow.
“What is more important than a well-rounded leader is a well-rounded team,” one of our John Knox Christian School vice-principals said recently. Our other vice-principal joined in. “It’s about having the eyes to see—to see potential in people and to see trends.”
Paul wrote about the functioning of the body within the Christian community:
... But God has put together all the parts of the body. And he has given more honour to the parts that didn’t have any. In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy. You are the body of Christ. Each one of you is a part of it.
(The Message, 1 Corinthians 24-27).
Your school is no different.
Do you empower the others in your building? Do you allow others to make decisions? Do you ever feel there may be others on staff who are better than you are? Are you drawing up leadership in your school? Do you hire life-long learners? Do you hire for leadership?
Developing a well-rounded team takes time and effort. Keep in mind these suggestions while developing your team:
- Hire well. Look for an optimistic, energetic, creative person who is socially aware and can communicate well.
- Look for previous leadership experiences which help fill in some of your gaps. Define the values you want to see in your employees. Hire people who are more talented than you are.
- Develop promising staff members to join you on your leadership team and journey.
- Involve your potential leaders at Edvance leadership events like the 2019 Autumn Christian School Leadership Retreat (and maybe even a cohort meeting) to give them a regular inside look into the world of leadership.
- Take your identified potential leaders to the Global Leadership Summit. (Visit globalleadershipnetwork.ca to find the closest satellite feed to your school!)
- Allow potential leaders to make thoughtful, rational decisions in the daily ebbs and flows of your school. Support them in those decisions.
So who is on your team and who should be on your team? As you begin this school year, be sure to take Paul’s words to heart and realize that you are better together. The Lord bless you as you give leadership to building your team of leaders.