Blog

Last weekend, I was invited by Native Innovation Inc. to speak and present at their annual conference in Flagstaff, Arizona. During my "Clean you Dishes" workshops I worked with attendees (educators) to brainstorm the actions a positive and productive leader should display. Below is the list of ideas we came produced.

#1 Show Genuine Interest

• When you are leading and working with people you need to find out about them.

• See how they can contribute to the organization

• Know more than their first and last name

• Warm Greeting

• Compliments

• Get to know them

• Make conversations about them and not you

• Converse and talk with people

• Ask about the clans

• Ask questions

• Listen with your eyes while talking to people (don’t be distracted/focus on them)

• Share and break down barriers.

• Engage people by learning about their interests

• Acknowledge people everyday

• Say hello first thing in the morning

• Give away Free Stuff. Example school spirit items

• Introduce new people at meetings and to co-workers

• Make time to understand people. Be patient and listen

• Learn and experience their culture and traditions

#2 Be Visible

• Leaders need to be visible

• Bring visible helps people gain respect for leaders

• Greeting people - build connections

• Positive Feedback

• Have daily interaction with staff and students

• Acknowledgement that is positive. Both verbal and nonverbal

• Be visible outside of normal duties. Lend a helping hand.

• Need to connect and engage people before getting down to the “nitty gritty”

• Be a role model and show up to the activities you request people show up to.

• People have to know who you are

• Participate in work activities

• Be open to questions (Have a day where employees can ask you questions about anything...personal questions and work questions)

• Be willing to learn

#3 Be a Teacher

• You teach through body language and actions, not just your words

• Leaders should be helpful and make learning experiences for their staff

• Teach teachers about classroom management

• Give teachers opportunities to practice

• Offer encouragement during tough times

• Teach paperwork and procedures

• Teach software and technology

• Be a teacher not a Boss

• Teach proper student discipline

• Ask people if they need any help

• Talk with them not at them. Work to bring people together

• Be open minded

• Learn to change up your role

• Learn to apologize and reteach if necessary

• Teach goal setting and expectations. Get everyone oriented.

#4 Delegate

• Good Leaders know the strengths of their staff

• Don’t delegate everything. Coach and Empower.

• Delegate with guidance

• Be meaningful with your delegation

• Don’t blame if delegation doesn’t work and take credit if it does

• Identify a person’s strengths before delegating

• Know and trust their people. This makes a person delegated to know their worth.

• Leaders want their people to grow during the delegation process

• They’s plenty of help all around. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or volunteers

#5 Do the Sugar Honey Ice Tea Jobs!

• Leaders have to be willing to do the dirty work to gain respect of the people they lead.

• Officiate school sports events

• Substitute in the classroom

• Lunch Duty

• Morning Duty

• Make everyone accountable

• Schedule Sugar Honey Ice Tea time into their daily schedule

• Cafeteria Duty

• Recess Duty

• Making Bulletin Boards

• Work with Custodians

• Drive a bus

• Work with the staff side by side to “see” what’s really going on

#6 Be Honest

• Good Leaders don’t beat around the bush

• Be honest about the budget and decision making

• Honesty goes with communication. The more you hide, the less respect you get from the people you lead

• Honest leads to trust

• Share openly

• Be honest with evaluations

• Be honest with the school board. Tell the truth and don’t sugar coat things

• Be transparent

• Express your goals and expectations

#7 Reward

• Good Leaders are sincere

• Rewards need to be given in a timely manner

• Don’t be quick to citiize and slow to acknowledge/reward

• Since Acknowledgment throughout the day and year

• Give credit where it is due

• Acknowledgment reinforces intrinsic (internal) value

• Special/Personal thank yous from PTA

• Lunch for the staff. Appreciation meal

• Stickers

• Thank you cards

• Food

• Birthday Cards

• “You’re doing a nice job”