Comments on: Leadership Meme

By: Stephen

Stephen — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 02:39:21 +0000

Hey Rick…sorry I haven’t done this yet. It’s on my list!!

By: Tagged » Life In The Fast Lane

Tagged » Life In The Fast Lane — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 03:18:55 +0000

[...] I am flattered to have been tagged by Rick Schrieber for a Leadership Meme - “What are seven qualities we don’t know about you that help you be a leader?“ [...]

By: Steve Sokoloski

Steve Sokoloski — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 03:17:20 +0000

I am flattered to have been tagged by Rick Schrieber for a Leadership Meme - “What are seven qualities we don’t know about you that help you be a leader?“ And Rick sorry for the delay in posting, it was a busy week and I did not catch it until the weekend.

I do not know about this. There are clearly days when I do not think that I lead much, or lead well, but here goes:

1. The Ability to Think Ahead: It is important to me to understand what might be coming around the next corner, get there first, try to understand it and help people get there.

2. The Ability to Plan Well: Change comes. Trying to make change happen in meaningful supported chunks requires a plan that is visible, logical, and sustatined. Small chunks over time are better than big splashes.

3. I Try Not to Chase: I have been in teaching for 26 years. It is sometimes hard to cut through the clutter and the pendulum swings in our field. And some of it comes around and around in different clothes. I go back to the point where Seymour Paperet said that Logo would change the world and we had little kids crawling around the classroom floor with green tablecloths on their back pretending to be Turtles. And, it was interesting to see Negroponte couch his One Laptop Per Child rationale in Paperet’s thinking. It is hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. Sometimes a leader’s job is to find the really important nuggets, and know when they have, but it is hard.

4. I Try To Be Supportive of People Where They Are: Not everyone you lead will be a high flyer. Not everyone you lead will be the best in the brightest. Sometimes you need to figure out where they are, and what for them is the next step. Make that next step easy, but help them take it.

5. Kids First, Always(1): When faced with conflicting decisions and options you will never go wrong if the analysis is what’s best for the kids, or in the worst cases what has the least impact on kids.

6. Kids First Always (2): Never forget your smile and good morning may be the beginning of the only part of that child’s day that is predictable, safe, and supportive.

7. Understand and Know Your Community: You are a part of the fabric that binds and sustains your community. Know your kids, know their families. A principal I admire makes it a point to know every child, and every parent by their first name. He can engage every single one of his parents with something he knows about their life their family. He creates community by understanding community. Also, what goes in the community I work in, won’t work in the town I live in or vice versa.

By: Leadership Tag: Thoughts On Teaching

Leadership Tag: Thoughts On Teaching — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:14:51 +0000

[...] After just about 2 years of blogging, I finally got hit with a meme. Rick Scheibner threw this my way: “What are seven qualities we don’t know about you that help you be a leader?” Yikes… Those that actually know me, if I’m full of it, call me on it. I’d do the same to you. I’ll probably want to change this as soon as I click “Publish,” but here goes: [...]

By: Rick

Rick — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:39:35 +0000

Glad this was so well received. I look forward to reading all of yours!

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 06:10:18 +0000

This is my first tag. I’ve looked on at memes in envy for too long. Now, I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I’ll have to get rolling on this. Thanks, Rick.

By: brian saxton

brian saxton — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 05:12:29 +0000

Rick,
In all my hurry I forgot to tell you thanks for tagging me. As Randy stated, I too feel part of the community. I am excited to give my 7. Unfortunatley Edublogs is down so hopefully tomorrow.

Brian

By: Teaching Better With Web 2.0 » Tagged! Leadership Meme

Teaching Better With Web 2.0 » Tagged! Leadership Meme — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:25:01 +0000

[...] I’ve been tagged, at last–now I feel like a real part of a community! Rich Scheibner tagged me as part of the Leadership Meme. The discussion topic is “What are seven qualities we don’t know about you that help you be a leader?” Self-assessment–scary! Let’s see… [...]

By: Randy Rodgers

Randy Rodgers — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:07:21 +0000

My first tag! I’m in Miguel’s session this afternoon at TCEA, so I’ll have to be sure to bring this up! I’ll work on mine.

By: brian saxton

brian saxton — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 05:51:20 +0000

Rick,
I was perusing your 7 and it appears you are going to graduate at the head of your class. You seem to have hit on 7 important points that are keys to being a quality administrator.

I particularly enjoy #7: Balance: I think that this is something many adminstrators lose sight of. #2 Communication: Very important to be able to present those brutal facts in a non threatining way. and lastly #5 Equality: Making sure everyone knows they are all of equal value will carry you a long way in adminstration.
Great Job!!
Brian Saxton