Are You an Enlightened Leader?

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9001772.htm

Leaders exist all around us; administrators, teachers, students, parents. They are able to create sparks, challenge thinking, and support others in their passions and fears. But what makes a leader great? Is it the way in which they deal with difficulties? Their ability to persevere in challenging times? The strong bonds and relationships they form with others?

I recently came across an article by Sam LeDeaux that highlights the differences between leaders and managers. It’s clear that leaders are ones who inspire, trust, empower, and reflect. They take on responsibilities, do what’s right, and create a climate of safety and care. All of these things may sound simple to achieve, but are they?

Today, I participated in #satchatwc on twitter, whose focus was on leadership. It was an excellent chat filled with ideas and opinions about what enlightened leadership looks like, and the qualities that a leader has in our modern day. Here’s a brief summary of the ideas shared with my PLN:

Question #1: How have the requirements for leadership changed in our current times? What has changed…what stays the same?

A1 Ed leaders have moved from manager to instructional leader. That takes a different person. The changed role is a good thing! #satchatwc

— Jodi Moskowitz (@JodiMos) March 8, 2014

A1: L's have been asked to transform public education. No more manergial leadership. Transformational leadership is a necessity. #satchatwc

— Sanée Bell, Ed.D. (@SaneeBell) March 8, 2014

A1 Leaders must be very skilled at having fierce, crucial convos. Role is to empower, not dictate #satchatwc

— Lisa Madden (@lisa_madden) March 8, 2014

A1: To foster leadership at schools today requires a climate and culture of collaboration AND comfort sharing decision making #satchatwc

— poida ☯ (@poida) March 8, 2014

A1 Just a teaching is no longer behind closed doors, leadership must be seen & available. No more leading from the ivory tower. #satchatwc

— Gini Pierce-Cummings (@gpiercecummings) March 8, 2014

A1 Leadership today is complex, requires real leadership WITH people. Not management OF people. Not easy thats for sure #satchatwc

— Principal Anderson (@jaysenanderson) March 8, 2014

Question #2: Enlightened leaders aren’t afraid to take risks. What motivates them to do so?

A2: Enlightened leaders do not fear failure. Realize failure is part of growth and improvement. #satchatwc

— Mark Luque (@MarkALuque) March 8, 2014

A2) Leaders r comfortable with their talents & humble in their learning; they understand we must risk failure in order to learn #satchatwc

— Don Eckert (@dayankee) March 8, 2014

A2: You''ll never know where the edge is until you fall off. You have to keep pushing at the edges to become truly great. #satchatwc

— Dave Burgess (@burgessdave) March 8, 2014

Enlightened leaders understand the organization moves and grows from within, not from the top down, and inspire a call to action. #satchatwc

— Mark Luque (@MarkALuque) March 8, 2014

A2: Enlightened leaders need to take risks to be positive change agents & innovative communicators #satchatwc

— JudyArzt, Ph.D. (@JudyArzt) March 8, 2014

A2: If u don't have the vision/courage to move forward, you'll b frozen in time. That means ur Ss will be at a disadvantage too. #satchatwc

— Jeff Percell (@jeffpercell) March 8, 2014

Important for leaders to take risks WITH people – you have to put yourself out there – not just insist that others do. #satchatwc

— Shelley Burgess (@burgess_shelley) March 8, 2014

Question #3: What qualities are necessary for leading in our modern times?

A3) #satchatwc Qualities are ability to listen, practice what you preach, never settle, push yourself, and to be both the eyes & ears for Ts

— Matt Barry (@MrBarry628) March 8, 2014

A3 – flexibility, inquiry, trustworthiness, perseverance, stamina. Leaders must be able to assess, adapt, and reapply learning. #satchatwc

— Jana McEachern (@janamac) March 8, 2014

https://twitter.com/iSuperEit/status/442328119752806400

A3 Growth mindset, listening/hearing skills, collaboration, reflection. #satchatwc

— Wade Stanford (@wadestanford) March 8, 2014

A3-4Cs Communication, Critical Thinking, Collaborations, Creativity #satchatwc

— Michael Ogg (@PrincipalOgg) March 8, 2014

A3 Influence. It's powerful. Knowledge and skills will change, but influence last forever. #satchatwc

— Dale (@dalehancock) March 8, 2014

A3: Trust. Trust us, trust the process, trust the vision, trust in exploring & failing, trust the Ss. #satchatwc

— seenarich (@seenarich) March 8, 2014

A3: Leadership essentials: Zest for knowledge and change, low ego, effective relationship building + capacity 2 lead by example. #satchatwc

— Adrie Garrison (@amshelison) March 8, 2014

Leaders must be able to work w/others to build a vision that intrinsically motivates…so people feel they're part of something. #satchatwc

— David Culberhouse (@DCulberhouse) March 8, 2014

Question #4: How do enlightened leaders motivate other to do new and innovative work?

A4 Be innovative & others will want to as well. Starts from a place of passion. It oozes & people feel that wholeheartedly #satchatwc

— Rafranz (@RafranzDavis) March 8, 2014

A4: By believing in them, encouraging them and challenging them to do things that they don’t think they are capable of! #satchatwc

— Brad McEachern (@bradmceachern) March 8, 2014

A4: Enlightened leaders see potential and greatness in others – even in those who don't see it in themselves #satchatwc

— Shelley Burgess (@burgess_shelley) March 8, 2014

A4: They model what they want others to do. Don’t ask anyone 2 do anything you haven’t done or wouldn’t be willing 2 do yourself. #satchatwc

— Anne Jenks (@Ajay460) March 8, 2014

A4 by believing in people and allowing people to take chances and fail with no consequence. #satchatwc

— Dave Martin (@d_martin05) March 8, 2014

A4 Begins before trying to motivate, has to start with building relatiionships! They wil lfollow if they know you care. #satchatwc

— Wade Stanford (@wadestanford) March 8, 2014

A4. #satchatwc Enlightened leaders help build a track for teachers to run on, then move aside & let them run, supporting & praising.

— Greg Miller (@millerg6) March 8, 2014

Question #5: What actions are leaders taking to motivate creativity and innovations at all levels, from technology to risk taking?

https://twitter.com/iSuperEit/status/442332536157786112

Leaders can't just talk about creativity, innovation…have to actively study what that is, what that means, how do we activate it #satchatwc

— David Culberhouse (@DCulberhouse) March 8, 2014

A5: Rethinking way we roll out initiatives. Starting from the center of org and working way outward. Getting away from top down. #satchatwc

— Mark Luque (@MarkALuque) March 8, 2014

A5: Build trust! You can't have innovation and creativity without risk-taking and you can't have that without trust. #satchatwc

— ☢ Sam Johnston ☢ (@2sjohnston) March 8, 2014

A5: Leaders r recognizing accomplishments of others privately & publicly. They acknowledge success & encourage experimentation. #satchatwc

— Anne Jenks (@Ajay460) March 8, 2014

A5) Build culture of trust or else no innovation/creativity. Next share, build & welcome new resources/ideas. Next allow failure. #satchatwc

— Eric Chagala, EdD (@drchagala) March 8, 2014

A5 Leaders should empower others to follow their passions; be life-long learners; build resource "tool belt"; "Show & Tell" #satchatwc

— Darin Jolly, Ed.D. (@drjolly) March 8, 2014

Question #6: All leaders face challenges. How do enlightened leaders respond to them? What makes their responses different/unique?

A6 – empathy and positive coaching. Teach Ts it's ok to fail, but not to NOT try again. Builds a team/org vision & mentality. #satchatwc

— Jana McEachern (@janamac) March 8, 2014

A6. Enlightened leaders are not defensive or fearful. They are reflective, creative, open. #satchatwc

— Lynne Perednia (@Perednia) March 8, 2014

A6: ELs face challenges head on w a smile! They admit the struggle and have a stretch team to help them! They don't go it alone! #satchatwc

— Bethany Hill🌟#JoyfulLeaders (@bethhill2829) March 8, 2014

A6 They actually seek out and look forward to challenges. They see them as a form of growth and learning #satchatwc

— Bill Schlacht (@BSchlacht) March 8, 2014

A6: Enlightened leaders do not make their challenges everyone's challenges. They see challenges as a way to grow. #satchatwc

— Chris Wehde (@cwehde) March 8, 2014

A6:Are excellent coaches, can step outside of the challenge they face and see all sides; then step back in and continue momentum #satchatwc

— Kirsten Wilson (@teachkiwi) March 8, 2014

https://twitter.com/THEJamesRowland/status/442335751959609344

Clearly, the definition and role of an enlightened leader are something to uphold to. In order to be this kind of leader, you need to possess a variety of skills, which help to create an environment of caring and encouraging within your school. Although to some they may sound unattainable, these kinds of leaders exist all around us. They help us to recognize our skills and passions, embrace risks and failures, and provide positive feedback and learning opportunities. They build strong, trusting relationships with their colleagues, and encourage collaboration. They are all around us. Are you one of them?

One thought on “Are You an Enlightened Leader?”

Wade Stanford (@wadestanford) says:

March 8, 2014 at 3:00 pm

Erin,
Great post!! You really understand what it takes to be an enlightened leader and understand that everybody is a leader. Continue to make a positive difference in the greatest occupation in the world!!

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