I’m searching for ways to expand my leadership skills. For the past year, I have been completing my Educational Leadership Degree. It has inspired me to shift my content toward leadership and performance. I have a unique opportunity to use my platform to educate students inside and outside the classroom. While I teach high school physical education, I can also teach students who seek to expand their leadership capabilities through postsecondary education. The many Youniversalife Platforms provide content for effective leadership development and teach others why leadership skills are important.
Many teachers and coaches possess fantastic leadership skills. I work with many talented and influential leaders who inspire and direct teenagers daily. When you teach a room of 30 high schoolers, your leadership skills better be on point. The most effective teachers who inspire learning can implement routines and establish excellent communication with their students. Ineffective teachers lack these two critical components. Quality educators understand the power of influence.
Leadership is Influence
Influence is the capacity to have a lasting impact on behavior, character, and development. Many types of influence exist in our lives.
- Relationship builders
- Storytellers
- Comics
- Commanding presence / Confidence
- Good looks
- Mesmerizing voice / articulate
- Great listeners
- The Gritty and Determined
- The Fit
- The Educated
Jimmy Casas supports the idea that teachers are highly effective leaders. In his book “Culturize” he explains that teachers are well-versed and hold 100 daily interactions. With each conversation, teachers can have an influential impact that leads students in one way or the other. Teacher leaders are consciously encouraging others for the good. Their words hold tremendous weight and can ultimately culturize the educational space, homes, and community.
Most people who are not in the education profession would marvel at the number of interactions & conversations school teachers and leaders have on a daily basis.
Jimmy Casas
How do we utilize those with influence?
In his book Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell identifies “Connectors” as people who can spread information at scale. They are individuals who possess a vast network of social connections. Connectors have a unique ability to connect people across various social groups. They form bridges to different social circles when spreading information, trends, and ideas. These individuals have a broad network of acquaintances, which includes people they may not know well but who connect to different social clusters.
Connecting
Leaders can use Connectors to their advantage. Identify these people within the organization who have influence and vast social circles. Build relationships with them and give ownership to essential areas of influence. Meet with them regularly to communicate information that needs diffusing. This starts with sharing the mission and vision. They must believe in these foundational elements and show value to those around them.
In an educational setting, leadership can identify teachers and students who are Connectors. There may be a veteran professional teacher who colleagues and students admire. They are known for their ability to build and maintain relationships. They are empathetic and often go out of their way to meet the needs of others. Student Connectors may be involved with several extracurriculars that surround them with many participants. They have a pulse on cultural trends and easily navigate social circles. Teachers and students often admire these students for their work ethic and ability to produce in and outside of the classroom.
Connectors tend to exhibit a growth mindset. They understand the value of relationships and how interactions teach them skills that are applied to multiple applications of their life. The Harvard Business Review has a collection of precious leadership articles. Carol Dwek, an American psychologist, writes about having a growth mindset and what it means. Her research found that those with a growth mindset believe their talents can be developed. They tend to accomplish far more than those with a fixed mindset, which is the belief that gifts are innate.
To Be Continued
In Part 2 of this two-part blog post, I will expand on how leadership can be developed through a “Growth Mindset.” In the meantime, head to the Youniversalife Archive and discover additional leadership content.
Like always, “Keep Moving Forward!”
