Your Staff's Work = Your Leadership

What does your staff's work tell you about your leadership?

At a recent conference, one of the speakers posed this question: What does your staff's work tell you about your leadership?  It's a great question and needs to be shared.

As leaders, it is easy to look at the work of others - our staff - and feel any of a number of things.  These could easily include pride, anger, admiration, frustration, respect, ...and the list goes on.  However, when we feel these things, do we link the feelings back to our own leadership?  If we feel pride, admiration, or respect, do we think about what our leadership practices are that would support a member of staff to be successful?  Equally, if we feel anger, frustration, or other negative emotions, do we look in the mirror for answers?  If a member of staff is not doing a great job, what is our role as leader in supporting that person to improve? 

As you wander through your school/organization and you feel different things, take a moment to consider what your role is in each individual's success or struggle.  As leader, you have responsibility for the well-being of the the organization, the individuals in it, and the results.  Shift some of your thinking to yourself and your own practice and see what you come up with.