Paul, my awesome son, lately turned 12 years old! That's right... it has been precisely 12 years since that showtime fourth dimension I held him inwards my arms together with straight off less than i twelvemonth until he is officially a teenager... UGH! While the mental attitude together with sassiness associated amongst these teen years is consistently rearing its ugly head, he is withal a origin of inspiration, joy together with fulfillment for me. Paul changed my globe inwards an 2nd - he defined unconditional dearest for me together with taught me what it feels similar to hold out willing to give your life for someone else. It is hard to believe that this hysterical, potent minded together with courageous boyfriend weighed less than 7 lbs at birth. But, hither he is, inwards the middle of 7th flat together with non a twenty-four hours goes past times when I am non inwards awe of him. Paul was born amongst some important medical issues (wrote well-nigh them here) yet he has persevered together with stayed positive no affair what was going on to a greater extent than or less him. He has his ain passions together with interests, his ain circle of friends together with his ain potent laid of beliefs... he thinks memes are the hold out all together with halt all, he thinks Snapchat is the best social media platform together with he would prefer if schoolhouse were iii days a calendar week spell the weekend ended upwards existence v days long... yes, he is a typical adolescent inwards together with then many ways. He is also my mini-me together with partner inwards offense - in that location is nix I bask to a greater extent than than spending fourth dimension amongst Paul!
What Paul Has Taught Me
Aside from the obvious life lessons Paul has taught me, he has also taught me a lot well-nigh learning, teaching, the globe of didactics together with leadership. While in conclusion twelvemonth I wrote well-nigh the xi things Paul taught me well-nigh school, this twelvemonth I possess got been thinking well-nigh the leadership lessons I possess got learned from Paul. Even though in that location are many lessons - literally dozens - that I possess got learned from Paul, inwards accolade of his recent birthday, I wanted to portion 12 of the leadership lessons that possess got genuinely resonated amongst me. You see, in many ways, parenting together with leadership are incredibly similar because ultimately our words, actions together with decisions (as parents together with leaders) volition possess got a straight comport on on those to a greater extent than or less us together with that is an awesome responsibility.
12 Leadership Lessons
1) My students deserve to hold out treated similar my ain kids. Since Paul was born, my ultimate goal was to practise the school/classroom/district that I would desire for Paul; a house that I would hold out proud to mail Paul. It is genuinely uncomplicated but together with then of import - if I reckon my students through the same lens I reckon my ain child, my goals move past times clear together with I am no longer seeing my students equally "their" children or "those" children but instead equally MY/OUR children.
What Paul Has Taught Me
Aside from the obvious life lessons Paul has taught me, he has also taught me a lot well-nigh learning, teaching, the globe of didactics together with leadership. While in conclusion twelvemonth I wrote well-nigh the xi things Paul taught me well-nigh school, this twelvemonth I possess got been thinking well-nigh the leadership lessons I possess got learned from Paul. Even though in that location are many lessons - literally dozens - that I possess got learned from Paul, inwards accolade of his recent birthday, I wanted to portion 12 of the leadership lessons that possess got genuinely resonated amongst me. You see, in many ways, parenting together with leadership are incredibly similar because ultimately our words, actions together with decisions (as parents together with leaders) volition possess got a straight comport on on those to a greater extent than or less us together with that is an awesome responsibility.
12 Leadership Lessons
1) My students deserve to hold out treated similar my ain kids. Since Paul was born, my ultimate goal was to practise the school/classroom/district that I would desire for Paul; a house that I would hold out proud to mail Paul. It is genuinely uncomplicated but together with then of import - if I reckon my students through the same lens I reckon my ain child, my goals move past times clear together with I am no longer seeing my students equally "their" children or "those" children but instead equally MY/OUR children.
2) We must hold out mindful of every word, activity together with conclusion because it volition comport on those to a greater extent than or less us. What I possess got come upwards to empathise inwards my electrical flow seat equally an Assistant Superintendent, where I am withal novel together with edifice trust together with relationships, is that intent doesn't ever check impact. So, spell my intentions may hold out completely positive, the comport on on those to a greater extent than or less me may genuinely non hold out together with then positive together with that could hold out problematic. Thus earlier taking whatever action, making whatever decisions or maxim anything that could comport on many, I must consider the outcomes. This is truthful of every interaction I possess got amongst Paul together with trust me, I possess got learned from my many mistakes!
3) Leaders must brand fourth dimension for some fun too! While I desire our students to read, write together with hold out informed work solvers (much similar I desire Paul to written report hard together with swallow his veggies), in that location must also hold out fourth dimension for movement, fun together with socialization. As a leader, I volition brand certain that activities such equally physical didactics together with respite are sacred because our students demand those times to displace together with possess got some fun. To that end, I possess got also made certain to carve out some fun fourth dimension for myself together with then I could re-energize together with spell that mightiness involve a expert book, some reality TV or joining kids at recess, the halt final result is clear - leaders demand to possess got some fun too.
4) As a leader, I possess got to portion responsibleness equally a means to empower those to a greater extent than or less me. As Paul has gotten older he has pushed (more similar pulled away) for to a greater extent than independence together with the chance to brand his ain decisions. While his choices aren't ever the ones I would possess got chosen, I recognize that I must give him the infinite to acquire from his mistakes. As an educational leader, I must practise the same together with consider ways to portion responsibleness amongst the other educators inwards our district, our students together with our families. I cannot brand decisions inwards a silo; instead, distributive together with collaborative leadership allow me to deliberate ideas, broaden my indicate of view together with brand to a greater extent than informed decisions... together with hopefully amend decisions.
5) In the end, in that location are times when a conclusion has to hold out made past times the leader! Even though Paul to a greater extent than ofttimes than non hates existence told what to practise together with when, in that location are times that his advantage indicate is express together with thence he relies on his parents to brand a to a greater extent than informed conclusion for him (for example, fifty-fifty though he didn't desire to hold out moved to the honors shape a calendar month into the schoolhouse year, nosotros knew it was best for him together with guided him inwards that direction). This is truthful for me equally an educational leader besides because I possess got a broader together with to a greater extent than global perspective together with thence decisions ofttimes require my advantage point. Although multiple perspectives may hold out considered, the responsibleness of the concluding conclusion lies amongst me together with sometimes that is totally fine.
6) As a leader I possess got to hold out amend at listening than speaking. Yes, potent populace speaking (at a faculty meeting, a PD session, at a Board Meeting, etc.) is important, but inwards the halt people demand to hold out heard. Yes, Paul does demand my advice together with guidance at times but in that location are other times that my powerfulness to just sit down dorsum together with hear is to a greater extent than valuable to him than anything I could say. By listening to Paul, I am allowing him the chance to procedure his thoughts aloud together with I am learning together with then much well-nigh where he is together with what he is feeling. The powerfulness to hear - genuinely hear what others are maxim - is crucial inwards my role equally educational leader besides because non solely practise I aid others empathise that their opinions/perspectives are valuable but I am learning a lot together with informing my ain perspective. The powerfulness to hear is also the key to edifice sustainable relationships.
7) Leaders must hold out responsive, non reactive. There are times when I am stressed or frustrated (or just tired) together with Paul says or does something that sets me off together with I totally react... inwards fact, I probable overreact. In the halt though, Paul would practise goodness a lot to a greater extent than from my responsiveness than my reactiveness. The same is truthful for my operate equally an educational leader - our community needs me to hold out responsive but non reactive. As a responsive leader I response to the needs of those to a greater extent than or less me past times gathering equally much data equally possible, past times considering all the consequences of my actions together with past times best coming together the needs of our community - peculiarly our students.
8) We must value the procedure to a greater extent than than the product. This is something I possess got to constantly remind myself of when I am watching Paul practise his HW. There are together with then many times I desire to swoop inwards together with brand a correction or advise a dissimilar give-and-take or strategy but inwards the end, I know I possess got to permit him move past times through the learning procedure because that would hold out to a greater extent than meaningful than me "fixing" something for him. The same is truthful for me equally an educational leader. I don't aspect for perfection when I am inwards schools or classrooms - learning together with teaching should hold out messy, engaging together with failure should hold out an acceptable norm inside the process. Learning together with teaching is ever well-nigh the procedure - non the production because I to a greater extent than ofttimes than non attention to a greater extent than well-nigh the journeying than the destination.
9) Be transparent because honesty allows everyone to a greater extent than or less me to empathise the "whys" together with "hows" of my decisions, actions together with words. The most hard fourth dimension inwards my life was coming to damage amongst my sexuality together with although most people discouraged me from sharing my reality amongst Paul, I knew I had to because I needed to hold out honest amongst him. What happened when I told him? He hugged me, told me he loved me together with said he understood that I would dearest a man. Done. No drama, no story to spin together with no prevarication to retrieve - existence transparent amongst my boy was the best conclusion I ever made. The same is truthful inwards my operate equally an educational leader where existence transparent amongst kids, staff together with families has helped me earn trust together with construct social uppercase together with those tin hold out game changers inwards leadership.
10) Lead amongst pump - it is a uncomplicated dominion but in all probability the most of import i for me. As a dad Paul knows that no affair what conversation nosotros are having or province of affairs nosotros are dealing with, my dearest for him is at the inwardness together with because of that love, inwards the end, nosotros volition figure it all out. The same is truthful inwards my operate equally a leader - my pump guides many of my decisions because I am driven to practise what is inwards the best involvement of our students, teachers together with our entire community. Yes, I possess got to hold out rationale together with logical equally a leader but inwards the end, it is my powerfulness to Pb from my pump (with passion together with pride) that has helped me hold out successful inwards diverse leadership positions.
11) Leaders don't permit the championship or role define them; instead they define it! I knew what people expected of me equally a dad because of the means I was raised but inwards the end, my parenting means was just that - mine. Yes, I relied on the amazing instance of my ain parents but Paul's needs together with personality genuinely dictated my ain patterns equally a dad. My parenting is forever evolving because some days my boy needs a mentor, other days he needs a friend together with sometimes he needs direction. During my journeying equally an educational leader, I knew what people expected from the principal or the assistant superintendent (simply because of the titles) but letting the role define me didn't come upwards naturally; instead, redefining the roles together with expectations came easier together with then that's what happened. Whether I embraced the concept of existence a Pb learner during my fourth dimension equally a principal or spent to a greater extent than fourth dimension inwards classrooms/schools during my curt fourth dimension equally a key purpose administrator, the fact remained that I was redefining the role together with making it my ain because my professional person operate had to resonate on a personal level.
12) I am a dad showtime together with inaugural off together with every conclusion I brand equally an educational leader is influenced past times my "dad lens." This reality is a uncomplicated i but i that took me a spell to recognize. You see, I never understood how much my operate was influenced past times my life until I became a edifice principal well-nigh xi years ago. Whether I was doing the original schedule during my fourth dimension equally a principal or coming together amongst a grouping principals during my fourth dimension equally a assistant superintendent, the decisions I made together with words I spoke were shaped past times my personal experiences equally a father... together with and then far, that has worked for me.
Yes, Paul has taught me dozens of lessons together with although the listing could move past times on, these are the Top 12 leadership lessons I possess got learned from my most amazing son. Thank you lot Paul - you lot inspire me, learn me together with brand me a amend individual together with educator!
3) Leaders must brand fourth dimension for some fun too! While I desire our students to read, write together with hold out informed work solvers (much similar I desire Paul to written report hard together with swallow his veggies), in that location must also hold out fourth dimension for movement, fun together with socialization. As a leader, I volition brand certain that activities such equally physical didactics together with respite are sacred because our students demand those times to displace together with possess got some fun. To that end, I possess got also made certain to carve out some fun fourth dimension for myself together with then I could re-energize together with spell that mightiness involve a expert book, some reality TV or joining kids at recess, the halt final result is clear - leaders demand to possess got some fun too.
4) As a leader, I possess got to portion responsibleness equally a means to empower those to a greater extent than or less me. As Paul has gotten older he has pushed (more similar pulled away) for to a greater extent than independence together with the chance to brand his ain decisions. While his choices aren't ever the ones I would possess got chosen, I recognize that I must give him the infinite to acquire from his mistakes. As an educational leader, I must practise the same together with consider ways to portion responsibleness amongst the other educators inwards our district, our students together with our families. I cannot brand decisions inwards a silo; instead, distributive together with collaborative leadership allow me to deliberate ideas, broaden my indicate of view together with brand to a greater extent than informed decisions... together with hopefully amend decisions.
5) In the end, in that location are times when a conclusion has to hold out made past times the leader! Even though Paul to a greater extent than ofttimes than non hates existence told what to practise together with when, in that location are times that his advantage indicate is express together with thence he relies on his parents to brand a to a greater extent than informed conclusion for him (for example, fifty-fifty though he didn't desire to hold out moved to the honors shape a calendar month into the schoolhouse year, nosotros knew it was best for him together with guided him inwards that direction). This is truthful for me equally an educational leader besides because I possess got a broader together with to a greater extent than global perspective together with thence decisions ofttimes require my advantage point. Although multiple perspectives may hold out considered, the responsibleness of the concluding conclusion lies amongst me together with sometimes that is totally fine.
6) As a leader I possess got to hold out amend at listening than speaking. Yes, potent populace speaking (at a faculty meeting, a PD session, at a Board Meeting, etc.) is important, but inwards the halt people demand to hold out heard. Yes, Paul does demand my advice together with guidance at times but in that location are other times that my powerfulness to just sit down dorsum together with hear is to a greater extent than valuable to him than anything I could say. By listening to Paul, I am allowing him the chance to procedure his thoughts aloud together with I am learning together with then much well-nigh where he is together with what he is feeling. The powerfulness to hear - genuinely hear what others are maxim - is crucial inwards my role equally educational leader besides because non solely practise I aid others empathise that their opinions/perspectives are valuable but I am learning a lot together with informing my ain perspective. The powerfulness to hear is also the key to edifice sustainable relationships.
7) Leaders must hold out responsive, non reactive. There are times when I am stressed or frustrated (or just tired) together with Paul says or does something that sets me off together with I totally react... inwards fact, I probable overreact. In the halt though, Paul would practise goodness a lot to a greater extent than from my responsiveness than my reactiveness. The same is truthful for my operate equally an educational leader - our community needs me to hold out responsive but non reactive. As a responsive leader I response to the needs of those to a greater extent than or less me past times gathering equally much data equally possible, past times considering all the consequences of my actions together with past times best coming together the needs of our community - peculiarly our students.
8) We must value the procedure to a greater extent than than the product. This is something I possess got to constantly remind myself of when I am watching Paul practise his HW. There are together with then many times I desire to swoop inwards together with brand a correction or advise a dissimilar give-and-take or strategy but inwards the end, I know I possess got to permit him move past times through the learning procedure because that would hold out to a greater extent than meaningful than me "fixing" something for him. The same is truthful for me equally an educational leader. I don't aspect for perfection when I am inwards schools or classrooms - learning together with teaching should hold out messy, engaging together with failure should hold out an acceptable norm inside the process. Learning together with teaching is ever well-nigh the procedure - non the production because I to a greater extent than ofttimes than non attention to a greater extent than well-nigh the journeying than the destination.
9) Be transparent because honesty allows everyone to a greater extent than or less me to empathise the "whys" together with "hows" of my decisions, actions together with words. The most hard fourth dimension inwards my life was coming to damage amongst my sexuality together with although most people discouraged me from sharing my reality amongst Paul, I knew I had to because I needed to hold out honest amongst him. What happened when I told him? He hugged me, told me he loved me together with said he understood that I would dearest a man. Done. No drama, no story to spin together with no prevarication to retrieve - existence transparent amongst my boy was the best conclusion I ever made. The same is truthful inwards my operate equally an educational leader where existence transparent amongst kids, staff together with families has helped me earn trust together with construct social uppercase together with those tin hold out game changers inwards leadership.
10) Lead amongst pump - it is a uncomplicated dominion but in all probability the most of import i for me. As a dad Paul knows that no affair what conversation nosotros are having or province of affairs nosotros are dealing with, my dearest for him is at the inwardness together with because of that love, inwards the end, nosotros volition figure it all out. The same is truthful inwards my operate equally a leader - my pump guides many of my decisions because I am driven to practise what is inwards the best involvement of our students, teachers together with our entire community. Yes, I possess got to hold out rationale together with logical equally a leader but inwards the end, it is my powerfulness to Pb from my pump (with passion together with pride) that has helped me hold out successful inwards diverse leadership positions.
11) Leaders don't permit the championship or role define them; instead they define it! I knew what people expected of me equally a dad because of the means I was raised but inwards the end, my parenting means was just that - mine. Yes, I relied on the amazing instance of my ain parents but Paul's needs together with personality genuinely dictated my ain patterns equally a dad. My parenting is forever evolving because some days my boy needs a mentor, other days he needs a friend together with sometimes he needs direction. During my journeying equally an educational leader, I knew what people expected from the principal or the assistant superintendent (simply because of the titles) but letting the role define me didn't come upwards naturally; instead, redefining the roles together with expectations came easier together with then that's what happened. Whether I embraced the concept of existence a Pb learner during my fourth dimension equally a principal or spent to a greater extent than fourth dimension inwards classrooms/schools during my curt fourth dimension equally a key purpose administrator, the fact remained that I was redefining the role together with making it my ain because my professional person operate had to resonate on a personal level.
12) I am a dad showtime together with inaugural off together with every conclusion I brand equally an educational leader is influenced past times my "dad lens." This reality is a uncomplicated i but i that took me a spell to recognize. You see, I never understood how much my operate was influenced past times my life until I became a edifice principal well-nigh xi years ago. Whether I was doing the original schedule during my fourth dimension equally a principal or coming together amongst a grouping principals during my fourth dimension equally a assistant superintendent, the decisions I made together with words I spoke were shaped past times my personal experiences equally a father... together with and then far, that has worked for me.
Yes, Paul has taught me dozens of lessons together with although the listing could move past times on, these are the Top 12 leadership lessons I possess got learned from my most amazing son. Thank you lot Paul - you lot inspire me, learn me together with brand me a amend individual together with educator!
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