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~ J Clay Norton, Ed.D.

The Book Chamber

Category Archives: confidence

The Intrinsic Value of Teaching…

08 Friday May 2020

Posted by The Book Chamber in Appreciation, confidence, Education, Leader, Leadership, Purpose, Teacher Appreciation, Teachers, Value, Whole

≈ 1 Comment

Fictional conversation…
“It’s Teacher Appreciation Week.
Are you serious?
Yes!
I thought we just had Teacher Appreciation Week.
No, that was this same time last year.
Oh… Well, I guess we need to do or say something for them?
Are you saying or asking?
Both, I guess.
We could put something on Social Media.
Probably, but do you think that is enough?
Well, even though we don’t tell them often enough, they know we do.
Yea, they know we appreciate them.
But, do they?”

It amazes me how often groups have to have a “week” named for them to see or hear words of appreciation…

First of all, let me say Happy Teacher Appreciation Week. As I have stated before, “Educators might be the last great hope to help change society for the better.”

I like the word “intrinsic.” A quick lookup would give you this as a definition: “belonging to a thing by its very nature.”

Here are a few thoughts I have…

The fulness of a teacher’s purpose is to totally give of themselves to the absorption of others, where they are seen through eyes that want learning and understand the value it brings. This can only be done with intrinsic value. This is my perspective of what an appreciated teacher is and should look like.

If there was never an “Appreciation Week” or if teachers were never given praise, teachers would still have value, by virtue of who they are. Take a teacher out of the school building and let them “be normal,” you would never know the difference between them and other people. That is one of the beauties of being an educator, we are just like everyone else, while at the same time, totally different. You see, the only agenda a teacher has is to want what is best for students now and for the future. Society is fueled by competition to reward the individual, education is fueled by collaborative work to reward the whole.

The value of an educator can never be taken away. It may be attacked (usually by jealously or ignorance), but it cannot be diminished. A teacher’s value is it’s being. We are nothing more than the sum of what we do; that is to teach. We are one of a few professions that give of ourselves, and the really good teachers do not seek any glory. The glory they find is often seen in the transformation of students, and there you will find that the glory resides within the hearts and minds of those students.

Here is the deal with teachers… We have good days, we have bad days. Each day we try to make it better than the last one. We want to be the best at our jobs. The more our goal is to get everyone on the same page, the more perfect our job becomes. The success of a teacher is found when we can duplicate that day after day.

Intrinsic… “belonging to a thing by its very nature.” A teacher’s value will never be adequately measured.  However, educators know their true value, and maybe that is why they do what many choose not to.

The role of what a teacher does is extraordinary. Make an effort today to say thank you to one. Teaching, an appreciation? YES… All-day, every day – THANK YOU, TEACHERS!

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2020 J Clay Norton

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I Choose To Stand

15 Friday Sep 2017

Posted by The Book Chamber in confidence, Deciding, Humility, Integrity, Leader, Leadership, Perseverance, Purpose, Servant

≈ 2 Comments

“You have enemies? Good. That means you stood up for something in your life.”  – Winston Churchill

Well, everyone else is doing it this way… Majority rules, correct?

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Is there value in standing with the few? How many times have you been in the minority regarding your leadership?  Do you often find yourself standing alone?  Sounds negative to me… Who wants to be in the minority?  Well, that depends on what the majority is standing for.

Here are a few “I Choose To Stand” ThinkLeadership thoughts…

If you do not agree with the majority opinion, it does not mean you are wrong.
Be intentional about your stance. Now, understand this… It is going to be hard to get others to follow you. Often times it is hard to believe, but many people want to identify with the majority even if they are wrong. These people are crowd followers. They are going to side with whomever will make them look good and to save their own skin.

Be a good follower.
What? You thought leaders were to lead? Yes they are… But, being a good follower of a good leader enables you to actually lead. Know who is worth following. Being a follower might not be where you want to be in your leadership at this time… so do not push your own agenda. In time, your leadership will show. Leadership should be a shared concept. Servant-leaders recognize this the most.

Do not believe it is all about you.
Even if you are in the minority, please forget the notion that people cannot make it without you. They can and they will. Standing alone is fine if the cause calls for it but do not make it about you. This leads to ineffective leadership. Make it about the cause. You will have the respect of others.

Be yourself.
Finding good leadership qualities to emulate will always help. More importantly, find leadership qualities that identify with your style. Do not try to be another leader. It does not work. Be you.

Know your strengths and your weaknesses.
You will not have to tell people your strengths, they will show for what they are worth. Your weaknesses are a different story. If you know your limitations, you better let everyone else know. Ok… you have to be kidding right? No… (go read the next bold statement).

Be transparent.
Have some humility. Kill the ego. It is ok to know and admit your weaknesses. If you do not, you will soon find them out. Others are usually quick to help you find them (It takes the spotlight off of them). Ask for help when you need it. True servant-leaders will do this and they will help others when asked. Insecure leaders will only focus on themselves. Asking for help is a strength.

 

We can often find ourselves with the idea of… “I do not know if I agree with that…” This thought process does not make us wrong. It just means we agree to disagree.

There will be times when our backs will be against the wall. We will even have to suffer the ramifications of others who do not believe the way we do or have a point to prove. But know this, you stand with honor, humility, and with your core values which were never compromised.

In your leadership, whatever decision you make comes down to this… When you decide to stand firm, make sure your feet are planted firmly.

I will plant my feet firmly.  I will stand firm.  I choose to stand for what is right and honorable.  Above all else, I choose to stand for my faith and my family… even if it means that I stand alone.  I CHOOSE TO STAND!

What do you choose to stand for?

 

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP

©2017 J Clay Norton

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Confidence = Leadership?

08 Monday May 2017

Posted by The Book Chamber in confidence

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“Confidence isn’t optimism or pessimism, and it’s not a character attribute.  It’s the expectation of a positive outcome.” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter

 

Let’s start this post with a question… How do you define confidence? Is it an attribute of a person or the result of their “doings?” How many times have we heard that a person’s confidence wavered? What does that even mean? Were they not confident from the beginning?

Is this a true statement… Without confidence, there is no leadership. Why or why not?

While it is safe to say others can give us confidence or even we can find confidence in others, confidence, in general, is something that must happen from deep within our inner self.

Confidence is a funny thing. We all know confident people. Some who are over-confident and others who wish they were more confident.

What are you doing to be a more confident leader?

Remember…  THINK LEADERSHIP
©2017 J Clay Norton

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