Gravitas… A Heavy Word For Leadership?

16 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by The Book Chamber in Accountability, Actions, Appreciation, confidence, Consistency, Culture, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Grace, Gravitas, Honest, Influence, Inspiration, Integrity, Intentional, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Mixed Signals, Presence, Relationships, Resilience, Respect, Transformational, Transparent, Trust, Understanding, Value, Wisdom

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Education, Educational Leadership, Leadership, Learning, Respect, Teachers

I like words. I like the etymology of words: where they come from, the primary source for why they mean what they do, etc. I especially like words that have flavor, and “gravitas” happens to fit that characteristic for me.

The term gravitas comes from Latin, where it originally meant “heaviness” or “weight.” This literal sense of physical weight evolved into a metaphorical meaning, implying seriousness, dignity, or authority. The Latin word gravis, which means “heavy,” “serious,” or “important,” is the root of gravitas. The suffix “-tas” in Latin is used to form nouns that express a state or quality, so gravitas conveys the quality of being serious or important.

As I have been reading over the past summer, gravitas has been popping up more than usual. Depending upon what circle you run, gravitas does not appear to be a word that rolls freely off the tongue. While one might know what it means, how to use it could possibly cause a stumble.

Where and how does gravitas fit into leadership?

Gravitas is not merely about respect; a leader can command or demand that, often out of fear. Gravitas is about embodying a sense of purpose, wisdom, and emotional resilience that can inspire and guide others. A leader with gravitas has a presence that alone can calm and focus attention on its surroundings. This presence isn’t just about charisma; it’s about substance. That is something we definitely need more of; leaders with substance.

Leaders with gravitas simply don’t just speak; their words transcend meaning that touches their listeners with thoughtful feeling. The words carry weight and have a sense of purpose, enabling a depth of character to navigate leadership obstacles, never being unapproachable with their personality. Their demeanor helps others feel safe and motivated.

Gravitas also fosters trust. Problems arise, difficult situations hit you head-on, uncertainty brings doubts… We need leaders who are confident and stable. Those who can create reassurance. Not because they can “flex” their leadership position but because they display authority in a society that has nothing but talking points and loud voices.

Gravitas… quiet strength and power with substance. Do you know a leader like this?

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

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The Need for Student-led Leadership…

22 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in Communication, Importance, Influence, Intentions, Leader, Leadership, Opportunity, Presence, Relationships, Students, Teachers, Useful, Value

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This past Wednesday was our school’s monthly FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Huddle meeting. As I sat in the back of the room with some other coaches, I realized we have a great group of students. Not just in FCA but all around in our school, belonging to other clubs, or just attending school. Yes, we have some great students.

However, what I realized sitting back, watching and listening, is the value of leadership and the opportunity these students have to be leaders in our school. So… that brings me to the thought of the need for student-led leadership in our schools…

I believe there is somewhat of a direct correlation between the culture the school wants and the one that the student body embraces. One question that might have to be asked is how to get students to “buy-in” the culture school leaders want.

For this to happen, I believe it is essential for students to experience leadership opportunities that put them in positions to actually lead. Whatever, wherever, whenever that is, it must be an opportunity where the platform establishes quality leadership that coincides with the vision and the mission of the school.

When students are given the opportunity to lead, more relationships can be fostered. Our students are the best customers to sell the product of leadership that we want as educational leaders. They will reach far more than a single teacher ever can. If we want positive leadership to be a mainstay, our students are the best communicators, translators of our message. They are the ones who can “carry out” the leadership wants and needs of the school.

Just like quality adult leaders, students who communicate and lead effectively can be found to have many of the same traits; honesty, responsible, serving, open-mindedness, etc. But… they need examples, and we have to make sure we are doing and showing what we expect.

Having students who lead in our schools demonstrate an earned empowerment. In turn, they demonstrate and promote leadership at a level that encourages involvement and creates a positive atmosphere for the whole school setting. As the educational leaders of our school, let’s find ways to help empower our students to be leaders, and I believe it starts in the classrooms. Yes, they will need to be supported and encouraged, but is that not part of “jobs” as educators?

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

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“Bee” The Educator and Leader…

15 Friday Oct 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Attention, Connections, Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Effective, Leader, Leadership, Presence, Relationships, Teachers, Value

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One question I am frequently asked is where do I get my ideas for writing my blogs every week. Well, it usually depends on the week. Most of the time, I see, hear, or read something related to education or leadership in general, and as I have said before… it gets me to start thinking. As I begin to think on the matter, my mind starts processing… is “whatever” a good or bad representation of education or leadership? And then, I start writing.

So… recently, I was reading John MacArthur’s book Why Believe the Bible and in one of the chapters, there was this graphic illustration by H. P. Barker (1896-1952), who was once a missionary who served in the West Indies….

As I looked out into the garden one day, I saw three things. First, I saw a butterfly. The butterfly was beautiful, and it would alight on a flower and then it would flutter to another flower and then to another, and only for a second or two it would sit and it would move on. It would touch as many lovely blossoms as it could, but derived absolutely no benefit from it.

Then I watched a little longer out my window and there came a botanist. And the botanist had a big notebook under his arm and a great big magnifying glass. The botanist would lean over a certain flower and he would look for a long time and then he would write notes in his notebook. He was there for hours writing notes, closed them, stuck them under his arm, tucked his magnifying glass in his pocket and walked away.

The third thing I noticed was a bee, just a little bee. But the bee would light on a flower and it would sink down deep into the flower and it would extract all the nectar and pollen that it could carry. It went in empty every time and came out full.

As I read that, I thought this is exactly what we see education and leadership should not and should be. The approach of each one, the butterfly, the botanist, and the bee exemplifies both educators and leaders. As we think on each one…

The butterfly educator or leader… They just fly around. Always being seen but never bringing or taking anything. Flapping their wings, wanting others to admire their colors.

The botanist educator or leader… They analyze everything. Always writing what they see, but never offering feedback, just keeping notes; using them only when needed (for their own benefit, of course).

The bee educator or leader… They invest. They get down in the flower. They work. Not to say educators and leaders are empty, but the bee draws from the flower, pollination takes place, and everything and everyone is for the better.

As we continue to lead, we know each type of educator or leader stated above. More importantly, though, is the question of… which one are you? If we are not the bee, then we are not helping others. Is that not what we are suppose to do first? When we invest, spend time, and form bonds, education and leadership are for the better. Be a bee.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

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Leadership As A Christmas Tree Ornament?

06 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Authentic, Christmas, Essence, Leader, Leadership, Presence, Purpose

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Like many of you, I am sure, we put our Christmas tree up last week. I tackle the outside of the house, and Heather, my wife, decorates the inside. As she was finishing up placing ornaments on the tree, I helped out with getting a few to the top areas of the tree. When we were finished, like always, I stepped back to take an approving look.

What I did next, I found myself doing every year. I just started looking at our ornaments. What I noticed is that every one of them has a backstory, and for some reason or another, I am proud they are on our tree. As always, it “got me to thinking…”

What if the ornaments on our trees represent the leadership that others see? Better yet, what story do they tell?

Here are a few thoughts I had…

This year I took a few pics of ornaments and sent them to my mom, asking, “You remember these?” And of course, she did. Ornaments have a way of connecting our lives and memories to days that do not exist anymore. However, they do continue to live in our hearts. That is what great leadership does; it connects and resonates in our hearts in a way that continues to touch others’ lives. This is a big deal for me and my life. I want to have leadership that has “connectivity” with others.

Almost every ornament on our tree, we can tell you where it came from or who gave it to us. Each one unique on its own. Some have been passed down multiple generations and are beginning to show age. But, like those and the other ornaments, they help to create a personality of our tree. Just like ornaments, our leadership has a personality. What is it saying about you?

You cannot lead based on a cookie-cutter approach. What you are missing out on is the authenticity of not only yourself but the leadership you are trying to provide. That is what an original ornament brings to a tree. More importantly, it is authentic to you for your own reasons. It definitely is not store-bought in a box.

When we decorate our Christmas trees, I believe it is as much for ourselves as it is for others, providing a meaningful reflection of moments that have touched our hearts. Each ornament hangs on our tree is purposedly placed there for no other reason than our own.

As we think about our leadership and Christmas tree ornaments, we want it to touch our hearts, have substance, create an emotional feeling that we can recall and want to have again, and most of all, feel its presence. That is what leadership should always do and what we as leaders should strive to provide.

If your leadership were an ornament, would someone place it on their family Christmas tree?

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

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