Category Archives: Uncategorized

Teacher Camaraderie – Part 2

26 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Well, last week’s blog spurred a lot of conversation. Yes, based on feedback and small talk, teacher camaraderie is lost. I heard from veteran teachers (old heads) and the young guns. The split seemed to be about fifteen years of experience among the feedback. So, I thought I would extend our blog from last week and let us see the thoughts of others and close with my opinion of why we need to either go back and find camaraderie or start finding a way to include collegiality in our schools.

images-11

A thought from several veteran educators…
“Our schools are much more heterogenous than “then,” but our communities are not. So – the question should be, how can we develop true camaraderie among all of our teachers and not just those who reside in our comfort zone?”

“… it’s imperative to be intentional in these days and times!!!”

“Teachers have become our State/country’s salvation!! Without camaraderie with their peers, teachers will not get the tremendous intrinsic values from what they do for the children!!… Too few folks see or understand the true value of teaching, and that includes those in the profession-has been that way for a long time.”

Thoughts from the young gun teachers…
“I 100% agree!!! It’s crazy how things have changed and this is only my 13th year!!!”

“I have really never thought about it this way. None of my family is in education, and I really don’t talk to anyone about what I do every day.”

“I see how many of the older teachers always talk with each other. I guess that’s because they have been teaching with each other for so long. I hope I can find that the longer I stay in education.”

As you can see, camaraderie is a valuable commodity in education. Veteran and young teachers know what is at stake by losing or not having camaraderie. Being in education for 29 years, I have noticed that it seems the more teachers “get along,” the better the school culture will be. As one veteran teacher commented, “Is everything ‘push, push, push’ to raise test scores, or is there appropriate attention given to the climate of the school?” As I thought about that question, I wondered how many schools provide professional development for this. Would it be a good thing? Would school leaders see value in it? If we are going to create a culture conducive to growing students, then the school environment must help those (teachers) entrusted with that responsibility. What better way to do that, than to find ways to ensure that teachers have the opportunity to have camaraderie?

Yes, it takes effort from many different angles, but doesn’t most things that matter do? Let’s be intentional in finding ways to build each other up, edifying the good that others do. The world is standing in line to tear people down, teachers included. Schools should be one of the safest places for teachers to feel valued. It’s all about leadership on every level.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or follow the blog directly.

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

Getting rid of the bitter taste of leadership…

05 Friday Nov 2021

Posted by in Actions, Bitterness, Character, Communication, Decisions, Effective, Facade, Intentions, Kindness, Leader, Leadership, Listening, Love, Transparent, Uncategorized, Vision

≈ Leave a comment

Ugh… that tastes bitter. Even worse, that bitter taste can sometimes linger, and it begins to be all we think about; talk about distracting. It will probably hinder us from tasting the good of other things also.

But… what does bitter look like? Good question. Better yet, what does bitter leadership look like, and why is it such a thing? First, what is bitterness? A quick lookup gives this definition – having a sharp, pungent taste or smell, not sweet. Hello… not sweet, pungent… Talk about a bad quality of leadership… How about this statement, “I have a bitter taste in my mouth about…” Yep, been there, said that. Pungent… doesn’t even sound like a good word to say.

I would say, most of the time, our bitterness is always going to be with something or someone else. It mostly comes with disappointments which leads to frustrations, not only with yourself but others. Bitterness in your life affects so many things; confidence, mood, performance, likeability, respect… most of all, love. It deprives the sweetness of what leadership should be.

toxic_bitterness-1024x460

One area I see bitterness is in leaders who only think their way is “the only way.” They lead with blinders that prevent them from seeing anything anyone else has to say. By default, others begin to question, respect is lost, and their leadership becomes a facade, seen right through. I guess, in the end, bitterness comes and goes, but the effects can last much longer. A full circle runs through all people, especially when we do not get our way.

So… how can we fight bitterness? I am not sure there is an absolute answer. However, I have seen enough leaders with bitterness that I have some ideas on how I do not want to lead. First, be open to ideas and not have a closed-mind set. Second, be transparent with your leadership. If we can incorporate both of these concepts in our leadership, we will lead better, and others will not have to be bitter because you are.

Go figure and it sounds easy. However, when our EGO gets in the way, bitterness is going to taste bad. Let’s lead with a sweetness.

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on…

Twitter @thebookchamber

Want to share this leadership thought with others? Click on one of the social media sharing buttons below and help spread the good…

It’s raining…

23 Tuesday Jul 2019

Posted by in Actions, Choice, Decisions, Leader, Leadership, Preparation, Relationships, Servant, Uncategorized, Value

≈ Leave a comment

Well, here we are in July… It is hot, humid, muggy, sweaty, etc… but tonight, as I sit on the front porch, it is raining.  It has actually cooled down the temperature a little (if you can say that) to where sitting outside is bearable…

c2445dd759cf52be7e37d294c62d730e

Tonight’s rain brings something that I enjoy… the sound and the smell of it.  There seems to be something about it that brings in a newness, fresh feeling that calms the mind.  I imagine it to be like an “all sensory sound machine.”  While I sit here enjoying the sound and the smell, the thought I have of rain that always comes back to me is the conversation line in Facing the Giants, “Prepare for rain.”

Here is the actual quote…

“There were two farmers who desperately needed rain in a drought. And both of them prayed for rain, but only one of them went out to plow his field to receive the rain. Now, which farmer trusted and believed that it was going to rain?”

As we go about our day, whatever that might be for each of us, are we preparing for the results of our leadership?  Many leaders just go about and lead only because of their title and/or position that they have.  While others actually work to make sure their leadership is meaningful, uplifting, positive for the benefit of others. They prepare their workings to be an outward seeking effect, instead of the internal mindset of “What’s in it for me?”

One thing that I have learned over the past few years is that we must always prepare to pause and pay attention to those around us.  As leaders, we move in and out of our days so quickly that it is easy to forget about who is around us.  We must prepare to lead others effectively, and we cannot do this if we do not know who we are leading.  They are not just a group of people who are hired to do a job.  They are people with a heart, mind, and soul – they matter.

As we close out July and get ready for school to start, the educational leadership that we provide will either help or hurt. Preparation is vital, but it must be more than “talked about” preparation.  Actually preparing the field for the rain, shows the level of commitment we have as leaders for others.  For the crops to grow, we must prepare for them to grow.

The next time it rains, take a moment to listen and smell the effects and give an intentional effort so others can see the preparation you are doing for them. Yes or no, the results will be seen.  What are you doing today in your leadership that “prepares for the rain?”

Thanks again for reading.

©2019 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts?  Follow me on…

Image result for small facebook icon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Lights” of Leadership

30 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by in Christmas, Consistency, Inspiration, Leader, Leadership, Relationships, Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year…,” until you have to deal with the Christmas lights!

As we decorate each year, all of our Christmas lights are in one bin. Every year when we “undecorate” I take the lights, wrap them nicely, put them in a bin and close the lid. By the way, all bulbs of each string of lights are working…

Fast-forward eleven months and something has happened. Obviously, someone has gone in and tangled the strings together in knots, thus making many of the lights not work. I believe that the Gremlins have come back from the ’80s and are living in my attic. Anybody working with me? Have you Gremlins and lights not working too?

f6fb339ccaf818fc8f6c0f3e475ce7c2

So, where is this going with regards to leadership? Let’s see if we can turn the lights on and make a connection…

When you plug the lights in, one of three things is going to happen. Every light lights up, some light up, or none light up — only those three options. What happens when you plug your leadership in? Let’s let the lights represent characteristics of our leadership.

Those same three ideas are present when you plug your leadership in; your characteristics either all work, some work, or none work. Only one of three is for the best. Have you ever notice when you buy a box of lights they give you a “few” extra bulbs (just in case one does not work)? You cannot replace every bulb.

The question to be asked with regards to your leadership is, “Are the lights working?” Not some, not a few, but all. Think of it this way… Do the “lights” of your leadership shine? What type of connection are you making? Are there a few “lights” that are not working well? A much bigger problem is when not a single “light” comes on.

In leadership, we must regularly check to see if our “lights” are working; even changing a few bulbs out along the way. Sometimes we might just have to throw the whole string away and start new; and you know what, that’s ok too. Leadership is about finding what works.

Now, about all those strings being tangled up? I am going to blame that on the Gremlins… Someone fed them after midnight…

©2018 J Clay Norton

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

Follow me on WordPress, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram