Category Archives: Understanding

Is There an Intolerance of Leadership in Certain Leaders?

09 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by in Actions, Culture, Decisions, Intolerance, Leader, Leadership, Perception, Relationships, Tolerance, Understanding, Value

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We are in challenging days… Everywhere we look or listen, society is____________________ (you fill in the blank).

The more I “look around,” the more I see a steady increase in what leadership should not be. Lack of leadership is running rampant all over the place. What has happened in our society that has allowed for and brought about this change? The primary reason, I believe, is we have turned away from servant-leadership and are now chasing our own selfish desires.

And there and here lies the problem… Leaders who do not value a servant-based mentality become intolerant (please note that I am not writing about areas of morality here) to the views of others. A false idea of tolerance undermines quality leadership, and many people never recognize it is happening. Intolerant leaders seem to think they can impose their leadership on others, and you have no right to question it.

Leaders who lead with intolerance of others’ viewpoints create the notion that their leadership is absolute and anything that contradicts said “truth” is only relative – for you.

This notion is where I see a fundamental shift. Many, in leadership roles, while having to “answer” to someone above them, only feel they are answerable to no one but themselves – especially if they can convince they have the best interests of others in mind or, as they say, “at heart.” This is where I say, “Please do not tell me you have my best interests in mind and then decide the decision you make only benefits you or the ones you are actually concerned about.”

As I write this, I genuinely believe you will be able to pick this topic up and almost put it into any time slot of history, past, or future, and it will still be applicable. However, due to the constant flow of information from so many different outlets, our viewing and knowledge of ever-changing leadership are much more assessable. It should not and does not take one long to recognize the difference. While that is a benefit, it also allows the disguised “leadership lie of self” agenda to continue to be pushed.

Funny thing is, while I “think” I have an answer for almost anything, I really do not have an answer for this. I do not know how to help those in leadership positions understand that by serving others, they will also benefit themselves. I suppose the only answer I have is to suggest modeling the right leadership behavior and hope others will take notice and see that there is something different about being a servant-leader first. I fear that it will take something drastic in their leadership lives to understand this…

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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Expectations and plans that go astray?

02 Friday Oct 2020

Posted by in Appreciation, Attitude, Circumstances, coronavirus, COVID-19, Decisions, Expectations, Understanding

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Have you ever experienced disappointment when you had to change plans or when plans were changed for you?

As creatures of habit, we have carefully arranged the details of our lives and the things we are involved in. We all have expectations that we look forward to accomplishing, but the results are not always what we envisioned.

Somewhere, in all of life, circumstances show up. Sometimes they get in the way; other times, they open up another lane to possibilities we would have never thought. It is the “what do we do with” these circumstances that matter.

Frustration and celebration are the hallmarks results of circumstances; hopes are dashed, and parties are thrown. Looking back, which result has been the most in your life? For some reason, I would want to say, “The one where my hopes were dashed.”

Why do we tend to focus on the “stuff” that does not go our way? I can start naming plenty. But then, to convince myself I am not being negative-minded, I switch to the times as I look back, and realize I am glad that some of the expectations I had, did go a different direction… now, but definitely not then.

History is full of people who thought setbacks were just that, setbacks. You have had a few, I have had a few, we all have had a few… Here is the funny thing about expectations and plans that go astray… everyone is equal opportunity. We all face, at one time or another, the disruption of our expectations.

What would happen if we changed our mindset on the front end when plans change? Is that even possible? Easy to say, hard to do. However, it does go back to what I stated above; it is the “what do we do with” these circumstances that matter. It is easy to say, “Look for the silver lining.”

As I was thinking about what to write this week, I had one of my “memory moments” and thought back to a situation when I was “young and dumb,” that did not go as I wanted or had planned. Looking back to this and other times, I cannot say that I am glad they happened. However, I can say that I am glad plans do change sometimes. With changes, we never know who the people are we might meet, the things we can learn differently or new, or how our character might be shaped to help us down the road with another circumstance that comes our way. In many cases, I am a better person because my plans were changed.

For the times we do not know the why, the how, or even understand the timing of the disruptions of our lives, change is the constant. For the times that do not go as I have wanted them to go, I learn and create a reference point for the future, and for those that have worked out for the better, I am thankful.

In each case, to quote Robert Frost… “And that has made all the difference.”

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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Lesson plans? They probably do not include these things…

28 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by in Agenda, coronavirus, covid19, Culture, Decisions, Distance Learning, Education, Educational Leadership, Leader, Leadership, Lesson Plans, Teachers, Understanding, Value

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Lesson plans… who really needs them at a time like this?

First, let me preface that I am not a huge “lesson plan” educator kinda guy. Often times, lesson plans are more of a “dog and pony show” than actually containing value for both the student and the teacher. And for those of you who know me, you know that I believe education should be anything but “fake.” Who should lesson plans be for anyway? I have never had a student come up to me and ask, “What does your lesson plan look like today?” Needless to say, I am more of an agenda/syllabus teacher. Anyway… I digress…

Lesson plans…

Always thought out, methodical, on schedule, time-consuming, TTW, TSW aligned with the pacing guide, etc… (I’m worn out just typing this…)

But what about now? Where is the idea of lesson plans with teaching via Zoom or virtual? Hybrid? Or any other way that is “non-traditional?” Yes, we still need a plan, but how does that look? Usually, what we start out wanting in not always what we get…

Of all the “stuff” that lesson plans are to contain, here are a few thoughts of mine… during this time of the “unknown” as everyone calls it, that lesson plans cannot measure…

Connection – Not with the computer, but you, as the teacher. Find a way to connect with your students. Take a moment to make a moment. How do you write that on your lesson plans? Odds are, you do not… It just comes naturally. Listen to comments being made and chase some rabbits. Call out your student’s names during the lesson. Find out something about them and touch on that at different times. Subtle acts of acknowledgment go further than you realize.

Easability – Yes, that is a word in my vocabulary, and it needs to be in yours. You can teach content, have it relevant, and have it high on Bloom’s taxonomy, but please do not put extra stress on a student. Not every student in every school has the same “learning” capabilities with technology or anything else for that matter. Teach your lessons and facilitate them. As you have probably noticed with the current status we are in, not all schools are equitable and fair with their resources. This is not the student’s fault.

Opporchallengy – Yes, another made-up word that I use… Every teacher, more than likely, is teaching differently. Think about it this way… Whatever way school is set up, teachers have had to build their class culture and day-to-day activities for classes they have never seen “live.” So much is to be said for educators who have the characteristic of adaptability because they see challenges as opportunities, hence my word, opporchallengy.

Strange times to be an educator. I know there are not any quick fixes right now, and I have a lot of questions. I have a few answers too, but nobody really wants to hear them… In the end, our job is to find ways to reach students like we never have before. How do we do that? Not by lesson plans, but with you. You are that one constant in a student’s life. Be the educator they need “live” and not on paper.

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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United or Divided? (A Re-post)

26 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by in Agenda, Attitude, Change, Character, Conversations, Courage, Crisis, Culture, Expectations, Freedom, Future, Honest, Humility, Inspiration, Integrity, Intentions, Leader, Leadership, Listening, Love, Purpose, Reflection, Relationships, Sincerity, Trust, Understanding, Unity, Value

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For what it is worth, I am not a fan of “reposting” my blogs. However, I am reposting the blog “United or Divided” today. This blog was originally written on January 26, 2018. I believe that leadership stands and transcends time and many other things and ideas as well.

When I wrote the blog the first time, it was written with the idea that we are in a crossroads of education. Now, as a Nation, we are as well. 

Only one sentence I will add for the blog is this…  “We, as people, must find our likeness in Christ for healing to begin and to sustain.” 

I hope you enjoy the re-post.

Below you will find the lyrics to the new song by Christian artist, Mandisa, “Bleed The Same.” The other day I heard it for the first time on KLOVE riding down the road. Like many things, it made me start thinking…

We say this, and we say that, only to get and keep the same results. We say we want more or better, but we do not put the effort in to change. Many times we might even be influenced by others who do not want to change. I/we want to…. I/we wish… I/we… The “want list” just goes on and on.

When it comes to the lives we live, they are the sum collections of thoughts created from experience or instilled as a way of life. However, the funny thing is, we are all in this together. At some point, we must acknowledge that everything in one way or another, affects everything else. The ripple effect might have diminished very small by the time it got to us but rippled it did.

Our world of humanity has its foundations based on morality. Sooner, rather than later, we should all know the difference between right and wrong. Yet we continue to make the same choices that enable our lives to stay the same, while at the same time always wanting more or better. The system can only be blamed so much. The issue becomes that we want the spotlight on others and their faults. We never want to turn the spotlight on ourselves. The last thing we want is for our inadequacies to be shown in the light.

I figure the best way to handle all of this, is to start with me. What am I doing to make it better? The “it” is anything that divides. It is united we stand. Can we (you, I, whoever) choose to work for a greater good? How many times does each of us have that one opportunity to do just that? Actually we have many opportunities.  We just wait on someone else.

As you read the lyrics below, I would dare say that each of us would agree with everything it says. So many solid truths. Whatever change you want, let it start with you. Most of all, let others see it. Go out and prove it. Your essence of leadership does one of the two… it unites or divides.

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

 

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2018 J Clay Norton

©2020 J Clay Norton (edited)

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If you want to listen to the song, click here:

 

We all bleed the same
We’re more beautiful when we come together
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why
We’re divided

Woke up today
Another headline
Another innocent life is taken
In the name of hatred
So hard to take (hey!)
And if we think that it’s all good
Then we’re mistaken
‘Cause my heart is breaking

Are you left?
Are you right?
Pointing fingers, taking sides
When are we gonna realize?

We all bleed the same
We’re more beautiful when we come together
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why
We’re divided
If we’re gonna fight
Let’s fight for each other
If we’re gonna shout
Let love be the cry
We all bleed the same
So tell me why, tell me why
We’re divided

Tell me, who are we
To judge someone
By the kind of clothes they’re wearing
Or the color of their skin?

Are you black? (black)
Are you white? (white)
Aren’t we all the same inside? (the same inside)
Father, open our eyes to see!

We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same)
We’re more beautiful when we come together
We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same)
So tell me why, tell me why
We’re divided
If we’re gonna fight
Let’s fight for each other (fight for each other!)
If we’re gonna shout
Let love be the cry (be the cry!)
We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same)
So tell me why, tell me why
We’re divided

Only love can drive out all the darkness
What are we fighting for?
We were made to carry one another
We were made for more, said
Only love can drive out all the darkness
What are we fighting for? yeah
We were made to carry one another
We were made for more!

We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same)
We’re more beautiful when we come together (let’s stand united!)
We all bleed the same (we all bleed the same)
So tell me why, tell me why
We’re divided
If we’re gonna fight
Let’s fight for each other (fight for each other!)
If we’re gonna shout
Let love be the cry (be the cry!)
We all bleed the same(we all bleed the same) (bleed the same)
Let’s stand united (let’s stand united)
Let’s stand united!

So Father God, I pray
That our families will come together right now
And seek Your face
You will forgive our sins
And You will heal our incredible land
In the name of the only Savior, Jesus Christ
Amen