Category Archives: Unity

Leading with Intensity or Intentionality… Which One?

25 Friday Oct 2024

Posted by in Accountability, Actions, Align, Christian Worldview, Clarity, Culture, Decisions, Educational Leadership, Empower, Hope, Intensity, Intentional, Intentions, Know Your Why, Leader, Leadership, Learning, Mixed Signals, Opportunity, Relationships, Servant, Sincerity, Trust, Understanding, Unity, Useful, Value, Vision, Wisdom

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We see it almost every game in the world of sports… One word, intensity. On the other hand, we see the opposite, a stoicism of intentionality. As a former basketball coach, I get it… the need to motivate, fuss, correct, celebrate, etc. However, I became a better coach when I tapered off those moments of intensity. One of my coaching mentors, Stan Jones, told me once, “If you fuss and holler all the time, when you actually need to, the players will not know the difference.” I would give that same advice to young coaches now. I would also give it to all those at any leadership level.

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In leadership, the allure of leading with intensity is often strong. We live in a fast-paced world where results are expected quickly, and leaders usually feel pressured to drive people hard, pushing toward ambitious goals and maintaining relentless focus on outcomes. However, while it can achieve short-term gains, leading with intensity often leads to burnout, poor decision-making, and a gradual erosion of a positive culture over time. Every leader should be aware of these negative characteristics.

Leading with intentionality offers a more sustainable and effective approach. Think of it as a natural resource. When leaders are intentional, they focus on achieving goals and how those goals are pursued. Intentional leaders lead with clarity of purpose, ensuring that every decision aligns with the broader mission and values that determine who they are and who the organization is. Rather than pushing with an intensity of negativity and possible belittlement, intentional leaders take a step back to ensure engagement, support, and empowering others to become the standard. Intentional leadership prioritizes the why behind our actions rather than just the how or what, inspiring a sense of purpose and motivation. This fosters a culture of trust and collaboration, seeking results and holistic growth, encouraging personal development, and an opportunity for people to flourish.

While intensity might fuel a leader in moments of crisis or during short bursts of effort, I do not believe it should be a defining style. Leaders who consistently lead with intensity often need to catch up on the nuances that lead to lasting success. Intentionality, however, brings balance, purpose, and foresight, ensuring that both the leader and their team can sustain high performance over time. It would almost allow others to believe you are clairvoyant… 🙂 

From a Christian Worldview perspective, leading intentionally means listening, adapting, and seeking God’s wisdom in decision-making. This doesn’t necessarily mean waiting for divine intervention but rather using the principles and values found in the Bible to guide your leadership. Leadership rooted in intentionality reflects the servant-leader model of Christ, one that brings glory to God and leaves a lasting impact on the hearts of those we serve.

In the end, it’s not about how loudly or forcefully you lead; it’s about how wisely you guide others toward a shared vision. I have seen and been around many leaders of both styles and there is a drastic difference.  

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

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

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(T)Issues of Leadership… It’s just one letter away! 

27 Friday Sep 2024

Posted by in Choice, Circumstances, Conflict, Consistency, Crisis, Culture, Deciding, Decisions, Disaster, Distractions, Education, Educational Leadership, Emotion, Emotional Temperature, Importance, Influence, Insecurity, Inspiration, Integrity, Intentional, Intentions, Issues, Knowledge, Leader, Leadership, Reality, Transparent, Trust, Understanding, Unity, Useful, Value

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I love analogies. I believe they are a better part of describing situations and are key in leadership thinking and reflection. So, today’s topic…

Let’s start with a simple yet profound observation: the word “issues” is just one letter away from “tissues.” This clever play on words serves as a powerful analogy for how personal issues can influence leadership.

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This simple play on words is a powerful reminder of how personal struggles can influence leadership. No leader has it all together, and those who think they do need to quit believing it; others know the truth. By default, I would venture into saying that many leaders carry some form of unresolved issues, good or bad. These issues might be deep-seeded from past experiences and might even be people in your unwanted circle. Still, when leaders carry unresolved issues, they burden themselves first and then affect the emotional and operational well-being of everyone around them. It’s like having the box of tissues ready handy for emotional spills (these can be good or bad also) – except, in this case, it’s needing those tissues to clean up the mess caused by unchecked issues that a leader has caused.

Leaders with unresolved issues often project their insecurities or frustrations onto others. What’s worse is that they make it seem as if you are the one at fault. I hate it when this happens. It’s like knowing a tornado is coming, and you need to run, take cover, at a right angle from that path. Whether it’s stress, poor communication, or unchecked ego (hello!), these personal challenges create a ripple effect. Everyone around becomes confused (for sure), demoralized (yes, it can happen), or even disengaged (probably so) because of the leader’s inconsistency or emotional volatility.

When leaders bring their personal issues into the working environment, they can inadvertently stifle innovation, breed negativity, and weaken the overall culture. This is where it gets serious…

But the sun is always shining behind the clouds… great leadership is about recognizing those issues and addressing them head-on. No leader is perfect, but the best ones are self-aware. They understand that their personal issues can affect their ability to make clear decisions, offer effective guidance, and create a positive culture.

Instead of burdening the team with their issues, emotionally intelligent leaders create an environment where challenges are tackled together—turning potential “tissue moments” into opportunities for growth and connection. Leadership is not about being flawless but about continually striving for improvement and ensuring personal issues don’t bleed into professional spaces. Sometimes, it is worth hearing to get out of your own way… and let’s leave the tissues for blowing our nose instead…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

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

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“The Boys in the Boat” Leadership Movie Review

12 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in Circumstances, Leader, Leadership, Relationships, Team, Trust, Unity, Value, Vision

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Christmas Day evening, we went to the movies to see The Boys in the Boat, and I am glad we did. It was an absolutely great movie. Outside of reading the book or being an Olympic Trivia person, the story is somewhat new for many…

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First, a little history… The Boys in the Boat is a book by Daniel James Brown in 2013 that tells the true story of the University of Washington’s eight-oar crew team and their quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The focus is on Joe Rantz, one of the rowers, and his background, who becomes a key crew member. Also, the team’s coach, Al Ulbrickson, shows the crew members the importance of teamwork and determination. While a “David vs Goliath” sports movie, it is much more than that. It’s a historical event that exposes the impact of the Great Depression and what drives people to achieve and find value. Overcoming odds from all directions, the end result of the story is the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, where the University of Washington’s crew faces competition from other countries, including Nazi Germany’s rowing team, with Hitler watching.

As I sat there watching, I was consumed and fascinated with the leadership that takes place throughout the entire movie. Many movies will have leadership spots here and there, but Boys in the Boat, for me, had it from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend the watch.

So, here are a few takeaways that I found…

  1. Teamwork and Trust – Rowing is a sport that requires exceptional teamwork and trust among team members. There is much focus on this… Each rower must synchronize their movements perfectly with the others to achieve success. This highlights the significance of building trusting relationships and instilling a sense of unity within a team. Suppose our leadership environment does not carry this mindset. In that case, team members only trust and rely on themselves to achieve common objectives.
  2. Vision and Goal Setting – Al Ulbrickson, the coach, had key leadership qualities in his ability to understand and manage team dynamics. This is crucial in our leadership world. He had to navigate the different personalities and backgrounds of the rowers, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie among them. He also allowed them to believe in something beyond themselves, a common goal for future accomplishments.
  3. Behind-the-scenes Leaders (I believe there are two)
    • George Pocock, who was the team’s boatbuilder. He reminded me of an old sage, providing more than just technical expertise in building crew shells. He had a deep understanding of rowing, a commitment to perfection, and an ability to inspire and motivate the rowers, tapping into the emotional components of each rower.
    • Bobby Moch, the coxswain (the guy who shouts instructions from the front of the boat). A key figure for the team, he was responsible for steering the boat, coordinating the rowers’ movements, and providing motivation and strategy during races. Moch also had a deep understanding of the personalities and capabilities of each rower. His ability to motivate and unify the team and his strategic insights during races contributed significantly to the crew’s achievements. He was a cheerleader that we all need.

All in all, it is one of the better movies I have seen in a good while. It makes you feel good coming out and walking back to the vehicle. The Boys in the Boat gives you thoughts to reflect on and the ability to see leadership that can transcend into our lives today.

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2024 J Clay Norton

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

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It’s That Time Of The Year: Gifts That Keep On Giving In Education…

01 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by in Actions, Christmas, Classroom Leadership, Communication, Conversations, Culture, Decisions, Education, Educational Leadership, Encouragement, Joy, Leader, Leadership, Light, Students, Teachers, Unity

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It’s December 1, and Christmas time is officially here. With the season in full swing, as educators, we are presented with a unique opportunity to foster a sense of unity, joy, and growth within our schools for three weeks. With diversity in schools, Christmas is sometimes celebrated differently due to cultures, or if at all, in student households. However, Christmas is a festive season, a time for celebration, and a period with immense potential to wrap up the first semester by creating an enriching and supportive environment that can help jumpstart and motivate for the second semester.

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Christmas time offers a sense of belonging. One thing is certain: in education, we foster a community for many students who have the need for belonging and need acceptance. As we lead in our schools, we might be the only ones offering belonging…

Communication is key to belonging. Educators can use this time to communicate, as stated in the beginning, to convey a sense of joy, unity, growth, and many other characteristics that may not be explicitly seen during the different times of the school year. A simple gesture of gratitude telling a student thank you might do wonders for their self-esteem (everyone enjoys this, by the way).

As we all know, educators remain a crucial piece of the jigsaw puzzle in setting the tone for a positive and inclusive atmosphere, welcoming all (why would we not?). How we decide to do this helps light the candle, brightening the season’s spirit. It starts with each one of us. Lighting someone else’s candle is hard if yours is not burning.

Educational leadership during Christmas is an extra opportunity to create a nurturing and vibrant learning environment. Throughout the school year, educators can make a lasting impact on students. Still, there are times, as now, when this impact can be even more relevant. As we celebrate the season, let us remember that the spirit of Christmas extends beyond festivities—it is a time for joy, unity, and growth. These are gifts that keep on giving (and no, not the jelly of the month club gift, Cousin Eddie).

Let’s go fight the good fight of leadership. Someone has to…

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

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2023 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…