I am looking at me, so I cannot see you…

08 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Align, Choice, Leader, Leadership, Servant

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I find it interesting that leadership is talked about much more than it is lived. Why are there so many leadership conferences, seminars, books, etc.? I suppose it is for the reason of my opening observation, and that just might be the reason we have such a leadership problem in society.

Everyone I know models their leadership from others. Most often, it is from our mentors who we have “latched” onto – some being good, some being bad… that tells more about you then the leader you emulate.

The more I see the effects of leadership, the more I realize that the excellent leaders are those who would not even think about taking the credit or seeking the limelight for themselves. Is it really that hard to put others first? Obviously so.

We live in an era where many leaders, influential leaders, are crumbling themselves and corrupting others, causing character flaws. We see it at all levels in our lives, everywhere we look. Our hearts become numb; when they should hurt or break over the leadership, which we see that is blatantly not for others. Yet these leaders are everywhere, promoting themselves instead of servanthood.

Good, quality leaders are sometimes hard to find. Is it because we do not know who they are? Probably not. They are hard to find because they are hiding in plain sight. When you do notice them, they are in the trenches with everyone else; boots on and sleeves rolled up, and they are not saying, “Look at me.”

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

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Resisting the pull of weak leadership…

01 Friday Nov 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Agenda, Consistency, Deciding, Decisions, Humility, Leader, Leadership, Sincerity, Transformational, Understanding, Value

≈ 1 Comment

Gravity is a powerful force. It literally weighs people down…

Leadership, quality or not, has a gravitational pull on people. However, it seems that the draw of one over the other creates a lasting effect on who we say we are with our leadership.

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Do you realize that we are one decision away from weak leadership? And that one decision creates a label that is very hard to remove. Leaders stand at a threshold every day and our decisions are capable of hurting hearts, betraying trust, or even damaging someone. Many leaders do not realize the depth their decisions have on others.

So… that one decision… how do we make sure we stay away from making it? A few thoughts…

First, we need to realize that everyone is watching. It is very easy to live our decisions with “I don’t care,” but when we lead like this, our value as a leader diminishes. I truly believe it is ok for others not to agree with some decisions we make. We cannot make everyone happy; however, our decisions have to show the consistency that we are doing the right thing by people.

Second, we cannot say we stand for something and then go and not do or support the same endeavor of someone else. We have to live the message we are leading. We must have honor in our leadership. We have to make sure our leadership is clean – no hidden agendas for ourselves to look better. A conscious awareness…

Third, we have to know what the leadership rules are. I guess you are probably thinking of a long list… No; rule number 1 – Do the right thing. Rule number 2 – Don’t forget rule number 1. I realize that leadership goes way beyond this, but having this concept can help simplify many of our decisions.

When leaders lead from a position of honor, for others, not themselves, they find the gravitational pull toward weak leadership does not really exist. It actually is more of a push against (rebound) which throws us immediately toward strong leadership, and that is where we should all strive to lead from with humility and sincerity.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

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The E’s of Teaching

25 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in coronavirus, covid19, Distance Learning, Education, Educational Leadership, Emotion, Engagement, Entertainment, Expertise, Teachers

≈ 2 Comments

We all decided to get into education to help change the world and to help children, right? Educationalists (yes, if you are in education, you are one of these) talk about what the role of a teacher and student should look like and be. Being a teacher goes beyond teaching your subject area. What we seem to have a hard time doing is knowing what it actually looks like to “be for a student.”

Have you ever thought about why students like some teachers and not others? Maybe we should say, care for, instead. Let’s forget about the subject matter for the time being. Our goal for our students should be more than imparting our knowledge. We are the last great hope to help develop students and model a mature, professional example while the world gives them all that other stuff and garbage.

As I look at teaching, students might not care about the subject matter you teach, but they do know if you know what you are talking about. I do, however, believe that students think and care about how a teacher shows and provides engagement, emotion, expertise, and just maybe a little entertainment. If you can provide these, then they might just give your subject matter a chance.

If we are going to provide engagement, then we have to have connections with our students. We have to know them more than who they are sitting in a desk or at a table. Also, please do not let the negative “teacher talk” decide how you feel about a student. We must learn to engage all, not just a select few.

If we are going to provide emotion, then we have to have passion, not only for our subject but for our students as well. They have to see and know we care. Let them feel that “vibe” of your personal teaching touch.

If we are going to provide expertise, then we have to have ourselves prepared every day. Students know when we do not know what we are not talking about. Our expertise defines our teaching.

And there might be those times where we need to provide a little entertainment. I like to call it “edutainment.” Yes, it is ok to laugh and make students laugh. It is ok to do a little dance. What a powerful impact we can have by allowing our students time to breathe, and as I have often said in my classroom, “Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.”

We owe it to our students to be for them. We want them to succeed both academically and as individuals. Our focus is to grow the student. How is a student ever going to flourish in your classroom if they do not know you are for them? Find your ease (E’s) of teaching and see the difference you will make.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

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What is the message I am teaching?

18 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Balance, Clarity, Communication, Humility, Importance, Leader, Message, Relationships, Servant, Teachers, Value

≈ 4 Comments

How many of us, when we first started teaching, spoke a different message than we do now? When it comes to teaching, many teachers are “talking” way further down the road, then they are actually “walking.”

The struggle for many is that we are talking so much and in so many areas where students cannot hear our message. Or do they? The contrast of what is heard between not saying something and saying something is profound, and our students are listening.

Any given day, we can point to areas where we know our teaching has not caught up to the truth we are speaking and sharing with others. It is at this point in time we must remember the idealist mission we first started with. I believe the challenge of our message is, “Are we doing right with and by students?” In all humbleness, we teach to grow and serve students to be more and better than they realize they can be.

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Deep down, we know what a message of teaching should sound like. We know about pedagogy, methodology, classroom management, best-practices… and since we know these things, we automatically think we have them. But, do we know about teaching the message of kindness, patience, fairness… yes, we know about these as well, but we do not automatically have them.

The message we speak for our students carry beyond the time we have them in class. We can make all the necessary changes here and there to make ourselves better teachers. However, if we do not find a platform on which to stand for our students, and actually hold them accountable and be for them, the platform we stand on is not any better than trying to stand on a 2×4 in the ocean.

Being a quality teacher is teaching a message that gives credibility to others and as a byproduct, credibility to you in return. This message must be part of ourselves and not lip service. Let your “walk” and “talk” catch up with each other. Everyone will be better for it.

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

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