LEADERSHIP COACHING: Perimeter Leadership vs. Inner Leadership
In my daily work as a Leadership Coach, it is common for me to observe teachers and administrators leading from the perimeter. I hear it in their comments and see it in their behavior. My guess is if I walked into your classroom or school, I might find some of you leading from out there as well. Don’t worry. I would never judge you for it; after all, that would be hypocritical of me since I led from there for many years.
Do you currently have a student or two in your class that have you at your wit’s end? Or, have you identified a staff member who you think should have retired 5 years ago? When we encounter students and staff who are challenging to work with, we can quickly find ourselves pointing the finger and blaming them for their failures or shortcomings.
I recall mid-way through my career struggling to work with a middle school teacher who most had labeled as low-performing. I couldn’t understand how anyone could be a teacher and not love kids. It didn’t take long for me to start complaining to my administrative colleagues about him and trying to figure out our best options to non-renew him. I justified my own behavior by convincing myself that he wasn’t good for kids.
I was officially on the perimeter.
If you currently find yourself on the perimeter and blaming others, first, give yourself some grace. Next, take time to recalibrate your mindset and try your best to reframe your thinking. Here are a few things to consider:
It isn’t your job to change others, it is their job to change themselves. Your job is to be fair to them and avoid tagging them with a label.
Quit trying to fix and solve all the issues and focus more on becoming a better version of yourself to get a better result.
When he was hired, he didn’t think or behave that way. He became that way. Believe you can help him and others like him find their way back.
If he came to you and was struggling with a student, what advice would you give him? Now ask yourself: Are you modeling what you would ask him to do?
Flip it. Don’t point the finger at him. Start with your inner self.
You may not see it, but in some way(s) you are contributing to this issue, so keep looking at your inner self. Admittedly, my behavior towards this teacher was not great.
It took me years and a lot of support from veteran leaders to help me see it differently and more importantly, respond differently. One, in particular, reminded me of what I said when I sat in the interview chair, how I wanted to build relationships with my staff, how I wanted to be their champion, and how I wanted to inspire them to be more and do more than they ever thought possible.
I still encountered ups and downs throughout the remainder of my years as a school leader. I couldn’t just flip the switch and change overnight after behaving a certain way for so many years, but I could continue to commit to staying the course. I share this with you to remind you that we are all a work in progress and that we are not perfect beings. There are no perfect processes or frameworks that can or will solve all your problems, but they almost always ensure a better result. More importantly, you become better. You just have to keep reframing it, stay away from the perimeter, and start with your inner self.
It is time to recalibrate!
If you are ready to reflect on the role you play in impacting the culture & climate in your school, this podcast is for you! Join me as I take you back to the interview chair to remind you of why you wanted to become an educator.
Find all episodes at jimmycasas.com/theinterviewchair
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