Join leaders around the country and embark on a weekly learning adventure with me as your coach where I share practical strategies to support you on your leadership journey of making a positive impact and avoiding burnout.
3 Lessons in Leadership from a Toddler
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Hey Reader, Happy Monday and first week of March! Yesterday was such a beautiful day in New York. I did some meal prepping and then took a nice long walk, enjoying the weather. My 3 year old daughter, Ava, has been patiently waiting for spring, and yesterday she was able to get a small glimpse of what is to come. As she headed out the door, she grabbed her sunglasses because she had to be prepared for the brightly shining sun. I could only laugh because she is such a character with an amazing personality. My only thought was, “Where did you get those sunglasses from?” I was reminded of some important lessons for leaders from this small interaction that I want to share with you, Reader. Lessons in Leadership from a Toddler Lesson 1 - Anticipation and Preparedness - Like my 3-year-old eagerly awaiting spring, leaders should anticipate upcoming challenges or opportunities for the remainder of the year. By proactively identifying these factors, leaders can be prepared and develop plans to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities, ensuring a relatively smooth end of year transition. Preparedness and anticipation require a plan. When my daughter saw the sun early in the morning she made sure she was prepared and grabbed her sunglasses, on her own. Leaders, you and your team should be prepared to grab what you need as you anticipate what’s to come for the end of the year. Lesson 2 - Flexibility and Adaptability - Ava has been asking almost daily for the last few weeks if it was spring. We explained that we are still in winter, but today, she was flexible and adaptable to the changing of the weather. Leaders, you should be ready to adjust your plans and strategies as needed, recognizing that unexpected situations may arise. By remaining flexible and adaptable, you can effectively respond to challenges and capitalize on new opportunities. The key here is adjusting your plans, which means you need to have a plan. Lesson 3 - Joy in the Journey - Ava’s excitement and joy in experiencing a small glimpse of spring serve as a reminder for leaders to find joy in the journey towards your goals. While it's important to have goals and plans, leaders should also take the time to appreciate the smaller victories and moments of progress along the way. Having an attitude of joy and gratitude will have a ripple effect on your school environment. Normally, we associate March with the NCAA tournament, March Madness, but we need to shift our thinking and have a different approach. So take the approach of a toddler - anticipation, preparedness, flexibility, and adaptability, find joy in the journey. Affirmation of the Month - March - As a prepared leader, I foster flexibility and adaptability, modifying plans as necessary to address surprises and capitalize on opportunities for growth and improvement. This Wednesday I will be going live on Instagram at 7pm EST to discuss how I plan for the end of the year. If you need to revamp your planning process, you don’t want to miss this! Work with Me My March calendar is open for clarity sessions so book your call now to learn more about how I can support you on your leadership journey.
Reader, here's to an amazing week! Janique If you aren’t already, follow me on Instagram and LinkedIn for more leadership content. |
Hi! I'm Janique a K-12 Leadership Development and School Success Creator
Join leaders around the country and embark on a weekly learning adventure with me as your coach where I share practical strategies to support you on your leadership journey of making a positive impact and avoiding burnout.
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