There were many times during my sixteen years as a principal that I needed to get back on track. As the learning leader for your school community you face many challenges daily that can derail your vision. Over the years I used many of these affirmations and quotes to remind and guide my actions.  Some of my favorites are listed below. Give them a try and see if they work for you.

• Be quick, don’t hurry.
• Remember to sweep your own front porch.
• Learning doesn’t have to be painful.
• Who are you going to encourage today?
• Be the first to serve.
• I wonder how many  leaders today are reaching out with respect toward others rather than seeking it for themselves?
• I need to fill the  buckets of others and not expect others to fill mine. Lead!
• Each day accomplish more than just making sure the trains are running on time.
• Be learner centered, not adult focused.
• Don’t make the same mistake twice. Keep learning.
• Don’t ask anyone to do something you wouldn’t do yourself. Get to work!
• Ask good questions. Is there a healthy tension in the building?

I want to thank many of my mentors who encouraged me to use these reminders. What affirmations do you use?

Quote of the week:

“Until you take responsibility, you are a victim. And being a victim is the exact opposite of being a leader. Victims are passive. They are acted upon. Leaders are active. They take initiative to influence the outcome.” Michael Hyatt

Being a leader in todays schools is a difficult challenge. There are mandates, shrinking resources, learning gaps, new supervisors, and active school boards and state legislatures to deal with. These challenges can cause you to lose confidence which could negatively impact your role as a leader. I want to share with you some strategies to use that may be helpful in keeping you on track and focused on improving your skills as a leader. Read more