I just want time to do my one life well.
Ann Voskamp
What does it mean for me to set my sights upon the coming year? My commitment as an educator, whether teacher, principal or Director, has always been to make a difference from where I stand. I do not want to wait for some better opportunity, for some day when the grass is greener or when I can be on the other side where the pastures are more fertile. I want to make the difference now. It is never a tomorrow ideal. We choose each and every day to make a difference regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. Regardless. No excuses. No second chances. No waiting for a better day. Or, dare I say it, a peaceful political context. Or a less toxic work site. Or when relationships are better. Whatever the circumstance, real leadership digs deep, strategizes, pursues alternative courses of action, and finds a way toward the better future. Real leadership does not let the vision go stale. No excuses. Real leadership creates opportunities for others to flourish and become the best they can be…as educators, as students, as colleagues. For me, it is all about leadership. My leadership. The leadership of those around me.
I want to create an environment where others can excel at what they do. I want to give people the support they need to do their best learning. When educators are learning they become excited about their new understanding and it becomes contagious, an enthusiasm that spreads to others. I believe that means creating opportunities for teachers to be inventive, to experiment, to create and to play with their teaching. (And, yes, I said play). Being engaged in our work is just as important for us as it is for our students.
If we look at the ideas of Daniel Pink (Drive), Martin Seligman (Flourish), and Mihalyi Csikszentmihalyi (Flow), the same threads are woven through their writing. Daniel Pink talks about autonomy, mastery and purpose as being key to motivation. In Seligman’s theory of well-being, he refers to positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning (purpose) and accomplishment as being central in allowing people to flourish. Csikszentmihalyi (1990) goes as far as to say this:
It does not seem to be true that work necessarily needs to be unpleasant. It may always have to be hard, or at least harder than doing nothing at all. But there is ample evidence that work can be enjoyable, and that indeed, it is often the most enjoyable part of life.
While some may find his notion of work and joy paradoxical; it doesn’t have to be so. It is about defining your purpose, and pursuing it with passion. We can do that in an organizational context. We find the match between our personal passions and the organization’s goals. It is what creates organizational health, a place where people want to come to work, want to do their best, and want to make a difference. I think that when teachers are given the opportunity to focus on their learning, refine their craft, ultimately students benefit.
What will be my focus? What do I want to do? And you? What will be your focus? Will it be a year of excuses? Waiting for a better time? Or will you make a difference each and every day?
Thanks so much for supporting me in my learning! I am loving my job, have once again found a passion for teaching and look forward to each new discovery!
I appreciate the reminder to rise to our highest selves, as this is what we all dream of for our students. You throw out a challenge that I intend to post in my office, to keep our hopes and dreams alive for our students, keep the passion for learning alive, and to lead by example. Thank you for being such a great example (leader) in our district!
Love this piece. This is what we all want to do. To create the working conditions where we can all do our very best work.
Many great maxims. I want to make the difference … now!
Thanks for continuing to provide inspiration!!
Elisa, I am so thankful for connecting with you this year. Your positive outlook in the face of so many challenges is a breath of fresh air, particularly during these politically stressful times. You see each and every one of us as someone that can make a difference for our Surrey students. I appreciate being treated as an equal colleague too and not less of a colleague because I have chosen not to take the administrative route with my career. Surrey is lucky to have you, and I am lucky too. Keep being yo,u pushing your boundaries, and looking for ways to make things better for everyone. It’s exciting times!
These thoughts were helpful to me today, as I have been feeling overwhelmed all day with heading back and keeping up with all the latest technology gadgets. Thinking about the minutia I lost sight of the big picture, which is helping kids feel good about themselves on a daily basis. Relationships first!
I echo the sentiments of those who commented before me. The list of blogs you published earlier inspired me to be more diligent in updating mine.
Hey Elisa,
YES! You hit the nail on the head a number of times for me in this post.
I wish that we would all realize how important it is for each of us to be engaged in our own learning. This is the only way change and improvement is going to happen. We have to lead in this way with our teachers and colleagues. We need to create an environment where ongoing learning (and mistake-making) by *everyone* is valued and expected.
Secondly, we need to work on creating this environment here and now – like you said, not waiting for a “better” time. There is no time like the present. No better time than now. Does the environment have to be focused on differently in the political climate in which we are faced, perhaps. However, this should not and can not be used as an excuse to not do things we want to do or to make changes or improvements we feel are necessary for student success.
I can not agree more with you when you write about the importance of defining your purpose and pursuing it passion. It is this passion that some (more skeptical) people may perceive inaccurately, but it is important to continue on passionately pursuing your goals – both personally and professionally.
Thanks for this post, Elisa. What a great way to start the year!
Tia
I believe that if life didn’t keep getting better it wouldn’t be worth living. And, I really believe that humans are at their best when working hard. Just notice how yucky you feel when you spend too long lounging in front of the TV. Thing is, I feel rushed and cut off too often in this work. Not enough time to be mindful of the power of relationship and too much unreflective compliance.
“In an institutional setting in which “innovative overload” and “repetitive change syndrome’ have become normalized routine forms of everyday life, the third synergy of mindful teaching is stopping.” (Dennis Shirley)
Doing or Being/ Do? Be? Dobedobedoo!
Have a mindful New Year!