The Need for Leadership

There is a difference between holding a position of leadership and actually leading because you have the position to do so.  This is the end of my 27th year of teaching and being in a district that has a rather revolving door of both building and central office leadership, I have noticed a thing or two.

The difference between leaders and status quo keepers has huge implications for an organization.  I have worked under both.  Leaders have a vision and they push forward, keeping the leadership under them well informed and well trained.  They know their why and they work to figure out the how.  As Jim Collin's famous quote says, "Having the right people on the bus."  

But what happens when the right people are on the bus but the driver doesn't really have a plan for where they are going?  Frustration, anger, resentment, division begins to set in.  They thought they were part of a team or at the very least felt they were once a part of a team, but then...something happens.  The driver changes, loses focus, gets complacent or distracted, or the facade finally fades.  Good under leaders still have the enthusiasm to carry forth the work they had committed to, but slowly isolation sets in. While some may decide to get off at the next bus stop, others simply hunker down for the ride, hoping Siri begins to call out directions.  

Leadership is not easy.  It is complicated and risky.  But without a vision, it is pointless.  Everyone will end up somewhere, but they have no idea when they have arrived, if they are off course, close to the finish line, nothing.  Leaders must know their why and as a team work out the how.