Commonsense Approach to Leadership

Novel Approach to Leadership

“The great things happening in our schools are the nation’s best secrets.” Larry Biddle

If you want your community to know what’s going on in your schools then tell them. I probably get the same answers at home you get when you ask your child, “What did you do in school today?” “Nothing.” I tell my daughters that I will contact the principal to ask him why my children did nothing today, then the story changes. I want my children to come home excited. I want your kids to come home excited. We start training leaders as soon as they walk into our school. The following is something we started doing with other schools about seven years ago. It’s powerful, and it is something you can do with any organization to create an abundance mentality.

Leadership Exchange: Bring a group from your organization to another organization to exchange ideas and leadership opportunities. This can be an organization of similar interests or a community or civic group. This is a powerful concept when you consider: kids training kids, adults training each other but the real concept is leaders training more leaders not more followers.

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” Ralph Nader

We came up with a theme for our training to simplify what we wanted to do: “BE NICE.” Does that statement really need a definition from you or anyone else? I hope not. Be nice, unconditionally. There, I just gave you a gift. Now write down your goals for the day, week, and year. Carry them with you (at least the yearly ones.) You are on a roll now! Do it.

Unfortunately, BE BAD on a t-shirt would sell more than BE NICE that is one reason we give them out for free. It’s the way some people think. In the long run, BE NICE will always work better, guaranteed. Start your own campaign. You can be the captain on this Leader-Ship. Do an unconditional act of greatness each week.

Our most recent Leadership Exchange happened a week ago. This time we had three middle schools. We met at the school that was centrally located for all of us.

Students were greeted as they came in the school. Each student and chaperone received a t-shirt with all the school names. We quickly introduced each school then cleared the floor in the Library/Media Center for the “Cupid Shuffle.” I explained that we were going to step out of our comfort zones to learn about each other, leadership, character, and fun. It takes hard work and commitment but the real work starts when you get back to their schools.

The day moves quickly. I introduce theory, we break into teams and start the brainstorming. Name “one great thing about your school.” It’s easy for everyone to name something. We post the great things around the room on gigantic paper.

Kids jump in and start a problem-solving, team-building activity. This year we  did the paper bag activity: a finite number of bags are placed on the floor. Music starts, and the participants are told that when the music stops, they must have both feet on a bag. Each time, more bags are removed. No directions are given. Some students figure out that that can rip open the bags to make them bigger.

We debrief and tell the kids that there were very little parameters. In the beginning, they worked individually to save themselves but in the end they realize they can get more done as a team. They help each other creating synergy and an abundance mentality.

During  a break, snacks and music pull the students together, and it allows them to learn more about each other. Schools shared videos that they made at home and it tied us together as people. We realized how much we had in common although we came from different places. Participants that were apprehensive at the beginning of the day became engaged, happy, and more outgoing as the day progressed.

After lunch and socializing, we started our character, service component of the training. This time, we focused on a public service announcement for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The students did brief research, and each student had a chance to be filmed. High school students are reviewing and editing the footage to post on all the schools’ websites.

At the end of the day, we finalize more ideas to bring back to each organization. We have the participants break into their groups and name one idea they want to bring back to their school. We announce each one and hang them up around the room. We finished with an inspirational quote and a team picture. 

Wow, that was the shortened version. The kids have just gone through more leadership training than most adults do in a lifetime.Students are often told what they cannot do rather than what they can do. We need to reverse that way of thinking to secure our future in a positive light. We need to take away the parameters to stop the over testing and under teaching. The Leader-Ship: Who’s Onboard?