I've been placed in a position of leadership that I didn't want. It's not that I shy away from leadership, just that I don't want this particular leadership position. Unfortunately (or so I seem to think), neither a new position nor a replacement has been made available at this time. Last year, I protested my position by not doing any actual leading but instead, doing work, work, work that needed to be done. Never mind the fact that the work needed to be done and that I only worked 1/2 time, I didn't go out of my way to lead. The school bumbled along just as it has in the past and I kept busy putting out fires.
Though my replacement isn't at hand I do have hope because there are now a couple of staff that I can train and hand over some of my work to, both clerical and administrative. I pray this will happen.
In thinking about the situation at my school I've come to the conclusion that as long as I am still there, I need to forget about thinking that my boss will change in such a way as to make dramatic changes in what happens at my school. I've now decided that as long as I'm there, I need to take on a larger leadership role to effect change that is within possibilities.
Image By: The Thinking Doll
Without much of a choice in the matter, I had to write a 5-year plan for our accreditation agency. It wasn't a team effort. There aren't enough people to form teams. Everyone else, including my boss, was up to their ears in other things. So, I've got this baby of an improvement plan. It's not too bad. It's needed. It's all my idea. Now I've got to run with it, with mostly an entirely new teaching staff not to mention mostly new students as well.
I like the idea in chapter 4 of the book about introducing programs with the benefits derived, not the details of the program itself. The benefits of successful implementation of the 5-year plan are potentially awesome and in a nutshell; resemblance of an achieving and functioning school.
If all goes well, I'll have the time to actually interact with my teachers and help build this school. I can already foresee some roadblocks and I will be tested. Wish me good
Well good thing you're taking a course in leadership! It is a tough thing to have to take a leadership role when it's not something that was particularly welcomed, or when the cards seemed stacked against you. Perhaps we can learn something about being a "leader among subordinates", or how to become a leader to approach a higher leader with problems. Not sure I said "leader" enough here.
ReplyDeleteLeader.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the people that have leadership foisted upon them do the best job because of their integrity and desire to do things properly. With those people you often avoid the ego driven power seekers that ineffectively are just in it for the title.
Leader Leader.
ReplyDeleteLooking at every opportunity in a positive light can be a challenge, especially when it may not be the desired course of a career. However, being flexible and adaptive gives you skills that others have not developed and puts you in a great position for the future. I bet it can be frustrating when you don't have a team to work with on major projects, but I would assume you can still get feedback if you deliver it in the correct format and manner. A second opinion can be helpful, sometimes even more if the person does not share the same experience with the subject that you do.