Colleagues,

MVP: You can re-engage people by being present with them.

First, thanks to everyone who attended last night’s webinar – it was great to have you there and I now consider you VIPs! If anyone missed the webinar but wants to be on my VIP list, email me, share something meaningful, and I will take care of you.

The most important question we can ask about those who aren’t here is “how do we call them back?”

I’m going to add a twist here.

People don’t need to be physically gone to still be missing. We all work or have worked with people who have mentally and emotionally checked out.

Honestly, I don’t have any tips for bringing back people who have already physically left your organization, but I do think we can call back the ones who remain physically but not fully.

The secret?

• Be present
• Care and build relationships.
• Help people get better at what they do!

Be present, even if it feels like they don’t want you there.

Care. Truly care. How tragic is it that somebody is working for or with you and they hate their job? What a lost opportunity to shuffle in every day, just waiting until you can leave again.

Build the relationship by learning the stories the person has. Who were they? How did they become who they are now? What dreams did they have? What dreams do they still hold?

Help them grow! 

I said yesterday, this is simple but hard. 

It’s hard because we are all busy and there are a million things competing for our time. How do we take time to be with someone long enough to learn their stories when we have deadlines and to-do lists?

Reflect:

• Are you too busy to invest time in growing your people?
• Were you too busy to attend Thursday’s webinar on how to not be so busy?
• Will it ever change?

If you are working on managing your priorities, congratulations! I have only one question for you:

• How can you help others learn what you have learned?

Have a great weekend my friends!

Cheers!

​Frederick

Colleagues,

 
MVP: There is a magic bullet for leadership, but I am going to force you to read this entire email to find it. Yes, I am.
​
First, thanks to everyone who attended last night’s webinar – it was great to have you there and I now consider you VIPs! If anyone missed the webinar but wants to be on my VIP list, email me, share something meaningful, and I will take care of you.
 
The second most important question for us to ask about those who have left is this: Why did they leave?
 
In yesterday’s message about what they are missing, I laid out contrasting possibilities. On one hand, they might be missing lots of growth opportunities that you help provide through your presence and intentionality.
 
On the other hand, they might be “missing” a bunch of stuff that doesn’t help them grow or achieve their mission.
 
People leave organizations all the time. Sometimes it is unavoidable, but more frequently people choose to leave when they could have chosen to stay.
 
I once talked to an early career art teacher who was teaching in a school several hours from her hometown. When her hometown school asked her to come teach for them, she declined!
 
Why?
 
Because she worked for a principal who cared for her. When the teacher had broken her ankle while coaching softball, the principal had been there for her. But just as importantly, that principal was there helping the teacher grow and get better at her craft. And she impowered this young teacher to practice her leadership.
 
There are many reasons why people leave, but there is one overriding factor in why they stay – YOU!
 
You can be a leader who people walk away from, or you can be a leader who people make sacrifices to remain with.
 
Being the second one is hard work, but it is also simple work!

• Be present
• Care and build relationships.
• Help people get better at what they do!

 
This is the magic bullet.

Cheers!

​Frederick

Colleagues,

MVP: Are the absent people missing good stuff, or bad stuff?
 
If they aren’t here, what are they missing out on?
 
Are they missing your presence?
 
Are they missing opportunities to grow?
 
Are they missing opportunities to develop their own leadership skills?
 
Are they missing the chance to serve others?
 
Or…
 
Are they missing the loneliness that comes when leaders are “too busy” to be present?
 
Are they missing being told what new skills they must learn, without being able to get help on the ones they want to learn?
 
Are they missing being overwhelmed with new initiatives, most of which they know will be abandoned in less than three years?
 
Are they missing the feeling like they are always fighting against “the system” to do what they were hired to do?
 
Guess what? Leadership matters.

Cheers!

​Frederick

Colleagues,

MVP: If people have left, think about where they have gone.
 
This week we are thinking about everyone who’s not here. You can figure out what that means for your organization, but school leaders won’t need to think too hard.
 
The first question that comes to mind is: Where did they go?
 
If they aren’t with you, are they with someone else?
 
Are they next door (with another organization) or far away (different profession)?
 
Are they gone for the moment, or forever?
 
And before you go…
 
Today is the last day to register for this Thursday’s free webinar, Escaping the Black Hole of Urgency. It runs from 7-8:30 EDT. I hope you will be there with me – and not somewhere else! Here’s the link.

Cheers!

​Frederick

Colleagues,

MVP: “Everyone who’s not here has left.”
 
Wise words?
 
Maybe.
 
Worth reflecting on? 
 
Definitely.
 
One of my friends (yes, I do have more than one) uttered this phrase towards the end of a neighborhood social event, but of course, my mind immediately went to leadership.
 
Just sit with this question today and I will follow up tomorrow.
 
“Everyone who’s not here has left.”

Cheers!

Frederick