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Colleagues, MVP: Know why things are as they are before trying to change them. In the woods behind my house stands a tree with a shield nailed to it. My son Collin and I put that shield up about 15 years ago when he was still in middle school. The shield isn’t the most beautiful thing and it serves no real function. But if someone took it down, I would be sad. When you are new to an organization, make sure you know the story of why things are the way they are – before you go trying to change things. I explored this and other leadership thoughts with four awesome assistant principals on yesterday’s unique episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast. I’m happy to acknowledge Kaleidoscope Adventures as a sponsor of yesterday’s episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast! I appreciate their support and encourage you to connect with them if you are thinking about planning a school trip!  Cheers!
Frederick
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Colleagues, MVP: Helping people create fewer messes is better than helping them clean up those messes. What’s the difference between Smokey Bear and a firefighter? Smokey Bear teaches people to prevent fires. So, dear leader, are you Smokey Bear or are you a fire fighter? We have a very special episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast today with four amazing assistant principals sharing all sorts of wisdom. Thanks again to IXL for sponsoring today’s episode!  Cheers!
Frederick Colleagues,
13. I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time I don’t remember who I learned this from or when I first heard this phrase but learning this lesson has helped me be much kinder to myself and more forgiving of others. People don’t intentionally do stupid things or make bad decisions, yet all of us do stupid things and make bad decisions. Why? Of course, there are lots of factors, including emotional and psychological ones, but in the end, we do our best with the information that we have. Consequences and retrospection are great teachers for the future but are poor friends to the present. When you screw up (and you will), learn and move on. You didn’t try to mess up. You made the best decision you could with the information you had at the time. This makes enacting lesson 13 (treat yourself as you would a child) a whole lot easier! Intention: reprocess an old failure – a time you really messed up. Of course, you would do it differently today, but what was the information you were acting on? Were you trying to make the best decision given who you were and what you knew at that time? Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
12. If you don’t feel imposter syndrome, then you aren’t pushing your edge Imposter syndrome is that voice inside your head that is telling you that you can’t do it, that it’s not that good, that you are pretending. It is a terrible voice that seeks to undermine your confidence by convincing you that you don’t belong. Seth Godin flipped this feeling for me when he said that imposter syndrome just means that you are working at the edge of your abilities – that you are taking risks and pushing yourself to be great. This has been a game-changer for me. When my nasty little Fred voice begins whispering in my ear, “you can’t do that” I smile and welcome that voice because it means that I am pushing my edge, that I am growing, and that I am being fearless. For more on imposter syndrome, listen to my incredible interview with Tequila Lamar here. It will make you smile – guaranteed! Intention: Celebrate imposter syndrome! Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
11. I control my attitude Thirty years ago, this would have been my number one. For the past ten years it hasn’t even been on my list. Now it’s back. Why? Let’s be honest, the last few years have been a train wreck. With a pandemic, war, angry politics, a drug epidemic, climate change, etc… it doesn’t look like it is going to get any easier. For the past two years I have privately been enduring bouts of mild depression. In those times I struggle to be as productive as I think I should be. It becomes hard to make the best choices, to care for myself, to maintain self-discipline. The one thing I do manage to do consistently is to control my own attitude. Paraphrasing Craig Martin (whose great podcast interview is here), we choose how we show up for others. It is the simplest choice where we have the most control. The simple truth is that of 1000 people, 999 of them are good people. Flawed, lost, angry, in pain, but still, good people. I can choose to hold onto that and let it feed me. I can choose to embrace the fact that I control my attitude and that I can choose to be a lighthouse – a person who makes those 999 people feel and be better. And along the way, in serving others, I will be happier too. Intention: Monitor closely how you show up for others. Cheers! Frederick |
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