Four questions for Friday

​Colleagues,
 
Before asking some reflective questions, I want to acknowledge that strategic leadership may be harder now than ever before. A number of the leaders I work with directly are responsible for the logistics of keeping school students safe amid shifting policies, expectations, and guidance. Figuring out socially distanced bus routes, one-way hall transitions to class, and how to fit 20 plexiglass safety screens into each classroom doesn’t make the school better over the long term, it simply allows for basic operations today. That doesn’t make it optional or unimportant. 
 
We may need to accept that our ability to engage in strategic leadership right now is limited. Maybe all we can do is nibble at the margins. That’s okay, as long as we keep nibbling.
 
Yesterday I “unveiled” an updated view of the four principles of strategic leadership: purpose, problems, progress, and people. It makes sense to reflect on each of those, so consider this:

1. How much of your energy was spent this week on work that will make your organization better over the long term?
2. Were you focused on symptoms, or did you uncover and address the root issues of barriers?
3. Did you engage in change that made something immediately better in the organization? 
4. Did you help someone gain new knowledge or develop a skill that helps them to do a better job?

 
Please consider sharing your answer to one of these questions with me by replying to this email. 
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick