Start With The Why

Simon Sinek

http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html
http://www.startwithwhy.com/
http://sinekpartners.typepad.com/refocus/
What do we mean when we talk about leadership? Do we have a common understanding of the term.
To lead we can use either manipulation or inspiration. We should rely on inspiration rather than manipulation (I see links here to Dan Pinks thinking in Drive).

Why do we do what do? Whats our cause / belief?
If you don’t know why you do what you do, how will anyone else. This lead me to reflecting on the deliberate acts we have been doing to make our vision more explicit and alive in what we do. I look forward to getting back to this big picture thinking with the Board on Tuesday as we review our charter - the why we do what we do, followed by the 'how' and the 'what'.

To lead you’ve got to have a vision and the ability to communicate it.
Leadership coaching - possible reflective questions : What is leadership? What is your vision for students in your team? How is that vision communicated (children, families, colleagues). How is it lived? I have a dream... what is our dream for learning?
What sort of world do you want to live in? Leadership is seeing a world you believe in and putting it in to words. Be part of something bigger than yourself - as a school.

School is forming the ‘whys’ in our children right now - in terms of some world views. (Moral purpose etc).

If you compete against everyone else, no one wants to help you. If you compete against yourself, everyone wants to help you.

Again, the vision - having the why at the centre of all we do is most important. I believe sometimes we can get too caught up on smaller details at the expense of the bigger 'why' and our key principles. we become too focussed on running only to the botanical gardens...

The goal is not to surround yourself with people who need what you have but to surround yourself with people who believe what you believe.
In terms of recent leadership decision making - I feel very privileged to be part of a team who share common 'big picture' beliefs. We have synergy with our views of how we can empower our children to make a difference in their lives and the lives of others. It's exciting to think of this passion catching - like the passion flu (thanks Nicki), and spreading further through our learning community. I am excited... and inspired.