The Five Commitments of Optimistic Leaders · 2017-11-21 · The Five Commitments of Optimistic Leaders Judy Jablon Asa Hilliard inspired me years ago at a conference of teacher educators

TheFiveCommitmentsofOptimisticLeadersJudyJablon

AsaHilliardinspiredmeyearsagoataconferenceofteachereducatorswhenhesaid:Relationshipsmattermorethan

anythingelse.Humanbeingsneedtobe

nurtured.Ourjobaseducatorsistonurture

inwaysthattapintothegeniusineach

child.Headded:Ourjobasteacherleadersistonurturethegeniusineachteacher.

IbelievethathearingDr.HilliardthatdaybeganajourneythatresultedinLeadingforChildren.OurmissionatLeadingforChildrenistoelevatethepractitioner,tocreateanoptimistictrajectoryforeachchild'ssuccessinschoolandlife.IbeganLeadingforChildrentostrengthenearlylearningsystems.Ibelievethatifwepromotehealthyandproductiverelationshipswithinandacrossallrolesandsettings,educatorscanthrive.And,insodoing,childrencanexperiencethestrongnurturingrelationshipsforlearningthattheyneedtothrive.InspiredbyAsaHilliard,andsomanyofyou,I'vedevelopedamodelthatIbelievecanimprovehowearlylearningeducatorsengageintheirwork:TheFiveCommitmentsofOptimisticLeadership.TheFoundationforOptimisticLeadershipForyearsourfieldhasdeeplyengagedinthinkingabouthowtoachievehigherqualityearlylearningprogramsforchildrenbirthtoagefive,andhowtoimprovechildren’slearningoutcomes.Theelementsofqualityprogramsthatresultinbetteroutcomesaresupportedbyextensiveevidence.However,wecurrentlyhavedirectorsandteachers,parentsandpolicymakers,receptionistsandcooks,allworkingatcrosspurposes.Wearenotrowinginthesamedirectionandneitherareweassuringthateducatorsineachofthesecriticalrolesunderstandtheimportanceofassumingaleadershipstanceforchildren.Despiteeverythingweknowabouthowlearningmustbuildonstrengths,wehaveaculture

TheFiveCommitmentsofOptimisticLeadership:• ThinkImpact–tomake

informeddecisions.• CultivateSelf-Awareness–to

guidethought,emotion,andbehavior.

• NurtureRelationships–tosupportlearningandcollaboration.

• RefineCommunication–formutualclarityandunderstanding.

• ActivateCuriosity–tofindconnectionsandcontinuelearning.

©2017.JudyJablon,LeadingforChildren.

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inearlylearningthatisfocusedondeficits.Insomanyeffortstoachievehigherqualityprograms,staffandadministrativeinteractionsarebreedingdistrustratherthancollaboration.Inthisclimate,howcanwepossiblyadheretoAsaHilliard'sassertionthattonurturethegeniusinchildrenwemustnurturethegeniusintheadults?IbelievethatbyadoptingtheFiveCommitmentsofOptimisticLeadership,wewillenhanceprogramclimateandstrengthenearlylearningsystems.Beforewediscussthefivecommitments,wemusthaveasharedunderstandingofleadership,optimism,andcommitment.Leadership.Leadershipmeansrecognizingtheimpactyouhaveonothersandusingthatknowledgeinproductiveways.Eachofushasanimpactontheorganizationwherewework.Ouractionsandwordsimpactothersandcontributetotheclimateinalargeagency,apreschoolclassroom,orafamilychildcarehome.Regardlessofourtitlesorroles,weareallleadersforchildren;andchildrendeserveleaderswholearn.Optimism.Optimismisnotaboutbeingpositiveorhappy.Merelybeingpositivedoesn'thelpachievequality.Insteadof"thinkingpositive"wecanfocusonapathforwardandhaveconvictionthatwhentheinevitableobstaclesoccur,theycanbehurdledwithanalysisandpersistence.Thinkofoptimismasthelightattheofthetunnel,ratherthanthesmileyface.

Commitment.Commitmentisvitaltoachievingthehigh-qualityprogramschildrenandfamiliesdeserve,andinwhichearlylearningprofessionalsthrive.Commitmenttakeseffortandpersistenceanditismorelikelytobecomeapartofthecultureofprogramswhenitisasharedendeavor.

©2017.JudyJablon,LeadingforChildren.

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TheFiveCommitmentsofOptimisticLeadersLeadersrecognizetheirimpact.OptimisticLeadersfocusonthepathforward.Optimisticleadersarepassionateaboutachievingavisionandwillpersevereevenwhenthegoinggetstough.Imagineifeveryoneinanearlylearningsettingembracedtheirrolesasleaderscommittedtoworkingtogethertoenhancechildren'sopportunitiestobesuccessfullearners?Let'sexamineeachofthefivecommitmentstounderstandhowearlylearningeducators–acrossroles–arechangingtheirpracticesbasedontheirlearningaboutoptimisticleadership.1.ThinkImpacttomakeinformeddecisions.Everythingwedoandsay—allofouractions—haveconsequencesorbenefits.Researchshowsthateducatorsmakemorethan1,500decisionsdaily—that'saboutfourdecisionseveryminute(GoodandBrophy2008).Whatwoulditmeanforchildrenifmoreofusweremoreawareoftheimpactofthesedecisionsonourprofessionalrelationships?Onchildren'slearning?Ontheclimateinourprograms?ThinkImpact:Reflectionsfromthefield“Thishelpsmerealizemyinfluenceandhowthroughmyword

choices,tone,stance,andperspectiveIcancreatethetypeofwork

environmentthatencouragesordiscourages.Before:IwastoomalleableandinfluencedbytheoutcomesI

perceivedotherswanted.Ioftenhushedmyownvoicetocarryout

thevoicesofothers,especiallymysupervisors.Isoughtapprovaland

feareddisappointment.Now:Ifeelempowered.Ipausemore.Iamreflectiveofmypresence,especiallymynon-verbal

actions,mypace,mytone,myimpulsivitytoreactandrespondimmediately.Iamtryingtothink

beforeIspeakandgathermoreinformationbeforemakingdecisions.”

2.CultivateSelf-Awarenesstoguidethought,emotion,andbehavior.Self-awarenessisthecapacitytorecognizeyourownfeelings,behaviorsandcharacteristics,andtounderstandyourcognitive,physicalandemotionalself.Selfawarenessallowsyoutomonitoryouremotions,thoughts,andfeelings;understandyourstrengthsandweaknesses;andknowwhatmotivatesyoutowardwhatyouwantoutoflife.Whenyouhaveself-awareness,yourecognizeyourimpactonotherpeopleandadapttobemoresuccessfulinyourinteractions.Selfawarenessisthecornerstoneofemotionalintelligence,andunderliesalltheotheraspectsofselfmotivationandemotionalintelligence.

Refine Communication

Nurture Rela

tions

hips

Think Impact

Cultivate Self-Awareness

Activ

ate Cu

riosit

y

5Commitments of Optimistic Leaders

ThinkImpact-oneactiontopractice:Beforeyouactorspeak,pauseandask:What

willhappenif...?andperhapsmoreimportantly,WhatdoI

WANTtohappenif...?

©2017.JudyJablon,LeadingforChildren.

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CultivateSelf-Awareness:Reflectionsfromthefield“IhavefoundthatworkingtowardagreatersenseofhowIamina

situationhelpsmetonoticehowothersare.Then:Iwasquickto“sayanddo”.Ithoughtthatinordertobehighlyeffective,Ihadtothinkonmyfeet,actfast.Now:Ivaluethepracticeofself-reflectionwhichincreasesmyself-

awareness.I’mmakingmoreinformeddecisions–goingfrom

reactivetoproblem-solvingandbuildingpartnerships.Byslowing

down,Icanidentifywhethermyactionswillorstrengthenorhinder

myrelationships.”

3.NurtureRelationshipstosupportlearningandcollaboration.StevenCoveysaid:Trustisthehighestformofhumanmotivation.Itbringsouttheverybestin

people.Researchhasconsistentlyshowntheimportanceofhighquality,trustingrelationshipsinachievingeducationaloutcomes.Studieshavealsoshownthatstrongcollegialrelationshipsamongeducatorsleadtohigherlevelsofprofessionalsatisfaction,strongerorganizationalcommitmentandproblemsolving,astrongerorganizationalbeliefthatpositivestudentoutcomesarepossible,andastrongerorganizationalcommitmenttoconsistentlyprioritizingthebestinterestofthechildrenserved(BrewsterandRailsback2003).NurtureRelationships:Reflectionsfromthefield

“Withaviewofmyselfasaleaderforchildren,Isetandcontribute

tothetoneinmyclassroomandschool.Ineedawarenessaswell

astimetoreflect.Then:Iwasoblivioustoemotionalcuesduringinteractions.I

wasn’tgaugingthenon-verbalfeedback.Irealizedthiswasdriven

bymyfearofmakingmistakes.Now:Iamlearningtolistentoothers’ideasandtakingthetimeto

understandandevaluatetoseehowtheirideascanbe

incorporatedintoanyprocess.”4.RefineCommunicationformutualclarityandunderstanding.Communicationiskeytomaintainingpositiveandeffectiverelationships.Effectiveleadersuseconversationanddialogueratherthantop-downcommands.Communicationincludespausingbeforespeaking,monitoringtone,listeningwell,askingquestions,beingsensitivetoculturalandlinguisticdiversity,andusingself-awarenesstoreflectandadjusttothepersonwithwhomyouarespeaking.

CultivateSelf-Awareness-oneactiontopractice:Trytobehumbleratherthandefensive.Whenyouareunsettledbyasituationortheactionsorwordsofachild,acolleagueorachild'sfamilymember,takealookinside.Ask,HowcouldIlookatthis

anotherway?

NurtureRelationships-oneactiontopractice:Thinkaboutrelationshiprepair.Eventhebestrelationshipshavestruggles.Beingtheonetostepforwardandsay,"Iblundered,Iapologize,"goesalongwayinbuildingtrust,strengtheningrelationships,andimprovingprogramclimate.

©2017.JudyJablon,LeadingforChildren.

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Refinecommunication:Reflectionsfromthefield

“Beingmindfulofmyspokenwordsandwrittenmessagesmakes

meamoreeffectiveleader.Before:Iwasunawareofmytone,orfailedtoadjustit.Asa

result,positiveclimatewaseroded.Now:Ihavecultivatedahabitofpausingtocomposeamessage

orquestioninmymindbeforewritingorspeakingit.”5.ActivateCuriositytofindconnectionsandcontinuelearning.Whenweactivatecuriosity,wearemorewillingtotakerisks,experiment,andtrythingsout.Acuriousandopenmindinviteslearning.Ratherthanworryingaboutfailure,thecuriousleaderknowsthaterrorscanpromotelearning.Whenworkingwithchildrenandfamilies,curiositymeanslettinggoofyouragendaandwatchingandlisteningtolearnwhatmatterstothechildorhisfamily.Thismayrequireadegreeofholdingback,andwatchingorlisteningbeforesayingordoinganything.ActivateCuriosity:Reflectionsfromthefield“Beingcuriousandwantingtofindconnectionsbetweencurrent

knowledgeandnewlearninghassupportedmygrowthand

helpedmecreateandstrengthenrelationships.Before:InoticedthatIsometimesfeltinadequatewhenIneeded

toaskquestionsaboutsomethingthatwasunfamiliartome.Now:Iliketoplacemyselfinsituationswith“greatminds”so

thatIcanengageinconversationsthatofferdifferent

perspectivesandideas.”

*****

Consider,whatmightitlooklikeifeveryoneinyoursettingpracticedtheFiveCommitmentsofOptimisticLeadership?

RefineCommunication-oneactiontopractice:Noticethegiveandtakeyouhaveinprofessionalconversations.Sometimeswegetcaughtupinwhatwehavetosayandweforgetthelistener,failingtoseethecuestheotherpersonmaygive.Asthetalker,wemisssignalsthatthelistenerwantsaturntorespondoraskaquestion.

ActivateCuriosity–oneactiontopractice:Considerroutinepracticesthatdriveyourworkonadaily,weekly,ormonthlybasis.Thinkaboutquestionsyoumightasktorethinkingrainedprotocols:• WhatwouldhappenifI…

• Itmightchangethe

dynamicif…

• HowcouldIchangethe

impactof…

Achangeisbroughtaboutbecauseordinarypeopledoextraordinarythings.BarackObama

©2017.JudyJablon,LeadingforChildren.

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Resources:Covey,StephenR.The7HabitsofHighlyEffectivePeople:RestoringtheCharacterEthic.NewYork:FreePress,2004.Good,T.L,&J.E.,(2008).Brophy.LookinginClassrooms.10thedition.Edition.Pearson/AllynandBacon.Nappi,J.S.(2014).Theteacherleader:Improvingschoolsbybuildingsocialcapitalthroughsharedleadership.DeltaKappaGammaBulletin,80(4),29-34.NicolJ.&Sparrow,P.R.(2010).Powerfulleadership:theimportanceofself-awarenessinextendingrange.LancasterUniversityManagementSchoolCentreforPerformance-ledHRThoughtLeadershipPaper,Number2010-01,available:http://www.lums.lancs.ac.uk/cphrBrewster,Cori,andJenniferRailsback."BuildingTrustingRelationshipsforSchoolImprovement:ImplicationsforPrincipalsandTeachers.ByRequestSeries."(2003).

© 2017. Judy Jablon, Leading for Children.

Optimistic Leadership: A Reflection Tool

Think Impact

A moment I’ve paused before I’ve acted in the past year:

Ways I plan to integrate the commitment of thinking about my impact moving forward:

Cultivate Self-Awareness

Name the last time I reflected on myself and my impact on others:

Ways I plan to integrate the commitment of cultivating my self-awareness moving forward:

Nurture Relationships

Identify a relationship I know I have not nurtured effectively in the past year:

Ways I plan to integrate the commitment of nurturing relationships with stakeholders moving forward:

Refine Communication

Remember a time I intentionally communicated with someone before making a decision:

Ways I plan to integrate the commitment of refining my communication style moving forward:

Activate Curiosity

Pinpoint a recent time when being curious and asking questions led to successful change:

Ways I plan to integrate the commitment of activating my curiosity moving forward:

Ways my practice will change when I practice the 5 commitments of Optimistic Leadership: