About 8 years ago, I read a book that kinda changed my life. Well it changed how I look at myself as a leader and that is what has made all the difference. The book is Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain.
If you can't tell by this book selection, I'm an introvert. It is very much a part of my identity. If you talk to my friends and family, they will immediately identify that being an introvert is one of my top defining qualities. I will sit and listen to people who converse with ease and charm with wonder. Easy conversation and charm (with unknown companions) just takes so much energy from me that I only do it when I've psyched myself up for it or find it necessary for my goals. Before reading Susan Cain's book, I had the mindset that leaders were extroverts. They were loquacious and easy to get along with and the life of the party. As an introvert, I would be more suitable for a quiet thinking job. One were I could mostly be by myself. But somewhere in my gut, that idea didn't seem right. Quiet was an empowering read that showed how introverts have power they didn't even know they had. That listening and deep thinking were valuable skills that could be used to help others. And with this power, I could be a leader.
That is what I've focused on over the past 7 years in my teaching career. Quiet power. Listen to people. Offer thoughtful help. Just be there for them in a time of need. Be a sounding board for ideas. Do what I say I will do. I may not be able to think of a pithy remark right off the cuff or be affable in front of a horde, but I can be a service to others, to help them achieve their goals. With this attitude, I have grown my own cohort of friends, supporters, and allies. And I've joined the ranks of others for like minded people in my community. We often think of leaders as individuals. But when we support each other, we all lead.
Being a leader starts with defining what is important to you. I chose to be a school librarian because the job espouses many of my values (reading helps makes you a better person, curiosity, critical thinking, helping others) but also because I believe it is a flexible position that really is about supporting and fostering identity and learning in ALL students, staff, and even community members outside of the school. I have a strong belief in cultivating a healthy ecosystem in my school community that allows everyone to grow to be the best version of themselves. It seems idealized and pie in the sky but it is also worth the effort and energy. This is my driving why.
At one point in my career, I had a sticky note on my computer. All it said was "YES!" This was a little reminder to myself that if someone (and most importantly a student) asked me for something, I would lean heavily on answering YES! Previously I was at war with myself between what I wanted to do and what I felt "my job" expected me to do. The sticky note was a hint to give myself permission to break the "rules." An example of this was letting a kid take out a book even though they didn't return their other library books. It was letting students take home a book I borrowed from another library (sorry other librarians) knowing that if they didn't bring it back, I would be the one responsible for it's replacement to the other library. It was saying yes to doing more coding instead of check out time or letting them hang out in the library during recess because they were having a bad day even though it was my only free time in the day. I was allowing myself to see the rules as flexible for each student, because each student had different needs and circumstances. If by answering yes I was honoring my mission statement, then it was the right answer. Valuing my students is more important than valuing the things in my classroom. This doesn't seem to be about leadership, but it really is because it is about building relationships. Teachers and community members were also beneficiaries of my honoring students needs. The library became a safe space and I became a trusted ally.
One really nice thing about being the librarian is seeing the students each year they are at the school. This allows me to see things in a long term scope. I know that what I teach them in kindergarten is laying the foundation for 4th grade (and beyond). If something is happening in their classroom that I think would be great for me to collaborate on but I missed it, no worries. Next year. I think this has helped me in leadership opportunities because I can see a progression to our goals. And if we can't see a progression, then maybe they shouldn't be our goals. Short term is not worth it to our students.
My challenge right now is that I'm starting fresh at a new school. I had a really great support system in my last school. I knew who to go to with a problem or with a new risk taking idea. I had built those long term relationships. I was collaborating all over the place. Now, I have to build this all over again in a new environment with different people, structures, and resources. This is my challenge for this year and for the next couple. Opportunity to build my leadership skills? You betcha. I think I'll re-read Quiet again to put that extra power in my step.
If you can't tell by this book selection, I'm an introvert. It is very much a part of my identity. If you talk to my friends and family, they will immediately identify that being an introvert is one of my top defining qualities. I will sit and listen to people who converse with ease and charm with wonder. Easy conversation and charm (with unknown companions) just takes so much energy from me that I only do it when I've psyched myself up for it or find it necessary for my goals. Before reading Susan Cain's book, I had the mindset that leaders were extroverts. They were loquacious and easy to get along with and the life of the party. As an introvert, I would be more suitable for a quiet thinking job. One were I could mostly be by myself. But somewhere in my gut, that idea didn't seem right. Quiet was an empowering read that showed how introverts have power they didn't even know they had. That listening and deep thinking were valuable skills that could be used to help others. And with this power, I could be a leader.
That is what I've focused on over the past 7 years in my teaching career. Quiet power. Listen to people. Offer thoughtful help. Just be there for them in a time of need. Be a sounding board for ideas. Do what I say I will do. I may not be able to think of a pithy remark right off the cuff or be affable in front of a horde, but I can be a service to others, to help them achieve their goals. With this attitude, I have grown my own cohort of friends, supporters, and allies. And I've joined the ranks of others for like minded people in my community. We often think of leaders as individuals. But when we support each other, we all lead.
Being a leader starts with defining what is important to you. I chose to be a school librarian because the job espouses many of my values (reading helps makes you a better person, curiosity, critical thinking, helping others) but also because I believe it is a flexible position that really is about supporting and fostering identity and learning in ALL students, staff, and even community members outside of the school. I have a strong belief in cultivating a healthy ecosystem in my school community that allows everyone to grow to be the best version of themselves. It seems idealized and pie in the sky but it is also worth the effort and energy. This is my driving why.
At one point in my career, I had a sticky note on my computer. All it said was "YES!" This was a little reminder to myself that if someone (and most importantly a student) asked me for something, I would lean heavily on answering YES! Previously I was at war with myself between what I wanted to do and what I felt "my job" expected me to do. The sticky note was a hint to give myself permission to break the "rules." An example of this was letting a kid take out a book even though they didn't return their other library books. It was letting students take home a book I borrowed from another library (sorry other librarians) knowing that if they didn't bring it back, I would be the one responsible for it's replacement to the other library. It was saying yes to doing more coding instead of check out time or letting them hang out in the library during recess because they were having a bad day even though it was my only free time in the day. I was allowing myself to see the rules as flexible for each student, because each student had different needs and circumstances. If by answering yes I was honoring my mission statement, then it was the right answer. Valuing my students is more important than valuing the things in my classroom. This doesn't seem to be about leadership, but it really is because it is about building relationships. Teachers and community members were also beneficiaries of my honoring students needs. The library became a safe space and I became a trusted ally.
One really nice thing about being the librarian is seeing the students each year they are at the school. This allows me to see things in a long term scope. I know that what I teach them in kindergarten is laying the foundation for 4th grade (and beyond). If something is happening in their classroom that I think would be great for me to collaborate on but I missed it, no worries. Next year. I think this has helped me in leadership opportunities because I can see a progression to our goals. And if we can't see a progression, then maybe they shouldn't be our goals. Short term is not worth it to our students.
My challenge right now is that I'm starting fresh at a new school. I had a really great support system in my last school. I knew who to go to with a problem or with a new risk taking idea. I had built those long term relationships. I was collaborating all over the place. Now, I have to build this all over again in a new environment with different people, structures, and resources. This is my challenge for this year and for the next couple. Opportunity to build my leadership skills? You betcha. I think I'll re-read Quiet again to put that extra power in my step.
Excellent post. We did some faculty work a few years ago on the power of the introvert. Thanks for bringing up this importance of "quiet leadership."
ReplyDeleteThere were so many gems in this post from a new book on my TO READ list (Quiet) to the power of YES! This could have easily been several blog post! Your quiet insight will be a powerful asset to us as a cadre.
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