I’m still thinking about the most recent State of the School event we held at my school just a few weeks ago. I’m still vibrating from it. Watching school leaders push themselves to higher levels of excellence in their leadership and presentations, sharing their department goals and progress toward them and seeing our school staff rally around the presenters.. It’s pure magic.
I sent out an email the day of the event to all of the teachers who would be participating in the State of the School, but not presenting. I reminded them how challenging and intimidating it can be to present in front of colleagues - and to please give it their all in supporting their department heads and school site leaders while they were presenting. Our spirited staff definitely brought their “A-game” that day, cheering and waving their pom-poms for every presenter. It reminds me of how much more likely something is to happen if you ask for it rather than to just wish for it.
Another idea came to me the night before the State of the School event. I was looking for an idea to get the presenters and participants pumped up during the event. I wanted the audience cheering and excited, which is no small feat after a long day of teaching. That’s when it hit me: Our presenters needed a walk-up song!
I worked for hours that night, thinking about each of our department heads, their styles, their personalities, and sifting through song after song on Spotify. I curated an exuberant playlist like no other and danced around my living room in celebration of my amazing team of school site leaders.
The next day at the State of the School, it was absolute bliss to see our leaders dance and play on their way up to the front of the library to present. The music raised the energy in the room and created an atmosphere of collective joy. Multiple department heads told me that having the songs play as they walked up helped to quell their nerves.
There is a rightful place for joy and fun within rigorous leadership. Reach for the stars - and dance your way there.
How can you inject more play into your leadership?
Link to State of the School highlights from 2/9/23: https://youtu.be/Lh-moVdTkLA
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