A little Courage goes a long way

Leaders are often at a crossroads when a decision has to be made. Some are really easy and obvious choices. Those do not require much courage. Others are fraught with challenge, controversy, unknown and unintended negative consequences. This is where a leader's courage to act comes in.

This last summer I shared the power of a moment to my district's school administrators. I retold an experience when as a high school principal, I made some bold statements to my teachers. I wanted to instill in them that they matter, that they make a difference in the lives of students. I further stated that if they did not believe they had the power to make a difference, they needed to find a new professional as soon as possible and not be around me.

A few weeks ago, one of my elementary principals, told me that she followed my example this Fall. There was a moment in her staff meeting when some of her teachers started making excuses for their school's test scores compared to other schools in the district. A few of her teachers talked about the incomes of certain neighborhoods and how that made all the difference. My principal felt that sensation inside her that she needed to stop the complaining and set the tone and expectation. Here was that moment when she mustered her courage and spoke up to put an end to the excuses. Her courage made the difference. Following the meeting, a few others came to her and thanked her for speaking up so they could focus on that they could do, what they had the power to do. 

In April of 1910, Teddy Roosevelt famously said, "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena."

Often, people are guilty of admiring a problem. They stand about looking, pointing and complaining about their condition. A leader is one who steps in, leans in, and demonstrates some courage to try and make it better. Even if it comes at a cost, that little bit of courage is what separates leaders from the rest. I am proud of my principal that courageously redirected the conversation and is making a difference.