75 years ago, General Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote the following letter in the event of a D-day failure.
“Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based on the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”
Leaders that are willing to take personal responsibility for organizational failures are easy to follow!
I feel blessed this Memorial Day to be the son and grandson of warriors that stepped up and signed a blank check to this country. Looking back on my childhood, I now realize the powerful impact that both my father and my grandfathers had on my life. Essential lessons in my formative years in personal responsibility, honesty, and selflessness. My grandfather returned from the European Theater after WWII with a permanent limp and a Purple Heart. Not once did I ever hear him complain about it. I can sleep well tonight because of the men and women who continue this proud tradition of service. For those that gave their lives and for those that returned with their lives permanently scarred by what they experienced, I say Thank you!
And then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send and who shall go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
I feel very appreciative that I am given the opportunity occasionally to travel and, it is even more meaningful when we have the opportunity to take other educators with us. Here are the four things that I try and do every time I travel for work!
1. Recharge My Batteries… This one is constantly a struggle for me. I feel like there are certain things that I must remain available for to I am always trying to balance disconnecting and engaging with remaining on call and available for an emergency.
2. Network and Reconnect with Friends and Colleagues… Great school leaders are continually building their network and expanding the number of voices that they can trust and listen too. I usually use some my time at a conference to reconnect with other school leaders and to try and add a few new ones to my network.
3. Stretch my Thinking… When I attend a conference, I want to be looking for ways to stretch my thinking. I do this by being deliberate about what sessions I select and how I selectively delegate my limited time. Over the past four days, I have really been reconsidering what school leaders can do to directly change the culture of their organization. I chose several sessions that helped me refocus my thinking and better articulate my position on school culture.
4. Watch for Recruitable Educators… Many school leaders simply miss this opportunity. This week I was at a conference with educators from across North Carolina. These educators were allowed to away from their classrooms for two or three days of valuable instructional time to attend NCTIES. In most cases, they were trusted to attend and then asked to come back and share what they learned. Most school administrators select some of their best teachers for these kinds of opportunities. So I spent three days with 4000 of the most hirable educators in North Carolina. Why wouldn’t I look for ones that might want to join our family and work with us!
After I return home from traveling, I often ask the question, was it worth it? I take the cost of the trip, and the value of the information that I returned with and I weigh it out. I have found that when I leave for a trip focused on these four areas, it makes it much easier to return feeling that the resources were well spent!
Purpose Driven Strength... 