Resilient Leadership Archives

Leaders’ relationships with those they lead are mature and most likely to be effective when they are “close enough to influence – yet distant enough to lead”. The phrase is easy to remember, but it is not so easy to maintain. It’s a balancing act, and it takes practice.

As we begin another school year, I’m reminded of certain constants that mark the rhythm of the academic cycle. As a long-time educator myself, I’ve come to appreciate the excitement of a fresh year and the opportunity to meet a new group of students, many of whom are taking a next step in their educational journey involving major transitions that bring new experiences and new challenges.

Sometimes when we leave home we begin to wonder: “Did I turn off the oven before I left or not?” We may sit in our car at a stoplight down the street and think: “Should I turn around and go back to double check?” We consider if we have time to go back and still make our important appointment. Finally, we must make a choice: “Go on or go back?”

Recently a young woman, confronted with some much-needed dental work was in the chair undergoing the removal of a crown when her dentist abruptly stopped the procedure and, in a voice, filled with anxiety said, “don’t swallow”, right after she had swallowed.

When faced with complex problems, unwanted challenges or disappointments and especially when faced with setbacks, our immediate reaction is to become anxious. The fear of failure creeps in. A physiological reaction arises and we either strike back in our words or our actions or we wither and sometimes even withdraw.

As you walk into a packed restaurant you get a sense of things.  Without saying a word to anyone you might think to yourself:
“This place is really crowded. People flock here to have a great time”. Or: “This place is really crowded. They must have no place else to go”.