I'm told that much of what my employer is investing in me in time, resources, and money is to develop and hone my leadership skills. I've read several books on leadership in the past month and the ability to lead is obviously critical I've put a lot of thought into this in the past few months and done a lot of soul-searching about my abilities and shortcomings as a leader. Being an effective school leader requires a complex set of skills and personal characteristics. Therein lies the question. Do I have what it takes? I think that I do, although I have so much to learn and much personal growth to go through.

I could share with you the books I've read on leadership lately, but I think I want to take this in a different direction.

I'm not a particularly charismatic person. I don't light up a room with my very persona. It is said that leaders like John F. Kennedy did just that. They drew people to them by the sheer force of their personality and personal qualities. You WANTED to follow them They persuaded you, not with an arsenal of facts, but with those rare traits that some people are born with. That wouldn't be me.

Then there are those leaders who are shrewd and calculating. I read "Team of Rivals" which details how Abraham Lincoln managed to hold together a team of scheming cabinet members who all thought they should be in his chair. He did this in the middle of a raging, bloody civil war. How did he do it? He understood human nature better than any of them did. He was an astute judge of people and their character, and he maneuvered to get the most out of the talent that surrounded him, persuading them to set aside their ambitions for a larger person. I'm don't think I'm that shrewd.

Some leaders are so intelligent, knowledgeable, and well-read that they lead through sheer force of their intelligence. They know more than anyone around them and everyone knows it. Why not follow the guy who knows more than all the rest of us? He must know things we don't know, and understand things we don't comprehend. Thomas Jefferson was something like that. You couldn't bring half-baked arguments to him because he would demolish them. I'm nobody's fool but I'm no Einstein either. So there goes that one.

Then there are those who lead by moral suasion. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi come to mind. They had such a righteousness about them that inspired others to want to follow their lead. They weren't necessarily the brightest or shrewdest leaders of their time, but they didn't have to be. People followed them because they moved their hearts. This probably isn't me either.

Then there are those who lead by fear and intimidation. Insert the name of your favorite dictator or tyrannical boss here. They aren't very bright necessarily, don't know as much as many below them, and in most cases lack charisma and charm. What they do understand is how to push people's buttons and keep them in line through subtle and not-so-subtle threats. They use what power they have over you....your freedom, your life, or your livelihood to yank you forcefully in the direction they want you to go. This decidedly isn't me either.

So what does someone like me bring to the leadership table? I believe in what I'm doing and I believe that helping children succeed is vital for their future and our own. If you believe that too, I can lead you. Actually, we can lead together, because leadership isn't one person running ahead yelling, "c'mon guys, hurry up!" We should all be running together and sometimes I may push you into the lead. I may not have charisma but I do have passion.

I also have some skill in communicating with people in a non threatening way. In spite of my size, I speak in a soft voice and smile a lot. I think it helps. In my world you can get lost in the hustle and bustle of daily school life, but it is so important to take time to communicate effectively with those you work with. Its amazing the information you pick up just walking around and talking to people. To do this you actually have to be in the halls, in the classrooms, in the cafeteria, and out by the buses. You can't lead from a leather chair in your office.

In that same vein, I'm a pretty damn good listener. If you come to my office and want to talk, I'm willing to listen and hear your concerns. A lot of teachers know you can't fix everything, but they do like to know that you will hear their concerns out and take them seriously. An important leadership skill is knowing when to shut up and listen. I will freely admit that I don't have all the answers. Maybe someone else does and I'd be a fool not to hear them out.

In that spirit, let me toss it out to you. What makes an effective leader? What examples of great leadership have you seen in your personal/professional lives? What examples can you give of failed leadership that you've personally seen? Pick one or more of these and answer in comments or email. I'll be curious to see what you come up with.
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