personal leadership resources
It is exciting to see that personal leadership skills are valued within the Catholic Leadership Framework. A leader can influence and move people in the direction that they see fit but we must recognize that we have to draw upon the internal skills that we carry with us to be truly effective.
cognitive resources
Challenges are at the center of what many people do at work every day. Whether you're supporting a student dealing with a crisis, supporting staff who are trying to increase student achievement or discovering new problems of practice, the challenges you face can be large or small, simple or complex, and easy or difficult. I believe that having a good process to use when approaching a problem is key. Being consistent in your messaging and your vision of what you value in a school community will help guide you through concerns or obstacles you may be faced with. Setting direction is important in all steps you take as it focuses your efforts in why you do what you do, even when faced with adversity.
social resources
My many years as a social service worker has offered me the chance to develop skills in which I believe have been a significant asset to those I serve. I can quickly assess a situation and perceive emotions and manage them. I have worked in varying precarious situations and am able to act in emotionally appropriate ways. As a social service worker, I am a role model to my clients for how to cope and deal with information. I am able to gauge conflict confidently and diffuse situations with tact and character. We are now in a world where students and staff around us are dealing with all many issues that are challenging to comprehend. Being in a Catholic environment reminds me that our struggles are not what defines us. How we treat each other is of the utmost importance in supporting individuals and creating a climate of acceptance and love. I try to leave every conversation ensuring that all dignity is upheld and people feel that they have been heard and valued.
Being aware of people's emotions allows us to tread lightly when needed and push when called for. We must meet people on their journey, wherever that may be and validate their experiences that they are currently going through in order to move people forward. Valuing staff and students, understanding their need for acceptance and love and helping them to manage their emotions in a sometime tough environment is a challenge I enjoy. I feel this is an area where I can have tremendous impact and where I feel most connected to God. This is the area in which I get to do God's work and share the social resources I have to support people who are sometimes in their most vulnerable state. When emotions are valued, both staff and students can continue to do what is expected of them but most importantly they can continue to grow and increase their resiliency in both their personal and professional life.
Being aware of people's emotions allows us to tread lightly when needed and push when called for. We must meet people on their journey, wherever that may be and validate their experiences that they are currently going through in order to move people forward. Valuing staff and students, understanding their need for acceptance and love and helping them to manage their emotions in a sometime tough environment is a challenge I enjoy. I feel this is an area where I can have tremendous impact and where I feel most connected to God. This is the area in which I get to do God's work and share the social resources I have to support people who are sometimes in their most vulnerable state. When emotions are valued, both staff and students can continue to do what is expected of them but most importantly they can continue to grow and increase their resiliency in both their personal and professional life.
psychological resources
The traits outlined in the Catholic Framework under Psychological Resources are: Optimism, Self-efficacy, Resilience and Proactivity. All of these traits would contribute to the success of a school leader. These characteristics are qualities in which I hold in high regard. When working in a school environment, I maintain an optimistic attitude and belief system in order to continue to do good work everyday. I am a strengths based leader and I like to look at the positive side of every situation. I do believe that every posed challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. God presents us with struggles in order for us to have a deeper learning of how capable we really are; how resilient we can be. School administrators work in an environment in which they deal with varied personalities all day long, but still need to achieve and assure student learning is taking place. By being pro-active and meeting the needs of both staff and students before they become problems or concerns we start to alleviate the issues that may be looming. Instead of responding to crisis, we are alleviating it before it happens. We are creating systems and policies that support growth and development.
Budget cuts, program closures, workforce reductions, school closures, changes in teacher and administrator evaluation processes, and accountability are all issues that are connected to failure, loss, and the need for resilience. Resilience is often described as a personal quality that predisposes individuals to bounce back in the face of loss. Resilient leaders, however, do more than bounce back—they bounce forward. With speed and elegance, resilient leaders take action that responds to new and ever-changing realities, even as they maintain the essential operations of the organizations they lead (Reeves & Allison, 2009, 2010).
While we all have our strengths in certain areas, it is important to recognize that we need to assess our own toolkit of resources and see where we can improve and grow. Continuing to reflect on my practice, having courageous conversations with critical friends and always taking time to learn and grow will help to offer a school community that offers success for each student and a place for all. As disciples of Christ, we educate and nurture hope in all learners to realize their full potential to transform God’s world.
Budget cuts, program closures, workforce reductions, school closures, changes in teacher and administrator evaluation processes, and accountability are all issues that are connected to failure, loss, and the need for resilience. Resilience is often described as a personal quality that predisposes individuals to bounce back in the face of loss. Resilient leaders, however, do more than bounce back—they bounce forward. With speed and elegance, resilient leaders take action that responds to new and ever-changing realities, even as they maintain the essential operations of the organizations they lead (Reeves & Allison, 2009, 2010).
While we all have our strengths in certain areas, it is important to recognize that we need to assess our own toolkit of resources and see where we can improve and grow. Continuing to reflect on my practice, having courageous conversations with critical friends and always taking time to learn and grow will help to offer a school community that offers success for each student and a place for all. As disciples of Christ, we educate and nurture hope in all learners to realize their full potential to transform God’s world.