communication

Transformational Leadership: The Secret Sauce

/ Dave Eberwein / 4 Comments

In my previous post on Emotional Intelligence (EI) I discussed how critical it is for school and district leaders ‘to recognize, understand and manage their own emotions as well as the emotions of others.’ EI is a core requirement to being able to positively impact the collective performance of a school district. If leaders are attuned to themselves and others, their organization will run more smoothly and effectively, as well as be better positioned to have sustainable improvement.

Today I am exploring Transformational Leadership — something that builds on the concept of EI and which I also believe needs to frame a leader’s approach.

Transformational Leadership: A style of leadership that focuses on inspiring and motivating followers to achieve their full potential and beyond. Think of it as the leadership equivalent of a motivational pep talk, but with a lot more substance. It’s about creating a shared vision that enables buy-in.

What makes a leader truly transformational?

It’s not just about having a big title or a corner office. Transformational leadership is the secret sauce that turns a good team into a great one. It’s about inspiring and motivating one’s team to reach new heights. It is an absolute ‘must have’ if you’re wanting to make significant institutional changes. Change is never-ending, and if you want that change to lead to be better results, having your team motivated, engaged and on-board with the collective vision is a critical first step.

The Vision Thing

At its most fundamental understanding, a transformational leader has a clear vision for where they want to go. They see the big picture and know how to communicate it in a way that gets everyone excited. They do this by focusing on their team and how they contribute to the organization’s success. A transformational leader does not need to be centre-stage, but they do need to be conducting the orchestra from somewhere on stage, ensuring that every performer has relevance and can be heard. This means being inclusive, collaborative and most critically being emotionally intelligent. It also means knowing when to be out front, and when to be leading from the side or from the back.

Transformational Leaders know when they need to be Conducting the Orchestra

Inspiring the Team

Transformational leaders are engaging and inspiring. They know how to get people excited about their work and keep them motivated. Celebrating people’s mistakes as much as their successes ensures that people feel safe taking professional risks to try something new — where the spirit of trying something that could be a significant change agent is encouraged — and where laughter and joy permeate the workspace.

The leader isn’t necessarily the loudest one in the room — they don’t need to be front-and-centre to make a difference. Think of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Malala Yousafzai — three remarkable people who inspired the world with their vision and inclusivity of others, yet often letting their actions speak more loudly than their words. They didn’t need to grab a microphone, but when they did, people paid attention and came together with their message.

Where to Start

If you are leading a group of 5, 500 or 5000 people the same principles of being transformational apply. Start by developing a clear vision of where you want to go and use a variety of means to effectively communicate it. Involve others in the corporate storytelling by building a strong, collaborative team who believes in same vision — one where your team is enthusiastic about wanting to talk about its relevance — one that they’re proud to say belongs to them as much as it does the organization.

Transformational leadership is more than just a buzzword; it’s a powerful approach to leading and inspiring your team. By focusing on vision, team collaboration, and positive work culture, a leader can transform their organization and achieve great things.

Change Keeps Happening

We never really reach the finish line in public education. New context emerges and we adjust — we’re always tinkering with our structures, processes and approaches — always looking for that little advance that makes us better tomorrow. It’s what I love about our work.

When we can do this work with others on an enthusiastic team all pulling in the same direction, there truly is no better feeling. We’re in this together! This is where the Transformational Leader needs to live — in a space of some discomfort where we may not exactly know what lies ahead, but we eagerly await the next day knowing that we have an engaged and focused team willing to be in the challenge together.

Emotional Intelligence: A Critical Component to Effective Leadership

/ Dave Eberwein / Leave a comment

In today’s ever-evolving K-12 landscape, system leaders need to be competent in more than instructional leadership and day-to-day operations. Effective leaders require an understanding of human emotions and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.

Being in the ‘people business’ it is critical for our leaders to have an Emotional Intelligence as much as it is critical for them to be outstanding educators.

Emotional Intelligence (EI): the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.

Being Aware of One’s Own Emotional Triggers is Key to a High EI

In leadership, EI is a critical component that can significantly impact our collective performance, and most importantly employee and student satisfaction. EI will make-or-break your system. If our leaders are attuned to themselves and others, our system will run more smoothly and effectively. Problem solving becomes better as do the resulting solutions.

Let me explain …

At its core, Emotional Intelligence is about self-awareness. Leaders with high EI are acutely aware of their own emotional states and how these states affect their thoughts and behaviors. This self-awareness doesn’t make the EI aware person immune from errors, but it does provide them with the ability to be reflective and hopefully more effective. EI allows them to maintain control over their emotions, even in stressful situations, to make more rational decisions. By understanding their own emotional triggers, leaders can avoid reactive behaviors that might negatively impact their team. Having a high EI does not mean that one will never become upset when triggered, but it does mean that if you are a person with high EI you can recognize your triggers and minimize your emotional responses.

Leading Others Involves Understanding their Concerns

One of the key benefits of Emotional Intelligence is the ability to build and maintain strong relationships. Leaders with high EI are skilled at empathizing with their team, understanding their perspectives, and addressing their concerns. This empathy fosters a sense of trust and respect, which is essential for effective collaboration and teamwork. When employees feel understood and valued, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated. The high EI leader is also genuine in their empathy and understanding — they are believable and transparent.

Effective communication is a hallmark of great leadership, and emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in this area as well. Leaders with high EI are adept at both verbal and non-verbal communication. They can read body language, tone of voice, and other subtle cues to gauge how their messages are being received. This ability to ‘read the room’ enables them to adjust their communication style to better connect with their audience, whether it’s delivering feedback, resolving conflicts, or providing an inspirational address.

Leaders with high EI understand what drives their team members and can tailor their leadership approach to meet those needs. They recognize and celebrate individual and team achievements, provide constructive feedback, and create a positive and supportive work environment. This ability to connect with and inspire their team is what can drive a school district towards better student outcomes.

As Superintendent, I realize that we can only get better when our team believes that they are a part of something bigger — that they play an important role in our future and that their leadership is attuned to their needs.

An Emotionally Responsive Culture is Key to Student Success

A positive work environment is essential for employee well-being and organizational success. Effective leaders play a pivotal role in creating and maintaining such an environment. They are aware of the emotional climate in their workplace and take proactive steps to address any issues that may arise. By promoting a culture of openness, respect, and inclusivity, they can ensure that employees feel safe and supported. They demonstrate the behaviors and attitudes they expect from their team such as empathy, resilience, and integrity. By modeling these qualities, they set a standard for their team to follow and create a culture of emotional intelligence within the organization.

I am fortunate to be in a school district that is large enough for us to do some creative things, yet small enough for me to make personal connections with many of our staff. Celebrating personal milestones, pulling the entire school board office together for a staff meeting, or writing personalized notes are just a few of the ways to make connections to ensure that our team is acknowledged, included and respected.

Ethical Leadership – A Personal Exploration

/ Dave Eberwein / Leave a comment

Ethics. Big topic.

Lots of professional courses, programs and degrees about it — and, there is always someone willing to engage in a conversation — especially in fields like bio-ethics or medical-ethics. One might think it shouldn’t be too difficult to describe an ethical leader:

  • Honest
  • High Integrity
  • Transparent … are three traits that come to mind

I think most of us actually aspire to these attributes for ourselves. And, when we are discussing leadership around us, we expect our leaders to have these same traits. But, is there something else — something more? When I see a truly great leader there is ‘something‘ that makes them stand out from the rest — that makes them special.

Maybe it’s their charismatic personality.

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