Quote-A-Day: Day 165

If we lose our sense of #humor, we lose our sense of #humanity. #QuoteADay #Day165 #edchat #edu #LaughLots

Humanity only "works" when we remember that we can't take ourselves too seriously.  Yes, our work is very important, and yes, education is not a joke.

That being said, humor is a necessity in leadership and learning, not just a trait to possibly have or that's "a nice supplement."  Leaders and learners who are comfortable laughing are leaders and learners who understand their humanity and the humanity of others.

When we work in fields that are relationship-based, we have to remember to include a little fun in all that we do.  Sometimes that is irreverent fun and "jokester" type activity.  At other points it is fun with a true purpose and deep goal in mind.

Regardless, we can be more successful and build deeper relationships when we have a little fun, be a little funny, and let the world make a little fun of us.

If there is anything this world needs, it is more humanity, and if there is anything that can make us seem more human, it is laughing so hard that you cry.

So laugh lots, and always put a little humor into everything you do.

Quote-A-Day: 164

You'll always #think you can do less than you can. At times, we must stop thinking and just do! #QuoteADay #Day164 #edchat #edu #TakeAction

It is true that our worst enemies aren’t out and about.  Instead, our worst enemies, are ourselves.

Though our brains are what allow us to learn and lead, they are also what prevent us from taking positive risks and making the most of every moment.

One thing I’ve learned about life so far is that I will always think I’m capable of doing less than I really am.  In fact, I take umbrage with the old adage that “You can do anything you put your mind to.”

In fact, I would amend it to “You can do anything that you take your mind off.”  In reality, we tend to overthink the decisions that we make, and tend to convince ourselves that we are less capable than we really are (and that others often know we are capable of already).

So, from time-to-time, it pays to just stop thinking and take action. 

Now, we can’t live by this mantra at all times (or I can’t, anyway).  But, it is empowering to take action, leaving any doubt or uncertainty floating around in our heads to gather cobwebs.

Since there is nothing to fear from failure, we just have to remind ourselves to act.  Once we’re engrossed in action, it becomes much harder to look back, knowing that whatever we are doing, we need to see it through to completion; we can (and should) always reflect afterwards.

What’s great about adopting this frame of sidestepping thought and embracing action (at least form time-to-time) is that it is incredibly freeing.  We let our actions speak, we ignore the protestations of our brains, and we just.

DO.

The calm we feel after we’ve achieved something in this mindset is to be cherished and enjoyed.  Then, it’s time to flip back on our “thinking switch,” let our brain take over, and get back into the business of overthinking things. J

Quote-A-Day: Day 163

#Disappointment should first and foremost be seen as an encouragement for future work, not as a detractor. #QuoteADay #Day163 #edchat #edu

Disappointment is never fun.  But it doesn’t have to be detrimental to our learning.

In fact, we can choose to look at disappointment as either something to deflate us, or instead, as something to prompt us to work even harder.

Whether it is disappointment in our personal or our professional lives, the feelings that accompany this type of situation (anger, despair, frustration, etc.) are often seen as negatives, but, they can be springboards to use to learn and reflect on the experience that led to the disappointment we now feel.

It isn’t easy to rebound from a disappointing experience.  It can be even tougher to see the experience as a positive.  That being said, if we’re willing to look at even the most disappointing scenarios as being opportunities to help others avoid them in the future, then we’re making the most of a situation that could otherwise reduce our ability to be effective.

The goal with any situation is to leave it feeling inflated, rather than deflated.  Scenarios that result in disappointment are hard to recover from, but if we dig deep and flip the frame to view these “down times” as simply “up times” in disguise, we’re better prepared to help others do the same.

Quote-A-Day: Day 162

Every day is a new opportunity to become better than you were the day before. #QuoteADay #Day162 #edchat #edu #BeBetter

One of the things that we always need to make sure we’re doing is striving to be better at all that we do. 

And, the best part is, every single day is a new opportunity to do this.

Some days are great while others are a challenge, but every day starts fresh.

Even when some of our tasks carry over from day-to-day, we can look at each morning as another opportunity to begin with a clean slate and have a better day than we did the day before.

What’s great about this mentality is that it allows us to always strive for greatness.  Even if we had the best day ever, the next day can always be a little bit better, if only by a little bit. 

The fact is, nothing is always “the best.”  Rather, it is “better than before.”  

That subtle shift in thinking and word usage is all we need to see greatness as a continual march to improvement, rather than a point that we actually ever reach.

Quote-A-Day: Day 161

Trying to control people is like trying to control weather. No matter what you do, a storm will eventually come. #QuoteADay #Day161 #edchat

You can’t control the weather.

And you can’t control people.

Leaders who try to control those they work with (and for) are bound for failure (and not the good kind).  

Why?  Simply because at some point, those who are being controlled (or attempted to) won’t want to be controlled anymore, and when that happens, chaos will ensue.

A bit about chaos: In reality, a small amount is a good thing.  We tend to be at our most creative and innovative when a bit of structure is removed and we’re free to think differently.  But, the chaos I’m referring to is the chaos that occurs when all heck breaks loose.

That chaos is of a different species, and just like the tornados that form during massive thunderstorms, sometimes there is no warning that they are going to occur. 

While this type of weather chaos can’t be prevented, the leadership chaos that ensues from too much control can be addressed. 

By simply providing those we serve with a bit of freedom and responsibility, we can provide for deeper innovation and creative thinking, improve morale and mood, and reduce some of the weight that is placed on the shoulders of the leaders we are (and the other leaders we work with).

We might like to have our hands in the pie at all times, but it’s messy, and afterwards, no one wants to eat it.  Better to let those who are going to eat the pie have an opportunity to put their own hands in, if they’re so inclined.

Quote-A-Day: Day 160

The best #leaders help others get better.  They don't force them to. #QuoteADay #Day160 #edchat #edu #Collaborate #DontUseTheForce

You can’t force anybody to do anything.  It’s that simple.  If I’ve learned anything as a parent and an educator, it’s that the learners in your life need to want to do things; no matter how many times you put that spoon near a baby’s mouth, or no matter how you package that assignment, if the learner isn’t into it, it isn’t going to happen.

That’s something the best leaders intimately understand.  No matter what, learning has to happen by choice, not by force.

When we’re presented with a learner (or a leader) who needs development in a certain area, an area where we have expertise to assist, we have to lend a helping hand, rather than a full-force push.  We have to meet the person where he/she is, and be willing to support them as they struggle through the situation.

This helping approach usually takes more time and requires much more effort than a push would, but the end result is much more positive.  While a shove and a helping hand may result in the same visible outcome, the potential damage we do by pushing or shoving may be internal, and may make it more challenging for the person needing help to put the trust in the leader in the future and may work counter to the leader’s vision.

Even those who struggle mightily should be given the helping hand first.  If, even with the assistance, the person cannot succeed, there are other options.  Maybe a different setting may work best for the person.  

Maybe the person is struggling with personal issues and needs some time to collect their thoughts.  Maybe the person needs to further develop their background knowledge or skill set before they take this task on again.

Regardless, as leaders, we owe it to those we serve to extend a hand for people to grab a hold of, rather than one that pushes people away.

Quote-A-Day: Day 159

Being part of a #community means more than living or working in one. #QuoteADay #Day159 #edchat #edu

I like to think of there being three rules for joining a community:

1.  You have to understand the community to truly be a part of it.

2.  You have to engage in/with the community to truly be a part of it.

3.  You have to care about the community to truly be a part of it.

Let's look at each of these "rules" one by one.

First, for someone to really be a part of the community, they have to understand the community that they want to be a part of.  This means knowing the community's history, the people who are already a part of it (and what their wants and needs are), and areas in which the community is really successful and lacking.  Understanding the community requires a lot of time, and leaders and learners who want to deeply know the community they want to be a part of need to be willing to invest the time to do so.  This isn't easy, and it requires a willingness to sit down and read and study about a place and a group of people that may be totally foreign to you.

Second, to be a part of the community, you have to engage in/with it.  That means that you have to visit the people and places that already call the community home.  Eating in local restaurants, visiting cultural sights, attending community gatherings, and making small talk (or deep talk) with the people who make up the community is an important step towards being, and being seen as a community member.  In some cases, engaging with the community can go so far as actually living and working in the same general area, providing a jump start towards engagement.

Finally, leaders and learners have to truly care about the community to truly be a part of it.  This goes beyond simply learning about it or engaging with people, to actually being invested in what happens in the community.  Voting for school budgets and town boards is one way.  So is volunteering at charity events and helping with gatherings like a town clean up or building of a new park.

These three rules don't automatically make you a part of the community, but they do help build your community capacity.  Just because you're "in" a community, doesn't mean you're "part" of one.  Better to know, engage, and care about your place of work or home than to see it as just another "location."