What leadership? What skills?

Leadership: an art. A science. 

What does it mean to be a leader? 

When did you first hear this question? 

I think I first heard of being a leader when I was a sophomore in high school and our baseball coach told me I needed to step up and be a leader. As a 16-year-old, I wasn't entirely sure what he mean, so I started talking more, encouraging my teammates, and constantly chattering in center field. 

The Class of 1990 had a lot of leaders at Elk Rapids High School

Later, I was probably a sophomore/junior in college and our psychology of education teacher asked the class to recommend to her fellow students who they felt had showed a lot of leadership. Suddenly, on the last day of class, I was awarded extra credit and my grade bumped because my classmates felt I was a leader. 

I didn't really get it. 

Then, I was a teacher and the principal talked to me about my leadership skills. 

What leadership? What skills? 

It turns out that treating people with respect and support and helping them grow and improve is the heart of leadership. That is what I have always believed in, and always tried to do. At my first teaching job, I was given a key and told, "Good luck." A self-starter, that was no big deal for me. I felt that other new teachers, though, should be given more support and encouragement. Eventually, I wrote my Educational Specialist thesis on the subject of New Teacher Induction. 

At the time, I had been in leadership roles for a couple of years, and my passion for helping the newest teachers among us grow into great teachers was beginning to show. I've been doing this for some 20 years now, and I believe that I finally am growing into that leader that people always had thought I would be. The secret to leadership is creating relationships with people and allowing them to flourish. Leaders care about how their people perform and feel. Leaders don't bask in the glory, they let their people experience it. Leaders don't hide from the trouble, they face it head on. I've learned these lessons over time. 

I've also read many incredible books about leadership, from many people. I've read educational leadership books, business leadership books, sports leadership books … and I've learned from all. The one underlying theme, and this is not based on scientific research, treating people the right way makes all of the difference in successful leadership. It's not about being someone's boss, it's about being someone's guide. I am so thankful to the leaders who supported me and encouraged me to become a leader. I enjoy leadership. 

I was recently asked about "being a boss." I said that I never really consider myself a boss, though I've been in "bossy" situations for 20+ years. I have always considered myself a coach, trying to help people grow and improve. And if they are already great, reach for the stars and become even better. I have been fortunate to work with some excellent people in the last 20 years. When you work as part of a high functioning team, and those team members "take the reins" and run with things, it is an incredible feeling. 

I wonder if leadership is an art? Or a science?