Tonight, I went to a retirement party for a wonderfully authentic human. I have been fortunate to know her and work with her for more than ten years, and she continues to inspire me with her ability to speak life into the hearts of so many.
Being present for her meant being present for less trustworthy people – it meant opening myself up to the questions about how I am and the looks that assume that I am far from okay no matter what my response.
Being present for her meant taking a risk.
Years ago, she took a risk for me when I asked her to consider a different position. I told her that I completely believed in her and that I could not see anyone else in that role. She has flourished and my trust in her grew exponentially.
It was not my trust in her that took me into an uncomfortable social situation this evening – it was her trust in me. When people trust you as the leader to make a difference, to make life better for the students, staff, and families that you serve, that is a powerful motivator. That trust kept me going for so long – knowing that our team was making a difference made everything worth it.
Leaders are about the team – not about their own positional authority.
It’s like that scene in Star Trek where Spock tells Kirk that “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or of the one.” Authentic leaders put the needs of others ahead of their own without being asked, without being reminded, and without being told.
I have been so fortunate to work with some truly exceptional leaders during my career – some of them had positions of authority, but most of them carried their leadership with a gentle presence that inspired others, rather than requiring others, to action.
That’s something we should all aspire to.