The following is a fictional situation based on my experience in a high school classroom over the last 5 or so years: Mrs. Rotary shows up early to school to organize her days lesson, check her email (personal and work), responding to one teacher, two parents and reading through two other emails with important school information and then finally do a little photocopying. She texts her husband and turns off her ringer on her phone. Then Mrs. Rotary remembers, as she is on her way upstairs to the classroom she teaches senior Math in, that she forgot to punch in a class set of marks while she was in her office from the exams she marked last night. She opens the classroom a few minutes early to get her lesson set-up and the projector ready to show some important graphs for the lesson. She would like to use the Smartboard, but someone has taken all the Smart pens and her computer cannot be updated with the necessary update without administrative access, so she will just have to use the whiteboard accordingly until these technical issues are dealt with later this week, month, or semester. In looking at my previous post about my core personality and leadership style, and now reading about the 5 C’s of commitment, connection, compassion, consistency, and competency (and then the ability to communicate those) I feel like I do strive to authentically display these traits. My two strengths would likely be in commitment and competency, as I strive to be very committed to a team and their outcomes and also develop a strong ability in what I am trying to do, teach or lead at while still being able to admit shortcomings, say “I don’t know” or ask for help. My weakest point would likely be in compassion, as I tend to get tunnel vision to my perspective and the end goals I have in mind, and get very disappointed if others do not live up to expectations, despite the challenges they may be facing or have faced. Luckily in the world of teaching, one is constantly reminded that compassion is a necessary trait, as many student stories are filled with challenge, neglect or heart-break. I enjoyed the five readings as each challenged traditional thinking in some way, causing one to mentally adjust or defend your thinking regarding leadership accordingly. The following is a chosen quote from each of the five articles and a short explanation of how it relates to my leadership philosophy or personality.
In looking at my core personality as a foundation of my leadership style, I would say that I am a detail and solution focused, hard-working individual who prefers to work within a team environment, building on the strengths of multiple people to organize and function towards a larger goal. I am willing to take on large challenges and tasks, as one of my strengths is to view the larger picture behind the small goals required to accomplish greater outcomes. I would also say that I am willing to go “against the grain” (Bad Religion - Album and Song - 1990) in a non-abrasive manner to create change, as I have experienced much insight through exposure to counter-culture and it’s eye opening benefits throughout my life. Lastly, I am also willing to work independently for long periods without recognition to realize goals ,as I think that personal growth often stems from unspoken and long-term goals and grit. I grew up in small town Saskatchewan, where looking back I can now see how the public school setting really supported the unjust power structures in society. The students I attended school with from the various surrounding are with were mostly middle to upper class and of 2 parent families with European ancestry. It was very apparent early on in my public education that you would be judged on your ability to conform as a student in the classroom and on your appearance as a citizen, that looked good and spent money and time to do so. I say these two things critically now, but as a child I strongly believed in both concepts, unknowingly. Personally being very proud of my ability to complete school tasks swiftly, stand in line perfectly and follow the rules in class and at recess without question. I also placed great value in fitting in based on appearance through all the horrendous trends of the 80’s and 90’s, from Pace-setters to Hyper-color T-shirts to Mushroom cuts. This idea of competitive consumerism became very clear to me in reading the book “The Rebel Sell” by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter from 2004.
|
AuthorDylan Johns Categories
All
Archives
April 2022
|