Over the past month, Eklund Consulting was thrilled to host a three part series called “The Lunch Break Sessions” for school administrators across the country and across the network of schools with which we work.
Our hope during these sessions were to connect leaders to one another to talk about how they were personally doing, share what we’re learning, NOT talk about COVID, and seek lessons that extend far deeper and longer than the immediacy of what is happening currently.
To that end, the sessions were a tremendous success. Each week we heard from leaders who were honestly and thoughtfully navigating not just the present circumstances but seeking to embrace the transformative nature of the present tense to alter their leadership and schools moving forward. Below is my recap of the big take-aways of each session.
Lunch Break #1 focused on two main themes:
What have you learned about your own leadership and are proud of during this experience?
What have you learned during this time about your leadership that you are eager to develop further?
The honest and collaborative discussions colleagues had around these questions was inspiring, and we’re excited to welcome others into the dialogue.
Here are a few big take-aways from our conversation:
While it has always been critical that leaders take care of themselves so that they are able to take care of others, this is acutely true now. The adrenaline/focus that washed over you initially isn’t sustainable. So now we’re heading into an extended period when your own health, clarity, and sanity are paramount.
Diversity of thinking and experiences is uniquely important right now. I know that I have benefited tremendously over the past month by learning from and talking to people outside my typical network and industry. One of the meta-level benefits of these events I hope was simply an opportunity to commune with others and share stories and ideas.
The idea of “right over rushed.” You have such a robust opportunity right now to make patient, deliberative decisions about your schools and how they operate. While the operational decisions had to be fast, the thinking around the core of what you do, how you do it, and ultimately what you care about now has time to breathe and expand. As I’ve been saying, “This is the most creative moment of any of our lifetimes.”
Lunch Break Session #2 focused on these questions:
What are you learning about your teams and what they’re asking of you?
How are your teams performing right now that gives you hope/confidence?
Here are a few big take-aways from our conversation:
“This work is mucky and it’s hard. But it gets us to where we need to be.” Truer words ne’er were spoke. In my book, I wrote about how we develop efficacy. Accomplishing simple tasks actually doesn’t grow it. It’s only through strain and rigor that we develop self-efficacy. Obviously, you presently have no shortage of opportunities in this regard!
“There’s no 9 week academic period that’s going to make or break someone’s life. But there is a 9 week break from SEL that could.” Preaching to the choir on this as I know you’re all actively building connections with students and families. But I know we’re also compelled to realize our teachers are hurting and in grief. The specific means by which we build connections and empower them right now is critical for their happiness and engagement.
“How often have we used the broken system we’re stuck in as an excuse to maintain the status quo?” Amen. This is the time to build something better than what crumbled. And to our theme of yesterday: this is the time to lean on our teams to help the rebuild. Give them problems to solve. Give them structures to build. While a month ago they wanted the pendulum to shift to you being in charge, it’s now time to re-invite them into how you’re going to move forward. Don’t lose this opportunity!
Lunch Break Session #3 focused on these questions:
What has permanently changed about your view of leadership?
To lead your schools forward, what will be asked differently of you now?
Here are few big take-aways from our conversation:
Don’t underestimate the toll this amount of change is having on people. Our brains are wired to operate largely by rote. Obliterating our normal patterns and routines is literally making our brains work harder. So while change is almost always difficult for people, it’s acutely so now. Extending yourself and others grace as we struggle with fatigue or frustration is essential.
If ever there were a time for humble leadership, now is it. We heard this quote from Adam Grant: “Ignorance + Conviction = Arrogance.” I love it. None of us has ever done anything like this before. We don’t know what’s going on. Period. If you haven’t said, “I don’t know. Let’s figure it out” everyday at least a few times, START!
Maybe the permanent change you experience is less about “leadership” and more about yourself. On the other side of this, you’re likely to emerge not only a better leader but also a better human. Patience, forgiveness, deep listening, graciousness, and empathy aren’t just the genetic traits of a good leader. They’re the traits of a good and decent person. Maybe that’s what we’re actually developing everyday. That’s pretty cool.
Final Thoughts:
This series was more fun and more enlightening than I could have imagined. Overwhelmingly, we heard this from participants: “I needed this more than I knew.” This meaning connection with others in the same situation, a time away from thinking only of operations, and finally time to think deeply about one’s one experience. It is too easy to make secondary your own needs and stress during times when your people and organizations need you most. Taking meaningful respites to pause, reflect, and discern is always critical, but especially now.
Because these conversations proved so valuable, we have decided to continue every-other-week Lunch Break Sessions. Even if you didn’t participate in the series itself, consider yourself invited! We’d love to have you join, share your own insights, and meet with other leaders who are engaged in this work together.