Lessons in Leadership From The School Board

Almost three years ago, there was an opening on my school board. I wanted to make a difference so even though I had never run for elected office, I applied.  My husband looked at me as if I had lost my mind but, as always, he stood by my side.

Fast forward two and a  half years. As a member of the school board, I have learned a lot about leadership and apply those lessons each day as I run my business.

Build Bridges

According to the NE School Development Council, “school boards in constant conflict, with members who don’t communicate well with each other, have districts with lower test scores, fewer kids going to college and more dropouts.”

Knowing this, it was my goal as a newly elected official to set the stage for effective teamwork. The day after I was elected, I called another newly elected member to congratulate him. This call, as well as calls I received from other board members congratulating me, set the stage for effective teamwork.

I carry this into my business to build bridges with my clients by learning their business, listening to their concerns and developing long term solutions for them.

Stay Above the Fray

Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” Don’t allow negative comments to distract you from your focus or, worse, join the conversation. Gossip can ruin employee morale and affect the bottom line; whether it’s student achievement or profit.

Recently, I was conducting focus group interviews for a client and my contact tried to engage me in a conversation about her perception of the faults of the people I was about to interview. I had to go into the focus group with an open mind so I made the excuse that I had to run to the bathroom to avoid being tainted by her views.

When the fray threatens to get me down, I focus on the positive.

Fall in Love With Your Vision

As a leader, working from a vision that comes from your heart and the desire to accomplish something bigger than yourself will propel you forward.

What propels me, as a school board member and as a business owner, is acting with integrity and trying to make the world a better place. It’s not about the power, the position, or the title and it’s not a race for the corner office.

What’s love got to do with it? Love has everything to do with it.  Keep your vision forefront all of the time.

To Thine Own Self Be True

I received a memorable piece of advice from a former board member, “Each time you make a decision, figure that one-third of the people will agree with you, one-third will disagree, and one-third won’t care.”  I’ve found that to be so very true.

I once had to tell one of my best clients that a partner company would not be able to deliver a product they paid for. Although I had several people telling me I should do, I knew what I had to do. I told the truth and I offered to do whatever it took to provide the product on time. Some complimented me on how I handled the situation, one was angry and wanted to dissolve our business relationship, and others didn’t care as long as the product got delivered.

Being a leader does not mean acquiescing to the loudest voices or the opinions of others. It means thinking for, and being true, to you.

Putting It All Together

Alan Alda said “Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won’t come in.” Over twenty-five years ago, when I got married, my mother told me that I could be right all the time or I could be married.

As a school board member and a business leader, I keep these words in mind as I work to build trust and open communication between our parents and staff and with my customers and clients.

Photo credit iStock Photo