Over the past 30 years, I have spent some time in the School of Hard Knocks, and during that time, I learned one lesson above all: different situations call for different leadership characteristics, styles, and decisions. We must adapt to the changes we encounter, including new board members, new administrators, and ever-changing public concerns, and work as a team.
Professional development is a critical toolbox in our industry. By expanding our reach into larger toolboxes (regional, state, and national conferences), new trays become available, and we gain access to more tools, better tools, and specialty tools for tougher jobs.
Years back, I read Malcolm Gladwell’s bestseller Outliers. His premise that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to master something resonated with me. When teaching in the Montclair State University in New Jersey graduate program, I looked for my students’ mastery of a concept to ensure they were not just regurgitating what they memorized from the lectures or readings. I wanted to ensure they understood the material and how to apply it to achieve success as leaders or future leaders.
We must lead with purpose, intensity, confidence, and knowledge (PICK). We learn these attributes through life experiences, both positive and negative — in the School of Hard Knocks. Although some people have taken issue with Gladwell’s statement, it lives on to underscore the simple fact that practice makes perfect, and the more we practice our craft, the closer we are to being experts in our respective fields.
Leaders of successful organizations are those who understand this concept and take the time to develop, administer, test, and adjust as necessary to achieve that success.
Here are some of the lessons I have learned on my leadership journey.
ASBO Lesson: Association leadership programs provide value.
Leaders who want to streamline the learning process and avoid poor decision-making along the way need look no further than the support, professional development, and camaraderie of the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) as well as their state and regional associations.
These organizations were established to ensure support, develop leadership qualities, and disseminate vital information based on best practices, teaching, and mentorship. The resources available are priceless and readily accessible to all members — one of the first lessons I learned after struggling to do it alone.
At the beginning of my career, I was too busy to attend professional development meetings and conferences — or so I thought. I quickly rectified this error, thanks to my mentor and other professionals who steered me on my pathway to leadership. It took participation in just one conference for me to realize the benefits.
Each professional association program is designed to deliver the following value:
- Dynamic Programming: Engages participants in focused sessions covering essential leadership, innovation, and communication skills.
- Interactive Learning: Provides participants with activities and breakout groups that foster networking and in-depth discussions, allowing participants to connect with peers nationwide and gain diverse insights.
- Practical Takeaways: Equips participants with actionable strategies and best practices they can implement in their leadership roles.
Life Lesson: Plan for success; don’t just wait for it to happen.
“Like sand through the hourglass, so are the Days of Our Lives.” This phrase and the visual of an hourglass accompanied the opening credits to one of the longest-running soap operas of our time — one that I remember well from my childhood. But it held no real meaning until I got older.
Whenever I speak about planning, I instruct my audiences to show up with a plan or leave in defeat. Planning is at the heart of success in any organization. Leaders of successful organizations are those who understand this concept and take the time to develop, administer, test, and adjust as necessary to achieve that success.
Dennis Budinich, chief culture officer for Investors Bank & Trust in Short Hills, New Jersey, wrote in the Foreword to my book, Planning for Success: “The belief that goals, budget, objectives, strategies, and results are all dependent on the power and energy of a sound effective plan is something all of us need to adopt.” His words underscore the need for planning.
School of Hard Knocks Lesson: Listen, consider, and weigh the impact of your decisions before passing judgment.
If any lesson made more sense over time, it is this one. It could have prevented many unnecessary issues and problems that were easily avoided by listening, but instead led to extra hours of problem-solving to correct “quick fixes” or miscues in various areas.
Those quick to judge without considering all the facts, evidence, or circumstances often find themselves walking back statements, explaining actions taken, or undoing the damage resulting from a knee-jerk reaction to an issue that was bigger than originally perceived.
When this happens to leaders, it is embarrassing and damages their credibility with their teams, supervisors, and colleagues. Many novice, overbearing, or egotistical leaders are too eager to speak instead of listening to subordinates, co-workers, or advisors and, as a result, they often miss out on the wisdom of sage advice and counsel.
ASBO Lesson: Challenge yourself to meet your professional development goals.
Depending on the opportunity, ASBO International's online education can help you enhance your skills, grow your knowledge, and earn SFO, CPE, and CAE credits.
Participation in the Annual Conference & Expo, Leadership Forum, and committees strengthen and support these goals in addition to allowing you to forge relationships with smart and talented colleagues across the country and around the world. Many of these relationships can lead to lifelong friendships.
Life Lesson: Say what you mean and do what you say.
Credibility is by far the most important characteristic of leadership. It goes hand in hand with integrity — either you have it, or you don’t. It’s a 100% thing! Anything less, and you are not a leader, you’re just in charge, and probably not for long!
Once employees lose respect for a leader, they stop caring, become resentful, or reduce their efforts. When the community or school board loses respect for a leader, it quickly translates into a loss of confidence, typically leading to a replacement.
School of Hard Knocks Lesson: What comes easy won’t last; what lasts won’t come easy.
I picked up this useful knowledge on a plaque I read while walking through a store. This sign got the point across in seconds; the learned experience took years. The takeaway: Put the time in! In leadership, avoid shortcuts, as they may get you there more quickly but might leave you unprepared and without built-in backups (countermeasures) when things go awry.
Good to Great by Jim Collins solidifies this maxim. His concept of getting the right people in the right seats on the bus served as a blueprint for professionalizing our custodial maintenance team in 2004, earning me the ASBO International Pinnacle Award in 2007.
It was far from easy, and we had our bumps along the way, but what we achieved as a district was amazing, and best of all, it lasted. The level of effort and quality of care extended to our buildings, projects, and support for the administration, the board, and the community was clear to parents, professionals, and contractors who visited.
ASBO Lesson: Learn how ASBO partners can help you.
ASBO International’s strategic partners support its mission of leading our profession forward. ASBO works with these partners to bring our members the latest resources, offers, and solutions for their business needs. Why go it alone when you have committed professionals willing to assist in a wide array of areas?
To learn more about how ASBO’s Strategic Partners can help, visit the ASBO website.
Life Lesson: Once we become aware, we become responsible.
As leaders, we can delegate authority, but we cannot delegate responsibility. We may not be responsible for an unfortunate incident or action, but if the incident falls within our purview, once we are aware of the incident or unearth the problem, we need to take immediate steps to identify, communicate, and plan a course of corrective action.
Too often, those who try to conceal a problem — even if it’s one they inherited — lead to their own undoing. Trust your teams, but follow up and follow through to ensure tasks, goals, and objectives are met.
School of Hard Knocks Lesson: Don’t over-apologize.
Apologize once. People understand and see you as imperfect; keep apologizing, and people see you as inept or even guilty.
Tempering Steel
Lessons learned as leaders are just as valuable as those learned growing up. They make us better people. Just as tempering steel strengthens it by hardening and increasing its toughness, lessons learned in, by, and through leadership shape, guide, and strengthen our ability to lead.