Pause, Reflect, Plan

A leadership coach on overcoming feelings of exasperation and regaining the ‘why’ of our work in education

While leading his team during a strategic planning session, the superintendent of a 5,000-student suburban district shared this candidly with the group: “I am not sure about you, but last night when I got home at 8:45 p.m., I did not even know my own name. While it was a men-tally taxing day to say the least, I am so proud of the work we did as a team. Apologies if I was short with any of you — a product of knowing 6,313 things were going on while we were trying to do this especially important work.”

This superintendent certainly is not alone in harboring these feelings of exasperation. Why are school leaders losing their way? While reflecting on the dramatic developments of March 2020, I realized that schools had been turned inside-out. Our buffet-style cafeterias transformed into delivery systems or pick-up windows, our maintenance departments became sanitation services, and our instructional staff scrambled for ways to build virtual connections.

The many distractions that accompanied COVID-19 quickly invaded school district offices and classrooms at great speed. Parent complaints, divided school boards, diminished respect for educators and politicization of school issues became the new educational norm. Even 2½ years later, school administrators frequently describe the many challenges to staffing school buildings due to COVID-19 fatigue and the Great Resignation. Negative student behavior is leading to a greater need for discipline. Finally, administrators are dealing with a higher level of distrust expressed by frustrated parents.

Administrators have become so entrenched in these negative situations that we have lost sight of the big picture. Where are we today? It is time for a reset to remind ourselves why we are in education. Simon Sinek likens the why to “the reason we keep wearing the jersey of our hometown sports team even though they’ve missed the playoffs for 10 years and counting.” Are our teammates still wearing the jersey despite feeling defeated?

Why is the why so important? Amid the current educational turbulence, do we remember why we decided to become public school leaders? Kevin Cashman suggested in his book The Pause Principle that instead of asking how to get things done, we should ask the more important question: “Why am I doing this in the first place?” We need to reacquaint ourselves with the reason and purpose we chose this mission of education in the first place.

During my years as a superintendent, I often asked my team, “Do you still feel the excitement when you get ready to go to work like you did on your first day?”