Great article! I have one thing to add. It would help most of us in leadership positions if those further up in the hierarchy would also practice these principles. Unfortunately, my experience these days is that this is a rare occurrence. And people like me feel unsupported, alone, and increasingly frustrated that those in ultimate control don’t “get” what the rest of us do.
As a Head I did try to practice what I preach----you would have to ask the staff---though I am still in touch with most even after 5 years of retirement and one can sense a mutual respect and even liking.
I practiced MBWA ---management by walking about and valued In Search of Excellence by (is it Peters and ..) I did believe that all wisdom did not lie in the office---teachers knew their own jobs better---in general I felt the boss should be about he last to leave and if there was a school activity eg Saturday sport ,the boss should be there---and don't ask the staff to do something you are not prepared to do yourself. Some of my former staff on on this Substack---so if I speak hypocritical nonsense they will, no doubt let us know. I do understand what you are saying and yes, the upper layers do not often practice what I am preaching. The course I lectured in ---a Post Graduate Course in Leadership --preparing people for leadership roles in schools---a lot of time was spent on team building and if you check other leadership articles there is material on eg Distributed leadership.
I said you're waiting for others to provide appropriate leadership. YOU said "read more carefully, I'm waiting for others to provide appropriate leadership at the organizational level."
Kudos to you! Walk the talk is always good practice. Wish many others were as conscientious as you.
Great article! I have one thing to add. It would help most of us in leadership positions if those further up in the hierarchy would also practice these principles. Unfortunately, my experience these days is that this is a rare occurrence. And people like me feel unsupported, alone, and increasingly frustrated that those in ultimate control don’t “get” what the rest of us do.
As a Head I did try to practice what I preach----you would have to ask the staff---though I am still in touch with most even after 5 years of retirement and one can sense a mutual respect and even liking.
I practiced MBWA ---management by walking about and valued In Search of Excellence by (is it Peters and ..) I did believe that all wisdom did not lie in the office---teachers knew their own jobs better---in general I felt the boss should be about he last to leave and if there was a school activity eg Saturday sport ,the boss should be there---and don't ask the staff to do something you are not prepared to do yourself. Some of my former staff on on this Substack---so if I speak hypocritical nonsense they will, no doubt let us know. I do understand what you are saying and yes, the upper layers do not often practice what I am preaching. The course I lectured in ---a Post Graduate Course in Leadership --preparing people for leadership roles in schools---a lot of time was spent on team building and if you check other leadership articles there is material on eg Distributed leadership.
Thank you for your wise words, Hugh.
So you're allowing the murder of innocent children to continue due to the lack of OTHER PEOPLE leading properly.
How utterly hypocritical. How many decades will you wait?
Read my other articles.
As it says in the intro, this is about leadership in organisations---appropriate since the leadership in the UK has just changed.
Remember too I lectured in leadership to aspiring heads---so I write about---leadership. Look again at the subtitle.
you're... telling me... to read more carefully
Just WOW, you know?
I think you have misunderstood . I write on two themes. If you read my Covid based articles you will see were I stand.
I said you're waiting for others to provide appropriate leadership. YOU said "read more carefully, I'm waiting for others to provide appropriate leadership at the organizational level."