A recent story made smile:
Two men decided it was time to make their fortune by setting up a
roadside fruit stand. They made their
plan, and set it in motion by driving out into the field to pick their melons,
pay the farmer who grew them a dollar per melon, and drive their truck to their
stand where they would sell the melons for a dollar each. After a few runs, one turned to the other and
said, “we really aren’t making much money on this, are we?” To which the other responded “Maybe we need
to get a bigger truck…”
Sometimes we shake our head when others don’t get it…and at
times one of those others is me. What do
I wish for when I don’t get it? The
opportunity to get it. I think this
requires two courageous actions. First,
it requires someone to do more than shake their head – the action must be accompanied by their voice. One that expresses
in a courteous yet passionate manner (a kind smack to the back of the head) “Hey…did
you ever think about _______?”
The second action is the critical one, and falls solely upon
me. It is the courage to listen (and not
be offended). That’s much more than
hearing what is being said. It’s empathetic
listening: listening to understand, and not listening to reply.
Although I’ve been and will continue to be a lifelong
educator, the changing of my roles often concerns me. I was in the classroom for six fantastic
years. Then I got a bigger truck, and
served as a building principal for 11 years, and loved that role. I’m now in a district truck role, entering my
4th year. With each passing
year, I’m a little bit further away from those fantastic years having a direct
impact on students. With the changing
positions, my day-to-day contact with students has lessened, and now my work focuses
on building leaders who influence the adults that have the most direct impact
on students. Being further away from the
students, I believe, increases my chances of not getting it.
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