The Leader in Me – blog.
L. Greathouse
Introduction and Chapter 1: Too Good
to Be True?
Introduction:
The author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Stephen Covey,
explains the philosophy behind developing leaders among our children, our future.
Through his work and presentations, he applied seven habits to teens, then on
to elementary schools as important people involved directly in the business of
school became involved. One person was principal Muriel Summers, who asked Dr.
Covey’s advice about taking this back to her elementary school in North
Carolina. From here, the program has grown to include schools across the nation
and beyond. As Dr. Covey states, he
prefers to “focus on the good” and the leader approach provides an avenue for everyone
to do just that.
Chapter 1:
The work done at A.B. Combs Elementary in Raleigh, N.C. is highlighted. This
school is the first to implement the program, and where Muriel Summers still
serves as principal. A parent
interviewed describes a first visit where he observed the following:
1.
Accounts
of high and sustained test scores; friendly/respectful students; an engaged
staff; and a principal named as “Principal of the Year”
2.
Evidence
of minimal discipline issues
3.
Reports
of all teachers being “happy” at school
4.
Observations
of students who look people in the eye and greet those they pass in the hall,
etc.
5.
Cheerful
messages and motivating displays of student products throughout the building.
6.
A
place where respect for diversity is not only valued, it is celebrated.
Over time,
the author has seen this in action in a growing number of schools and so no
longer doubts the sustainability of the use of the habits over time, nor the
power great educators have to impact the next generation in such a positive
way.
In the
section, “Greatness to Match Today’s Realities”, there is discussion about the
fact that advance technology and globalization of markets has created great
opportunity for the human race, but also has moved us past the “information
age” into what is now a time where factual information alone is not enough. It is no longer the differentiator
between those who succeed and those who do not. The new winners are creative,
have strong analytical skills, a knack for foresight, and good people skills.
The “right-brainers” are taking hold of the economy and the competition is not
limited to those who have the textbook knowledge. Covey reports that this
generation of people read far more text messages than they do school books. He
reports on the need to help students acquire “primary greatness” which is about
integrity, work ethic, initiative, and treatment of others. This naturally
leads to a person’s development of secondary greatness, that which is
associated with rank, title, and achievements.
Common among
schools implementing this program are comments like “Every child needs this.”
Others report becoming believers in the system after coming to the realization
that it is “just the right thing to be doing.”
The chapter
concludes with the need to look for three overriding themes throughout the book
and the stories different organizations share. These are:
·
The
universal nature of the leadership principles
·
The
universal nature and unique potential of children
·
The
same principles and approach being taught at these schools can also be taught
at home.
Pages 16
& 17 provide insight into how the book is organized. The author encourages
the reader to first skim, look at pictures, and get a feel for the nature of
the information before reading it in its entirety.
Pat Bickley
Chapter 2
Discovering What Parents, Business Leaders, and Teachers Want
from a School
Change
and let that change begin. It changed
the students at A. B. Combs Elementary in every way possible and that change
will influence the lives of the students, the teachers, the community, and the
world. Prepare students for the
challenges that the world has and what better way than equip them to be
leaders!
The heart of
The Leader in Me are:
The 7
Habits of Highly Effective People –
Habit 1: Be Proactive
I am a
responsible person. I take
initiative. I choose my actions,
attitudes, and moods. I do not blame
others for my wrong actions. I do the
right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
I plan
ahead and set goals. I do things that
have meaning and make a difference. I am
an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and
vision, and look for ways to be a good citizen.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
I spend my
time on things that are most important.
This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow
my plan. I am disciplined and organized.
Habit 4: Think Win-Win
I balance
courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in others’ Emotional Bank
Accounts. When conflicts arise, I look
for third alternatives.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be
Understood
I listen
to other people’s ideas and feelings. I
try to see things from their viewpoints.
I listen to others without interrupting.
I am confident in voicing my ideas.
I look people in the eyes when talking.
Habit 6:
Synergize
I value
other people’s strengths and learn from them.
I get along well with others, even people who are different than
me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve
problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions
than any one of us alone. I am humble.
Habit 7:
Sharpen the Saw
I take care
of my body by eating right, exercising, and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places,
not just at school. I take time to find
meaningful ways to help others.
What
Parents Want from Schools – They want their children to:
·
Get along with others
·
Be responsible
·
Be tolerant of people’s differences
·
Become problem solvers
·
Learn to be creative
What the
Business Community Wants –
·
Character
·
Competence
The first thing I look at when hiring is
skills. Skills get people in the door to
be interviewed. But what gets them hired
and what keeps them hired is character. Donnie Lane, CEO, Enersolv
What
Teachers Want –
·
A partnership with students, parents, and
community leaders.
What
Students Want –
·
Physical: Safety, good health, food, exercise,
shelter, and hygiene
·
Social-emotional: Acceptance, kindness,
friendship, the desire to love and to be loved.
·
Mental: Intellectual growth, creativity, and
stimulating challenges
·
Spiritual: Contribution, meaning, and uniqueness
Developing Leaders one child at a time!
