Back to the classroom! As summer is coming to an end, teachers and students are gearing up for another school year. While school supplies and new sneakers are on the list for back to school, we encourage teachers to consider adding sharpening their leadership skills to the list.
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” Sheryl Sanberg
What a great motto for teachers to consider! In your quest to lead the next generation, we recommend the following leadership tips:
Build relationships with your students. Be genuinely concerned about their interests in and outside of the classroom. This is a great way to build trust and open the lines of communication. And, without even realizing it, students are learning to do the same. A great quality for leaders is relationship building.
Involve students in the learning process. Students are more likely to enjoy learning if they have input in the process. Give them a choice of assignments or maybe even the due date on assignments once or twice this year.
Lead by example. Take the lead as a learner. Continuous learning is always a component of being a good educator. Keep students in the loop on what professional or personal development you are working on this year.
Be an encourager. No matter what background students come from or how successful they are in academics or sports, they all need encouragement. Great leaders are encouragers. Encourage your students and encourage them to encourage each other.
For more insight into leadership, check out these post from The Point Blog:
10 Books Leaders need to be Reading
Establishing Leadership as a High School or College Student
