Do You Have What It Takes?

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it takes to be a principal and even more so about what it takes to be a high performing leader (dare I say a level 5 leader).  So naturally, I drift to the thought, “do I have what it takes?”  One of my favorite, I mean absolutely favorite quotes is from Michael Fullan when he says “collaborative cultures rarely select newcomers only on the basis of their personal track records.  Rather, they hire largely for the person’s ability to work with and lead others.”  Fullan goes onto quote another author by adding “We want people who know they can get better; they want to learn from the best.  We look for people who light up when they are around other talented people.”

Great book, you should read it.

As a young leader it’s easy to see why I might gravitate to this quote.  I don’t have decades of experience.  I haven’t passed The Tipping Point of 10,000 hours of administrative work…wait, wrong analogy…I haven’t blinked…um, that doesn’t sound right…anyway, insert Malcolm Gladwell reference here.  What I do have is enough sense to know that I’m a better leader when I rely on the wisdom and collaboration of my team to make decisions, rather than always shooting from the hip.  Is that what it takes?  The ability to say “less of me and more of us?”

What do you think?  Yes you!  The principal, or leader reading this post, I want to hear your thought on what it takes?  Or is that wrong question?  Don’t be shy.  Start typing now.