Welcome!

Margaret Raymond Driscoll is in her 12th year as a Melrose School Committee member, and she is passionate about excellent teaching and learning for all public school students. She considers it a privilege to collaborate with others who share that passion. You can also follow her on Twitter at @MargaretDrisc. Just to be clear - opinions expressed here do not represent those of the Melrose Public Schools, the Melrose School Committee, or the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials - they are hers alone.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

"Leadership Isn't for Cowards"

Today's General Session featured Keynote Speaker Michael Staver, author of "Leadership Isn't for Cowards"*. He provided his take on the three pitfalls of all leaders: the need to be right, the need to be in control, and the need to be all things to all people. He then provided advice in the form of "ATTACK" theory:

A-ccept your circumstances as they actually are. Don't make things better than they are and by all means don't make them worse. Have the courage to face reality.

T-ake responsibility; it works best if you have the courage to take ownership for your behavior and the consequent results.

T-ake action - DO SOMETHING.

A-cknowledge progress - create a culture of celebration. Focus on incremental progress and success.

C-ommit to lifelong learning! If you are effective you are learning; if you aren't learning you aren't effective!

K-indle your influence - means to give new life to. Means to carefully consider how to build and nurture your influence.

* From printed handout; copyright Mike Staver - The Staver Group; www.MikeStaver.com