Let’s start with an Oprah quote…. ⠀
“I’ve come to believe that each of us have a personal calling that’s as unique as a fingerprint — and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing the energy of the universe to lead you.” Oprah
I think Oprah has it nailed on the head. This is what we have been searching for…This is how we stay lit!
Positivity? Energy? Joy? We need this more than ever. We need to figure out just how we are going to bring the joy to a very uncertain year. But I know you! You are the type of leader who will do whatever it takes to make sure your community is thriving and you know how much work it will take. That doesn’t scare you. You know how consistent you will have to be and how staying connected is key over everything else.
You know your community has to be there for each other and in order to do that they must have a culture and an environment where joy, energy, and positivity are invited in every single day. It all starts with their leader. But you knew that already. You’ve already got this! But in case you need a little inspiration, I have some neat tricks that may help.
Here are some must haves and tricks that you can do as a leader to help yourself and your community stay lit all year long, regardless of whether or. not you are virtual or face to face.
MUSIC
Bring the fun by pumping the tunes before each staff meeting or in the school. Some may dance, some may cry, and some may not be impressed, but do it anyway! It is ok if people don’t want to move their bodies. They may choose to sit and listen to the music but it will make them feel more joy.
FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY AS A COMMUNITY
Make a list with your community of things that bring you joy and then do them! Make a point of knocking some things off the list! For example, if food brings you joy, eat the food at your next meeting! Perhaps it is adult learning, read a wellness book! Maybe it is a cocktail, set up a cocktail hour (outside of school hours of course…).
KEEP REMINDING YOU AND YOUR COMMUNITY THAT THIS IS A SEASON AND THIS STORM OF A SEASON SHALL PASS
Remind them that this will not last forever. Remind them every day and say it to yourself a hundred times! It helps!
TAKE A BREATH AND ONE STEP AT A TIME
Tackle each obstacle one at a time. Set up batching sessions where you focus on one thing for an allotted time rather than doing a whole bunch of things at once. For more info on how to do a batching session check out my blog called the Magic of Batching. Give yourself and your community some grace and time to practice in this new reality.
SCHEDULE IN CONNECTION
Put it in your calendar and then make it happen! Don’t just schedule in meetings and to do lists. Schedule in self care, time with family, connection with staff, wine time, you time etc. so that it becomes just as important and actually happens. Check in on your community, your students, your own kids, your spouse, and yourself. It matters and it makes a difference. Schedule that in too!
HAVE YOUR STAFF DO A PROFESSIONAL READ ON A WELLNESS BOOK, PODCAST, OR ARTICLES
Instead of always having them read curriculum development books, try a wellness focus and see what happens. Infuse your professional learning communities with space for talking about healthy habits. You can set up groups, challenges, conversations etc that allow space for people to learn healthy habits from each other. Build a facebook group for people to share what they are doing. If you see it every day and hear it every day eventually it will influence you in some way. Remember that! (I need to keep that in mind when I am watching reality tv….oops).
EMBARK IN A SCHOOL WIDE CHALLENGE!
Students and teachers love this! In our school, we do a Survivor challenge every year. We have themed announcements and the Survivor theme songs. Each class has their name put into tribal council. At the end of each day, we pull a few names and they are voted off the island. However, they can get back in through an immunity challenge that they have to complete by the end of the next day. The last class standing gets a prize and the teachers…well (they may have their own Survivor challenge going on the side with spirits….). It always brings the joy. Choose your own challenge as a school and it will light you up!
LAUGH MORE AND PLAY PRANKS!
Yep nothing is more funny than a good fart machine….Tell jokes over the announcements or through flipgrid if you are virtual. Play pranks (as long as they are appropriate and safe of course!) and laugh. As they say, laughter is the best medicine.
CREATE A BUCKET LIST FOR STAYING LIT WITH YOUR STAFF
Build and co-construct a bucket list with your community at the beginning of the year of things you will do to stay lit. Challenge your community to check things off the list by taking action and actually doing these things that bring you joy. Like I always say, “if you write it down, it will happen!”
These are just a few ideas that you, as a leader, could implement into your year in order to navigate through this season. We are all in this together so let’s lift each other up!
Be sure to download my FREE guide on ways to Reframe How You Show Up As A Leader.
And…
Even If You Miss..... 