Inner stillness is the key to outer strength.
—Jared Brock
What Makes an Inspirational Leader?
I recently heard about a new research study that defines characteristics of the most inspirational leaders. As I listened to different podcasters discuss this study, I couldn’t wait to go and read it for myself.
As I read, I found myself completely enamored with the results of the Bain research study. Bain research defined 33 characteristics of inspiring leaders You don’t need all 33 attributes. Although this is fascinating, and I love the way we can intentionally develop characteristics to be more inspiring, it’s not the part of the study that has me consumed.
The part of the study that has me talking to anyone who will listen is that the researchers boiled down their findings to one attribute that is the most important. And this one attribute is surprising.
It turns out that centeredness is the most important attribute of a leader who creates inspiration in others. It is the axis of the other 32 characteristics. From the study:
Just as leaders need to be able to meet their performance objectives to be rated as satisfactory, for example, we recognize that leaders need to be able to stay centered to inspire. Being centered is a precondition to using one’s leadership strengths effectively.
Centeredness means being fully present. In a world that is designed to swipe our attention and distraction runs rampant, if we want to be inspiring to our students and colleagues, we must learn to anchor ourselves in the present moment.
This issue is about creating space for learning. You’ll find articles approaching space from a literal perspective with ideas for classroom design and others that share how to carve out space in our schedules and protect space for student choice and voice—plus more, as always.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
When students feel safe, they are positioned to learn. Julie Cox shares ways to create a learning environment that brings unity to her high school classroom.
Heather Fisher guides a reflective practice exercise to begin a professional meeting that gives space for participants to pause and consider their core values. This simple experience has the potential to powerfully energize educators.
Join Coach-to-Coach, a supportive and inspiring network just for instructional coaches. Meet virtually once a month to keep your professional goals fresh and stay accountable for your next steps as a coach. This free community is inspired by Choice Literacy articles and led by Ruth Ayres.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Becca Burk reflects on the other kids in the classroom who witness dysregulated behaviors from a classmate. She reminds us of the way grace and acceptance are prominent when we look for the silver linings in difficult situations. This is the third installment of a four-part series chronicling the responses when a student with dysregulated behaviors joins Becca Burk’s kindergarten class mid-year.
Gwen Blumberg helps us consider and create space for a variety of personalities and learning needs. Inspired by a morning hike, she takes her observations and applies them to give space for all students to learn.
In this era of pressure to perform, Vivian Chen suggests slowing down as an act of intentionality, equity, and meeting the needs of all learners.
Choice Numeracy | Jodie Bailey approaches setting up her math classroom as a blank space with an invitation for students to engage in establishing identity, creativity, and collaboration.
In this video, Melissa Quimby advises leaving space for students to personalize the classroom when they arrive to start the new school year.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Ruth Metcalfe shares four ways to develop shared efficacy and leadership.
Matt Renwick offers three suggestions for school leaders who want to shape school culture to encourage professional growth.
Ruth Ayres tackles the common resistance to norms. When norms seem to suck the energy out of the room, don’t make the mistake of thinking you need a new list of norms. Try one of these ideas to use norms to energize your team. This is the second of three installments in a series about norms.
Quote It:
To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.
―Lao Tzu
That’s all for this week!
