Leaders create culture. Culture drives behavior. Behavior produces results.  -Tim Kight

Your title is unimportant – we are all leaders. From the superintendent, to the building principal, to the classroom teachers . . . we are all leaders. We create the culture in our space.

When you, as the leader, aren’t intentional about the culture you create, you get poor results. When we permit our culture to be created by others, we get poor results. It doesn’t matter how good your strategic plan is or how talented the team is, if the culture is poor you will not get maximum results.

We all know the organizations where the culture is strong, where relationships are strong, and where shared values drive behavior. These are the organizations that retain high quality people – where others want to go work, live, and grow. We also know organizations with toxic, reactionary cultures. There are places where people flee and others go reluctantly. The difference is palpable and it all comes down to leadership.

You get to choose. You are a leader. As a leader, demand a culture that is true to your values. Model your values through your leadership. Stand-up and own your decisions. Only you can control your space in the organization – be bold, confident, and true to yourself.