It’s Time for a Mindset Shift

For the past two years, educational leaders have consistently reverberated with the following theme: ” Our jobs are difficult, things have changed, and I can’t wait to retire.”

Articles are written, conference agendas are created, and groups are convened lamenting America’s current state of education.

Leaders perseverate about who to blame and how we arrived at our current condition.

We complain about policymakers and legislators; we grumble about the political environment.

We defend our feelings; we yearn for the pre-pandemic past and a bygone era.

My friend and mentor, Tim Kight, Founder and President of Focus 3, addresses our current mindset cycle.  When we focus on the negative events we can’t control, our feelings drive our actions, and our cycle is counterproductive.

When our mindset cycle, our own self-talk, is reinforced by others in our professional sphere, it becomes a doom-loop.  Our blaming, complaining, and defending (BCD) is amplified.  We focus on emotions and less on solutions.  The group lamentation becomes a false truth in our minds.  Since everyone feels like I feel, it must be true.

As school leaders, it’s time to regain control of our mindset cycle. When we ask, “What is required of us?” the answer is clear – it’s time to step up and make a difference. It’s time to take control and respond to each challenge with skill and purpose.

As leaders, we cultivate the culture and behavior of our schools.  We get to set the tone for everyone we serve.  When we lead with hope and optimism, when we collaborate and empower our teams to create solutions, our students benefit.  When we provide clarity of expectations, support necessary to achieve goals, and accountability to measure progress, the mindset cycle begins to shift.  We build trust through our repeated interactions with those in our organization. 

Yes, our jobs have changed, and we get to redefine the future.  We get to engage with legislators, advocate in support of public education, and seek consensus about preparing our students for the workforce of tomorrow.  We get to collaborate with parents to create personal pathways for each student.  

I love my job and the community I serve.  Our jobs demand that we lead with purpose and skill.  We are better leaders when we are intentional in our actions – when we understand our emotions and rise above what’s out of our control.  Now, more than ever, having an “I get to” attitude is critical.  When we lead our school communities with authentic optimism, others will follow, and students will benefit.  

When we operate on default, when we leave our mindset to chance, we abdicate control.  When we have focused leadership, when we are disciplined in our approach to our work, we seize the moment.

Let’s do the work-