How do you Identify?

The world is talking (and debating) a lot about identity these days. People identify as female, male, non-binary, democrat, republican, independent, African American, BIPOC, black, Christian, atheist, Lakers fan, southern, vaccinated, anti-vaccine, and on and on and on.

It turns out, how you identify affects your behavior.

So when it comes to your role in education administration, how do you identify?

Do you identify as a Boss? Happy to finally in charge of the school after years of toiling as a lowly teacher, ready to make serious moves and get your name out there as you position yourself for the next promotion? (if only your staff would cooperate...)

Do you identify as a Servant Leader? Selflessly toiling long hours in service to your students and staff while sacrificing your family, health, and sanity all because "leaders go first" and you want to be an example of the kind of (unhealthy) work ethic you want to see from your teachers?

Do you identify as an Instructional Leader? Getting into classrooms all day with your upgraded checklists and rubrics, giving teachers loads of "feedback," even demonstrating lessons valiantly trying to make teachers over into your own image but secretly frustrated because you know the lesson would be way better if you just taught it yourself?

Do you identify as a Transformational Leader? Pushing change through because you're dedicated to "what's best for kids," while burning out your staff, ignoring the very real challenges of the change process, and wearing yourself out in the process only to see small progress and tiny gains?

Maybe the problem isn't you. Maybe the problem is how you identify.

You see, the very words you use to describe yourself PROSCRIBE your behavior. If you see yourself as a Boss, you begin to act like a Boss (or bosshole).

If you see yourself as a leader, you act like a leader (no matter what adjective you slap on the word "leadership" to make it more palatable).

And the trouble with acting like a boss or leader is that both roles require other people to move in order for you to be successful. So you work hard and wear yourself out trying to get others to do what you want them to do in order for you to feel that you've done anything at all.

Which is why I choose to identify as a Builder.

Being a Builder doesn't require you to convince anyone to move in order for you to make progress. In fact, as a Builder, you get started building FIRST. Your job is to build something so compelling, others will CHOOSE to join you.

That means that you don't have to depend on anyone else to get started. No forcing people or cajoling or pushing or pulling people.

Nope.

You just start Building.

So, if you're feeling frustrated because you're not seeing the progress you want, maybe it's time to rethink how you identify.

It's amazing that this one simple shift can make all the difference in how you see your work, and how others see you.

(By the way, enrollment for our next cohort of Builders inside of Buildership University opens next week. Click here to join us).