“I hope you know, you are doing better than you think you are” is a sentiment that landed on my heart as I was scrolling through my social media feed this week. Lately, these small doses of inspiration have gone a long way for me. So much so, that as soon as I read them, I send them to a few people I feel may benefit from the same notion. I deeply believe that small acts of gratitude can lead to overall better well-being and shift our mindsets in profound ways. This morning, as I read George Couros’ Saturday email there were many ideas that stood out to me including the following: “Something I have embraced over the past several years is that we can never share gratitude for others too early, but it definitely can come too late. I have made it my mission that if I see something good in others, I always let them know, and embracing that idea has never let me down.”

Recognizing Our Humanness   

I’ll admit, lately, I have been so consumed in life both personally and professionally, that sometimes it is hard to see the impact of my actions. A few weeks ago, I wrote a post titled, Embracing Imperfection because I know that there are times I need to be a little kinder to myself and create the beautiful narratives in my head that will continue to propel me forward instead of hold me back. I shared the following: “So, continue to give yourself grace, embrace your imperfections, create the kind narratives you deserve in your head, and use the collective intelligence of the people around you. You can do a lot of things. Hard things. All the things. You can.”

Can you relate? Over the course of my career, I have been fortunate to work with educators who recognized my gifts, celebrated my efforts, and lifted me up. As a matter of fact, I tend to gravitate to people who exude that same energy. People who admire and celebrate others is a special quality that I have made a commitment to do the same for others with intention and purpose. I know that there are some weeks I am better at this than others and I think that’s okay.

Since I am sharing the thinking and work of George Couros in this post, I’ll keep going. He once recommended the book to me titled, How To Win Friends & Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success by Dale Carnegie. There is a reason that this book has been a bestseller and in print for over 80 years. In this book Carnegie shares some of the things people want most and it is what Freud calls the “desire to be great.” It is what Dewey calls, “the desire to be important.” He goes on to share Lincoln’s sentiment, “Everybody likes a compliment.” And then what William James said, “The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.”

With these ideas in mind, I recently had to be reminded that I cannot do it all in the sea of priorities and day to day things that need to be accomplished. Very recently, a mentor and leader reminded me to empower others and to distribute leadership. I paused after hearing this reminder…Oh, yes! How did I forget this? I suppose in the abyss of my day to day things I hadn’t been asking for help as much as I needed. It’s not that I didn’t want to, it’s just that the idea wasn’t rising to the surface and I couldn’t see that clearly.

Taking Action, Empowering Others

So, this week amidst the hustle and bustle of the days, I did just that. I met with teachers who are facilitating professional learning in my district to review their plans and approaches. I listened to their ideas and served as a thinking partner, giving them space to learn and grow through the process. These are talented educators who are thoughtful, practical, and truly care about the priorities we are moving forward in our district. I trust them.

Also, this week, I handed over professional learning experiences to other administrators and teacher leaders because I trust them to share our message wholeheartedly. We are a team.

This week, I had several interactions with teachers to brainstorm ways to move students forward in their learning by bridging assessment and instruction while taking into account who they are as learners and human beings. I shared my insights and asked the teachers to create the plan. Then they can share it with me and we can be thinking partners. I trust them.

My appreciation was deeply set in, and it was on the top of my list to send voice notes, emails, and texts to show them how deeply grateful I was and am.

Moving Forward

So, in the whirlwind of life’s demands, let’s continue to pass the torch to others, show them gratitude, celebrate their efforts, and admire their work like crazy. While doing that, you have the ability to alleviate the weight of the work that is resting on your shoulders while growing your connections with others. You can do this and do it well. I know it. I hope you know, you are doing better than you think you are.

3 Actionable Ideas For Leaders to Implement Tomorrow 1. Embrace and Share Gratitude: Recognize the power of gratitude and small acts of appreciation. Take the time to acknowledge the efforts and contributions of your team, and share your appreciation early and often. 2. Empower and Distribute Leadership: Don’t try to do it all on your own. Empower others in your team and distribute leadership responsibilities. Trust in their abilities and give them space to learn and grow in their roles. 3. Pass the Torch and Celebrate: Encourage others to take on responsibilities and provide them with the support and trust they need to succeed. Celebrate the achievements and efforts of your colleagues, and express your gratitude for their contributions. This approach can lighten your workload while strengthening your connections with others.