“Decide what you want to be, and then do that work.” – Ryan Holiday

After nearly two decades in education, amidst the hustle and bustle of learning, teaching, being active in student life, attending and facilitating meetings and professional learning sessions, constant reading, relentless podcast listening, reflective writing, and creating systems and structures to help students and teachers thrive, I have come to realize a profound truth: every human being desires belonging and connectedness.

Each person I have encountered wants to be seen and cared for, and when we as educators and leaders decide who we want to be first, we can do the important work, enabling others to do their best work.

In my book The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within, I share a story about my first principal, Beth Longo. When I was a new teacher and still discovering what kind of educator I wanted to be, she challenged and pushed me to be the best version of myself and reflect on the educator and leader I was becoming. She had high expectations and showed me that growth and comfort do not coexist. My classroom was a revolving door, bringing in visitors, including superintendents and teachers from other schools. I can remember those guests asking my students what they were learning today and why, as my heart pounded out of my chest, worried that they would not share the correct answer.

After these experiences, she’d directly ask, “What did you learn as an educator today, Lauren?” “What about today will you bring with you for the rest of your career?” I can assure you that I didn’t always have an answer to her questions at the moment. But I learned that I could do hard things as I was discovering how to do my best work.

I think you know that much of what we do is driven by the desire to become the best versions of ourselves. When our needs are met, we shine; when they are unmet, we can falter.

In his bestselling book, How to Know a Person, NYTimes bestselling author David Brooks shares the following: “There is something in being seen that brings forth growth. If you beam the light of potential on me, I blossom. If you see great potential in me, I will probably come to see great potential in myself” (p. 11).

As a new school year approaches, how will you create the conditions for yourself to do the important work so that students, teachers, and leaders can thrive and do their best work?

From experience, I can tell you that there is no perfect answer. That’s because the perfect path to doing your best work does not exist. What I can assure you is that you are the creator of your journey and can carve the path you want one step at a time, even when it is hard to see the road ahead.

Sometimes when doing your best work, and things are happening quickly, you will have to back up. Remember that backing up is not giving up. It’s standing back to look at the view, embracing the discomfort of losing our way and finding our way back to the important work.

As Adam Grant says in his book Hidden Potential, “The best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek, and amplify discomfort.”

Recently, I had a full-circle moment that brought me back to my first-year teacher self. I had asked a teacher to facilitate a professional learning session. I saw something in her that Beth saw in me. This reflection brought me to a deeper understanding of who I am as a leader, which in turn empowered her to step into her own leadership potential. I received a text message from her that made me reflect on the importance of doing the important work: “Thank you for asking me to present today. Always a worrier… but I am so glad the work was helpful. I can’t wait to utilize the strategies that I learned today! I am grateful for you and all that you do to create a community of learning. 😃😃”

In my book The Leader Inside: Stories of Mentorship to Inspire the Leader Within, I share a sentiment about doing the work, “Regardless of our roles, we must show up and realize that perfection is unattainable. It’s our imperfection that shapes us as leaders.” This reflection emphasizes the importance of embracing our flaws and learning from our experiences, as it is through this process that we grow and develop as effective leaders. By accepting our imperfections, we can better connect with and inspire those we lead, fostering an environment where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to do their best work.

Moving Forward

Once you discover who you want to be and you are doing the important work, channel your energy into people’s successes. When you make it about other people, you care as much about their success as your own.

Remember, when we as educators and leaders decide who we want to be first, we can do the important work, enabling others to do their best work. This journey begins with looking inside and a dedication to personal growth.

People are counting on you. You are counting on you.

“Decide what you want to be, and then do that work.” – Ryan Holiday

Actionable Ideas to Implement Tomorrow

Here are 10 questions for leaders to help them reflect on who they want to be and how they can do their best work to help others:

1. Are you open-minded and receptive to new ideas, embracing different perspectives and innovations?
2. How effectively do you manage stress and setbacks, maintaining resilience and composure?
3. Do you create and maintain networks that support collaboration and mutual growth?
4. Can you articulate your points clearly, ensuring your vision and expectations are understood?
5. Are you self-motivated, driving your own growth and inspiring others through your actions?
6. How well do you settle challenges and misunderstandings?
7. Do you stay calm under pressure, providing stability and confidence to those around you?
8. How do you handle criticism constructively, using feedback as a tool for personal and professional improvement?
9. Are you an active listener, truly understanding the needs and concerns of your team?
10. Do you provide a vision that motivates others, inspiring them to strive for excellence and shared goals?