Five for Friday Outline

Hello colleagues and welcome to the Assistant Principal Podcast. I’m your host Frederick Buskey. The goal of this podcast is to help improve the life and leadership of assistant principals. Today’s episode of Five for Friday recaps the strategic leadership emails for the week of December 31-January 6, 2022 and 2023. Happy New Year!

From December 26-January 6 are the twelve days of Christmas (in some traditions) and we are celebrating each day with a fun leadership lyric and brief lesson.

Two bonus emails this week!

Dedication to Mr. Land

Day 6

Subject: On the 6th day of Christmas, Frederick gave to me…

Six thoughts a straying,

Being strategic is about being intentional. Again, simple but difficult. Ignore those disparate thoughts – they are distractions. Be intentional, purposeful, and present.

Day 7

Subject: On the 7th day of Christmas, Frederick gave to me…

Seven souls a singing,

Leaders shouldn’t create the vision. Leaders create the space and provide the support to develop a shared vision that represents the aspirations of the people who power the organization. Like a choir director, the leader then helps bring those voices together to create a remarkable sound.

Day 8

Subject: On the 8th day of Christmas, Frederick gave to me…

Eight monkeys making,

Monkeys are the tasks that others try and “give” to you. Monkeys make work for you and, worse they make a distraction. Monkeys may be important to the monkey owner, but not to you. You don’t need to accept every “gift.” Acknowledge the monkey, but let it stay with its true owner.  

Day 9

Subject: On the 9th day of Christmas, Frederick gave to me…

Nine deeds demanding,

The one most essential thing! Demanding equals urgent, but urgent does not equal important! In this new year, I wish for you to be purposeful in all you do. People before deeds, and purpose before demands.

Day 10

Subject: On the 10th day of Christmas, Frederick gave to me…

Ten fingers typing,

Do not confuse productivity for progress or action for improvement. Strategic leaders do not focus on action, they focus on incremental progress. In doing so, they consistently make things better with fewer words.

Day 11

Subject: On the 11th day of Christmas, Frederick gave to me…

‘Leven people asking,

Being strategic means that we are intentional, and because we are intentional we ask before we act. Asking questions lets us identify problems so we avoid wasting time treating symptoms. When we include all stakeholders in questioning process, we usually have a better outcome.

Day 12

Subject: On the 12th day of Christmas, Frederick gave to me…

Twelve leaders laughing,

Oh, but we take ourselves so seriously! And yet, the trees don’t care, the fish don’t care, and the world moves on with or without you. Be passionate about what you do. Recognize the value you bring to others. But always remember to laugh, for what kind of a leader can we be if we cannot laugh?

Takeaway

We work hard and we have to be able to have fun and laugh at ourselves.

This wraps up this week’s Five for Friday rendition of The Assistant Principal Podcast. If you enjoyed today’s show, please subscribe and rate this podcast. Rating the podcast really does help other people to find it.

I’m always trying to improve the show, so if you have feedback please email me at [email protected]. If you’d like to find out more about what I’m doing to support assistant principals, you can head over to my website at frederickbuskey.com/theassistantprincipal.

I’m Frederick Buskey and I hope you’ll join me next time for the Assistant Principal Podcast.