Life is curly. Don’t try to straighten it out.
Follow my first meeting with as middle leader, as a senior leader I was able to use some of the basic ideas and tips I had highlighted from my summer reading list. (Incidentally, whilst I enjoyed “Fierce Conversations,” I am not enjoying “Fierce Leadership” as much.) We discussed issues pertinent to my colleague (not my agenda), twice avoid distraction towards operational discussions and I consciously avoid simply providing solutions to his issues. After all, not all the issues required ‘straightening out,’ and certainly not by me.
The meeting closed with an appreciative comment towards my support and listening skills. For those of you that know me well, that may well surprise you. This represents a small, but important personal achievement, one that has benefitted our working relationship but also reassured a colleague as well.
Following the meeting I sources a range of leadership notes, ideas, lists and suggestions that we could use and he could use within his immediate teaching team.