Aspiring Leaders Thriving vs. Surviving

TAHPERD (Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance)

This year’s 94th annual convention was such a memorable one filled with relationship building & strengthening not just for our department as a district, but also for our profession across the state of Texas. We closed out an amazing chapter under the leadership & guidance of Diana Everett who is are current Executive Director until January, and are getting ready to start a new chapter with the new Executive Director, Rose Haggerty. We greatly appreciate Diana’s vision, and leadership for promoting healthy lifestyles across Texas through Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. For me this transition also affirmed some thoughts and feelings I have been reflecting upon within my own mind and heart as I am new to leadership. Through my own transition into Leadership I am seeing a paradigm shift within leadership at many different levels.

One of the things that has really resonated with me from this year’s convention came during the administrators welcome, where we invite administrators from all districts across the state of Texas including, principals, superintendents, directors and coordinators. There was a comment that many “baby boomers” are beginning to retire from the profession, and that new leaders will need to emerge to fill those shoes. There was also feedback that these emerging leaders would need to be developed…

My focus for this reflection will be on “aspiring leaders”, because I find myself currently in this boat. I am currently an Assistant Director for Student Wellness in Spring Branch ISD, and started thinking about all of the influential experiences, people and things that have led me to where I am currently. Many would describe me as a “non-traditional” leader, because I taught in the gym as a Health Fitness Specialist for only seven years, and then moved straight into a “leadership” role within the last two of those seven years and now currently for the last three years where by role I was defined as an”Intramural Coordinator” then “Advanced Movers Coordinator & Off Campus Health Fitness Site Facilitator” and now my current title, “Assistant Director for Student Wellness”. I have been told many times that I moved up quicker than most in the profession, but I believe this was through seeking out every opportunity as well as being given those opportunities, having strong guiding pillars (mentors), and really applying myself through each experience with the intention of learning not seeking an advancement.

One of the things that really helped me in building my own leadership capacity was gaining knowledge through experiences in a variety of different areas. I had no idea they would lead me to where I am today, and ultimately I know the plans God has were already mapped out for me. However I am going to share some of the experiences I have had, because I believe leaders and organizations need to be thinking about their successors as well as sustainability. What are we currently doing to inspire & develop “aspiring leaders” so they can thrive versus survive.

I believe opportunities work hand in hand, because as “aspiring leaders” we need to be given opportunities to step into leadership but at the same time we need to be seeking those opportunities out. I was reminded of my own thoughts and feelings when I was transitioning into leadership during this convention as I found myself providing support & guidance as well as networking with young leaders and “aspiring leaders”.

Some have recently stepped into a leadership role, and others are hungry for ways to gain experiences in leadership. Inevitably all the folks I spoke with are seeking knowledge, collaboration, support, and guidance so they can thrive versus survive either in their new role or where they currently may be professionally and on their way of where they would like to be. I consider myself very blessed to have had some amazing mentors, who provided support, guidance, and opportunities to learn.

One thing I would recommend is to volunteer for as many things as you can that align with your game plan. I have a great mentor, Baker Harrell, C.E.O. of It’s Time Texas, and he really challenged my thought process this past summer, when he asked all of us directors and coordinators in the room at a summit for leaders if we had a map of where we were wanting to get to, and a compass that was guiding us along the way, or how many of you feel so busy, always on the go, but not really getting to your planned destination. I found myself with relating to the second part of that statement. In retrospect I definitely wish I would have received this guidance way earlier on in my career path, but as I mentioned the experiences I have endured have also equipped me with the tools I have needed to thrive. I have found myself feeling extremely busy over the last ten years, and I used to say it was a good busy, but as I processed his keynote I realized by chance for many of my business it was aligned with where I was going at that point in time, and has helped me where I am currently. He talked about pivoting and leaping too, which I will touch on in another post later on.

I facilitated and coordinated programming beyond just a quality physical education and health class during the day, but also extracurricular activities Monday-Saturday for five years. This included a basketball performance team, intramural programming with games on Saturday, boys leadership development group, kids school health advisory club, soccer program, future coaches academy, and a few others I also supported with other teachers. There are times that I didn’t get compensated for half of these programs, but I learned how to design & implement programs, how to engage families & community partners, and how to sustain programs by empowering others to lead them.

My compass has always & continues to be doing what is best for kids, families, and the community, and so I sought out opportunities like the ones I mentioned above. It was also through one my mentors, which was my principal Kay Kennard who allowed me these opportunities so I could learn through these experiences. I also volunteered to be the district employee wellness coordinator without compensation for a few years, but again this gave me overview of things on a much larger scale beyond just my own area of influence at my campus at the time. It was also experiences like this that I learned to network, and build relationships to help strengthen these programs. These programs engaged so many of our families, because it provided opportunities for their kids. This eventually became a district wide initiative now known as the “Advanced Movers Initiative” that I am responsible for driving working with Athletics and multiple departments across my district.

The last mentor and experience that I wanted to touch on was our former Director of Student Wellness, Rebecca Fuchs. She invited me to join her in so many different avenues relating to coordinated school health, which I will also cover in another reflection. However what I wanted to touch base on was that she believe in me, and saw a heart for serving as well as leadership capacity that she helped develop within me over the last few years before she retired. She entrusted me to lead, and in the beginning of these opportunities a little bit out of my comfort zone which stretched me not just professionally but personally. I gained so much knowledge from her leadership style as well as what she has learned over the years. She knew I was seeking opportunities so she made sure she provided those with me so that she could help me develop as an “aspiring leader”.

All of the experiences above have helped shape me into the “leader” I am today, and I consider myself thriving instead of barely surviving, which I felt like many of the professionals I spoke with at the convention this past week are wanting to do in their current roles. I also share this to hopefully shed some light on rethinking of how we are developing “aspiring leaders” so that they can thrive when they get to their destination on their game plan. I also want to provide support, encouragement, and guidance for “aspiring leaders” and challenge leaders today to think about the best practices they have in place to develop “aspiring leaders” within their own organizations.

I always say like they do in show biz, “the show must go on” and so what are we doing in our own areas of influence to empower, sustain, and develop the young professionals so that they will thrive once we are gone. Are we providing opportunities for professionals in our own organizations, and what are we doing to develop leaders who are 1-5 years within their leadership roles? This is the paradigm shift that I am hoping to be a part of, because I was very fortunate to have many of the experiences I listed above, as well as mentors, and opportunities to step into leadership. How can we collaborate, and support young professionals. My hope is that leaders take time to share their experiences, pass on your knowledge and wisdom. Trust in “aspiring leaders” and provide them opportunities, because we cannot develop leaders if we do not allow them the opportunities to take charge and be the driver. Knowledge and wisdom leaves with people if they do take the time to share it with others. What are you doing currently in your practice that will strengthen your teams and the people you manage so that they can thrive in the organization when the torch is passed and not be trying to just survive? Take some time wherever you are to begin implementing practices that will encourage, inspire, and develop “aspiring leaders” because they will become the future and we need to set them up for success. If you are already implementing things to develop “aspiring leaders” I would love for you to share in the comment section below.

Thanks for reading.