Everyone has their idea of leadership, but at it’s core – leadership is influence.  Leadership is getting people from one phase to the next.  Sometimes they know where they want to go, most times they don’t. Sometimes they are excited about the journey, many times they are not. But leadership is about movement. If no one is going in any direction, if you are at a standstill and not making an impact of any kind, you are not leading.

 Leading team members (as well as children and families) is a significant feat, but one that can be successfully navigated by employing the right practices to guide yourself, your work and others. 

Guiding Others

1. Build a winning team – Effective teams are a mix of strengths, abilities and perspectives that are nurtured by success, strategy and collaboration.
2. Assume no harm – Everyone wants to do well, most mistakes and failures are unintentional.
3. Understand before responding – Gather as many facts as possible before making decisions and judgement calls.

Guiding Your Work

4. Keep children and families in focus – With the betterment of children in focus, we bring our best selves to the work that we do and it prompts us to overcome challenges.
5. Share yourself – There is only one of you and your knowledge and expertise should be passed on to others, this is how people and programs grow…effective leaders are teachers.
6. Prioritize with safety and regulations in mind – Being responsible for children means that safety is always job one, liabilities are a sure way to extinguish your good works.

Guiding Yourself

7. Set the stage for success – Without defining your goals you will never know if you reach them.
8. Serve with your heart but lead with your mind – Compassion is a necessary ingredient in leadership and using this compassion will inspire followers to produce at optimal levels.
9. Refill your cup – It is necessary to take care of your personal needs (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional).
10. Empower yourself (and inspire others) - Lasting effectiveness requires self-awareness and continuous personal growth.

 Early Childhood leaders have innumerable responsibilities, but your first responsibility has to be the continuous work that you do with, for and on yourself.  This is where effective leadership begins and what happens (or does not happen) during personal reflection has a direct impact on effectiveness. Your most important project begins in the mirror.