Leading Up While Managing the Unexpected
Dr. Elvis Epps @elvisepps
@elvisepps
Leading an organization or school has become more challenging, time-consuming, and stressful than ever before. Being placed in leadership is rewarding and yet stressful at times. Knowing what to do, who to turn to for support, and balancing your professional time is crucial to surviving in your position. The school administrators' roles and responsibilities have changed significantly over the last five years. According to research conducted by the National Association of Secondary Schools and the Learning Policy Institute, school principals are essential for providing substantial educational opportunities and improved outcomes for students.
I remember the first time I was thrust into a leadership position when I joined the US Navy in the early 80s. I was young, eager, and prepared for the world. I believed I could do anything I set my mind to accomplish. There weren't too many things in life that I could not finish. Joining the Navy was another chapter in my life on the road to success.
The first night in boot camp, someone came into the barracks at 3 am yelling and making a loud noise with a trash can. I thought, "What in the world is going on here?" Well, that was my wake-up call (no pun intended) to the world of the US Navy. The overall aim of boot camp was to see how we handled a sudden shift in our culture. Our drill commanders were tasked with weeding out the weak recruits and training the stronger ones to succeed. My drill commanders were leaders of the group but managers in the rank of military personnel charged with preparing recruits for the US Navy. I was one of the top recruits, and my commanding officer asked me to lead the unit. I felt honored until I realized that I was the lead person they would go to when things did not go right. I remember the number of times I had to do pushups for members of my team who were not up to par. I knew I wasn't ready for the role of leader at that point. So I asked to be relieved of that duty.
I believe many of you could relate to the story I shared about my boot camp days. How do you define leadership? How do you define a manager? What are the similarities and differences between the two? I can honestly tell you that they have been different during my thirty-plus years in leadership and management. However, you need both to be a successful leader in your organization. Leaders set the tone and give the vision and marching orders for what the organization is expected to achieve. Leaders should articulate, share, and present to stakeholders what they will be known for, how they will achieve it, a timeframe for achieving it, what success will look like when you reach it, and most importantly, why they should follow you on this journey. Managers lead the way in making it happen with their teams.
Leaders take on many tasks that require them to be out front leading the charge. While this is very important, we must never forget the small tasks needed to manage the day-to-day operation. So, how do you effectively lead your school or organization while managing the unexpected? If you do not have a plan or experience in this area, you should. Some come by experience, and some can come by observing. Please allow me to list a few of the unexpected issues leaders in schools face during the pandemic:
Principal turnover is a grave issue across the country. A 2017 national survey of public-school principals found that 18 percent of principals had left their position since the year before. In high-poverty schools, the turnover rate was 21 percent. Research also reveals that school principals in high needs, high poverty schools experience higher turnover than schools not identified. In March and April 2021, the RAND Corporation surveyed 1686 secondary school principals. That survey revealed that 8 in 10 principals experienced job-related stress due to the many changes impacted by the pandemic. Author and assistant researcher of the study Ashley Woo stated that the biggest trigger for principals was their teachers' and students' social-economic well-being.
I work in a high need, high poverty, high mobility school. I have faced and handled many tasks a leader could face. There are no two days that are the same. I recommend you learn how to manage the unexpected while leading your school. You do not have to handle each task that comes along. You can decide whether to do it, delegate it, or dump it. If you have a solid administrative team like I do, they look for challenges to take on. If you have a new team that lacks experience handling challenging situations, assign the task but observe and coach your administrators on ways to address the problem. This is not true for everyone or every job. However, there are some tasks that you must handle.
Please allow me to bring this home. As the school leader, I set the tone, articulate the message to my stakeholders, share how we will get there, who is needed to help with the mission, then explain why we need to go in that direction. I do this by listening to stakeholders about what worked and did not work within the organization. Leaders cannot accomplish the work without the efforts of the entire team. Be the leader that others love to follow. A weak leader can give an inspirational message but lacks the necessary skills, strategies, or understanding of how to get the job done. I hire leaders who are more intelligent than I am in a particular area. Unfortunately, I cannot hire everyone who thinks like me or share the same skill set. Managing the unexpected is what leaders face every day.
Take care of yourself and those you lead. Take time off when you need to, and don't feel guilty about it. You earned the time so enjoy the moment. We are all in this together. Knowing who to call when you feel overwhelmed is the difference between quitting or staying on the job. Remember your why and your what. Knowing your why helps you to understand what you do that makes a difference in the lives of our students, teachers, and families. If you are not well, then the rest means nothing. Seek help when needed. Manage your life to be the best every day. You are not alone.
Bio
Dr. Elvis Epps is a leader who knows how to get results! He is passionate about serving and coaching others to live a more productive and abundant life. Whether delivering a keynote speech, youth chats, or seminars, you can count on Dr. Epps to provide valuable motivating, inspiring, and encouraging information.
His education includes a bachelor's and Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University located in Davie, Florida. He has served as Principal, Assistant Principal, District Leadership, and teacher for more than 28 years in Florida. Currently, he serves as Principal at Lake Worth Community High School. He is the author of two books, "You Make the Difference" and "Teaching with Purpose and Passion." Currently, he is writing his third book on leadership. Dr. Epps has been featured on Oprah's Radio Network, where he discussed topics such as: "Bully Prevention: Creating Safer School Climates," "Mean Girls: Teambuilding Strategies with Teens," and "Maintaining a Happy Home." He was also a special guest on another XL radio show, "Meet the Peetes," hosted by Holly Robinson and Rodney Peete. He is also a Certified John Maxwell Trainer, Coach, and Speaker.
Dr. Epps has conducted keynote and motivational speeches on leadership development workshops at local and state. In addition, he has presented at National conferences (ASCD, National Dropout Prevention, etc.) on topics such as New Principal, No Problem: 7 Ways to Lead a Winning Culture without Losing Your Mind; Leading Up While Managing the Unexpected; Establishing an Executive Presence in the Workplace; Creating Teams that Work; Identifying Your Strengths and Core Values, The Role of Fathers in the Home, Church and Community; Effective Instructional Strategies for Teaching Children of Poverty, Develop a Growth mindset: Get Rid of Your Stinking Thinking; and, Teambuilding Strategies that Work!
His contact information is [email protected]
Twitter: @elvisepps
I remember the first time I was thrust into a leadership position when I joined the US Navy in the early 80s. I was young, eager, and prepared for the world. I believed I could do anything I set my mind to accomplish. There weren't too many things in life that I could not finish. Joining the Navy was another chapter in my life on the road to success.
The first night in boot camp, someone came into the barracks at 3 am yelling and making a loud noise with a trash can. I thought, "What in the world is going on here?" Well, that was my wake-up call (no pun intended) to the world of the US Navy. The overall aim of boot camp was to see how we handled a sudden shift in our culture. Our drill commanders were tasked with weeding out the weak recruits and training the stronger ones to succeed. My drill commanders were leaders of the group but managers in the rank of military personnel charged with preparing recruits for the US Navy. I was one of the top recruits, and my commanding officer asked me to lead the unit. I felt honored until I realized that I was the lead person they would go to when things did not go right. I remember the number of times I had to do pushups for members of my team who were not up to par. I knew I wasn't ready for the role of leader at that point. So I asked to be relieved of that duty.
I believe many of you could relate to the story I shared about my boot camp days. How do you define leadership? How do you define a manager? What are the similarities and differences between the two? I can honestly tell you that they have been different during my thirty-plus years in leadership and management. However, you need both to be a successful leader in your organization. Leaders set the tone and give the vision and marching orders for what the organization is expected to achieve. Leaders should articulate, share, and present to stakeholders what they will be known for, how they will achieve it, a timeframe for achieving it, what success will look like when you reach it, and most importantly, why they should follow you on this journey. Managers lead the way in making it happen with their teams.
Leaders take on many tasks that require them to be out front leading the charge. While this is very important, we must never forget the small tasks needed to manage the day-to-day operation. So, how do you effectively lead your school or organization while managing the unexpected? If you do not have a plan or experience in this area, you should. Some come by experience, and some can come by observing. Please allow me to list a few of the unexpected issues leaders in schools face during the pandemic:
- School shut down at a moment's notice.
- One-to-one electronic device distribution to every student and teacher within your school.
- Food distribution to students and the community
- Knowing how to deal with the death of someone on your staff or school.
- Budget cuts due to lack of student accountability
- Addressing an exodus of teachers from your school and district
- The sudden outbreak of racial tension in your community, school, or state
- Dealing with angry and political charged parents and community members
- New state mandates and policies force you to change your goals and objectives.
- How the job stress profoundly affects your health and impacts how you lead the school.
- An increase of faculty and staff members taking mental health days from work. Excessive absences from teachers.
Principal turnover is a grave issue across the country. A 2017 national survey of public-school principals found that 18 percent of principals had left their position since the year before. In high-poverty schools, the turnover rate was 21 percent. Research also reveals that school principals in high needs, high poverty schools experience higher turnover than schools not identified. In March and April 2021, the RAND Corporation surveyed 1686 secondary school principals. That survey revealed that 8 in 10 principals experienced job-related stress due to the many changes impacted by the pandemic. Author and assistant researcher of the study Ashley Woo stated that the biggest trigger for principals was their teachers' and students' social-economic well-being.
I work in a high need, high poverty, high mobility school. I have faced and handled many tasks a leader could face. There are no two days that are the same. I recommend you learn how to manage the unexpected while leading your school. You do not have to handle each task that comes along. You can decide whether to do it, delegate it, or dump it. If you have a solid administrative team like I do, they look for challenges to take on. If you have a new team that lacks experience handling challenging situations, assign the task but observe and coach your administrators on ways to address the problem. This is not true for everyone or every job. However, there are some tasks that you must handle.
Please allow me to bring this home. As the school leader, I set the tone, articulate the message to my stakeholders, share how we will get there, who is needed to help with the mission, then explain why we need to go in that direction. I do this by listening to stakeholders about what worked and did not work within the organization. Leaders cannot accomplish the work without the efforts of the entire team. Be the leader that others love to follow. A weak leader can give an inspirational message but lacks the necessary skills, strategies, or understanding of how to get the job done. I hire leaders who are more intelligent than I am in a particular area. Unfortunately, I cannot hire everyone who thinks like me or share the same skill set. Managing the unexpected is what leaders face every day.
Take care of yourself and those you lead. Take time off when you need to, and don't feel guilty about it. You earned the time so enjoy the moment. We are all in this together. Knowing who to call when you feel overwhelmed is the difference between quitting or staying on the job. Remember your why and your what. Knowing your why helps you to understand what you do that makes a difference in the lives of our students, teachers, and families. If you are not well, then the rest means nothing. Seek help when needed. Manage your life to be the best every day. You are not alone.
Bio
Dr. Elvis Epps is a leader who knows how to get results! He is passionate about serving and coaching others to live a more productive and abundant life. Whether delivering a keynote speech, youth chats, or seminars, you can count on Dr. Epps to provide valuable motivating, inspiring, and encouraging information.
His education includes a bachelor's and Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University located in Davie, Florida. He has served as Principal, Assistant Principal, District Leadership, and teacher for more than 28 years in Florida. Currently, he serves as Principal at Lake Worth Community High School. He is the author of two books, "You Make the Difference" and "Teaching with Purpose and Passion." Currently, he is writing his third book on leadership. Dr. Epps has been featured on Oprah's Radio Network, where he discussed topics such as: "Bully Prevention: Creating Safer School Climates," "Mean Girls: Teambuilding Strategies with Teens," and "Maintaining a Happy Home." He was also a special guest on another XL radio show, "Meet the Peetes," hosted by Holly Robinson and Rodney Peete. He is also a Certified John Maxwell Trainer, Coach, and Speaker.
Dr. Epps has conducted keynote and motivational speeches on leadership development workshops at local and state. In addition, he has presented at National conferences (ASCD, National Dropout Prevention, etc.) on topics such as New Principal, No Problem: 7 Ways to Lead a Winning Culture without Losing Your Mind; Leading Up While Managing the Unexpected; Establishing an Executive Presence in the Workplace; Creating Teams that Work; Identifying Your Strengths and Core Values, The Role of Fathers in the Home, Church and Community; Effective Instructional Strategies for Teaching Children of Poverty, Develop a Growth mindset: Get Rid of Your Stinking Thinking; and, Teambuilding Strategies that Work!
His contact information is [email protected]
Twitter: @elvisepps