Here's how you can excel as an Educational Leadership professional.

As an educational leader, creating a vision is about assessing where you are now with open eyes and creating the future state description that is compelling and gets all boats rowing in the same direction. All staff in the organization need to know what the vision is as part of the Purpose, Mission, Direction, Support, Resources, and Accountability (PDMSRA) process. The also need to know how they, and what they do, falls within the mission. i.e. how they help move the needle.

Comece definindo uma visão clara e inspiradora para a instituição educacional, alinhada com valores e objetivos compartilhados. Comunique essa visão de forma persuasiva e envolvente, inspirando toda a equipe a trabalhar em prol de um objetivo comum. Envolver as partes interessadas no processo de criação da visão, garantindo que ela seja autêntica e representativa das necessidades da comunidade educacional. Crie um plano estratégico detalhado para alcançar a visão, incluindo metas mensuráveis e marcos alcançáveis. Capacite e motive a equipe a contribuir para a realização da visão, reconhecendo e recompensando seu progresso.

You need to have a very vey strong vision for education that inspires and motivates stakeholders towards shared goals. Your vision should be forward thinking, innovate and be matched with the needs of students.

'Sense of Belonging - Ownership' :: Effective strategic thinking and planning is essential for achieving positive change in your institute. Among the numerous advantages, strategic plans link educational partners around a common vision, goal, and principles which fosters productive decision-making. Strategic planning in education relies heavily on engagement and collaboration. Encourage all individuals to provide their perspectives and viewpoints, inculcate a sense of belonging and ownership, take them along.

' I to WE - Key to Success ' :: A team leadership strategy is essential for creating a collaborative learning environment that results in an attitude shift from the personal 'I' to the collective 'we'. An educational leadership style centred on teams encourages active engagement, collaboration among faculty members, transparent dialogue, and the pursuit of common objectives. Monitor progress and succeed together with a trust in everyone's abilities.

"Clear Thinking" by Shane Parrish is a masterclass in decision making. I encourage all Ruckus Makers to read this book. Also helpful understand that you don't always have to be right. What you do need is to be known for good judgment and that you're a leader who keeps the best interests of all your people at heart. And understand that your decision making process and the outcome are two different things. You can easily make a terrible decision and get a positive outcome. The flip side is also true. You can have a great decision making process and still not get the outcome you want. You control the process. You do not control the outcome. Focus on optimizing the process.

How you say what needs to be said is extremely important. Unfortunately, most of our formal communication these days means "slide decks", which can only be useful if considered as a medium and not the message. A mentor taught me a habit of writing out the entire message of the slide as a complete, focussed sentence about what I want to say on the slide. This has worked wonders for me to stay focussed, succinct and get the message across. I use it during verbal communication as well - whats the one sentence that I want to say in this scenario. This clarity and conviction has helped me convey complex information in a digestible way.

As a teacher, one of the most common complaints I heard about school administrators and other leaders was that they were out of touch with the "real world" of education. As a part of your continuous improvement, make it a priority to get out of the office and into the spaces where learning is happening. Visit a few classrooms. Walk the halls of a school and engage with students. Sit in on a faculty meeting and listen to the issues teachers are facing. Stand near the coffee and cookies table at parent teacher conferences and mingle with parents. These things take time, but a little effort goes a long way. Staying current with the "real world" will help you develop respect and trust.

Everyone defines leadership differently. Define what leadership is and what leadership development is, then take the time to make sense of the meaning of that work in practice. What does leadership mean within your organization? For you, in your professional practice. What will it look and sound like? Be clear on what you want to achieve with your leadership and, more importantly, how you expect things will get done. Your progress towards the outcomes is your strategy. Strategy is not architecture; it should be agile and resilient so that you can learn more from and with each other and adjust as you move forward. “I don't know if leadership can be taught, but I know it can be learned.” - Warren Bennis

In addition to these key areas, prioritize empathy and understanding in your leadership approach. Recognize the unique needs and perspectives of your team members and students. By fostering a culture of empathy, you can build stronger relationships, promote collaboration, and create a supportive environment conducive to growth and learning. Additionally, invest in your own professional development by seeking out opportunities for learning and growth, staying abreast of educational trends and best practices, and seeking feedback from colleagues and mentors. By prioritizing empathy and ongoing learning, you can excel as an educational leader and make a positive impact in your school community.