I wasn’t supposed to be listening
I was sitting out a rainstorm in a coffee shop when I quickly became distracted by the discussion happening at the table next to me.
I'd arrived early enough to watch each guest arrive one-by-one with friendly, but not quite "friend-like" greetings.
They sat together in a circle with pen and paper and a seriousness that suggested this wasn't coffee amongst friends, but colleagues who meant business.
As their conversation unfolded, I began to hear stories about communication, media, and music.
They were professors.
And they weren't dressed for class. They were clearly collaborating "off" the clock.
The discussion revolved around their students. The current, the past, and the future.
"What value could we provide?" they asked. "How do we demonstrate the value of showing up? The value of staying?"
They went on to ask questions about how to keep kids engaged "during these times," how to drive participation, and accountability, each contributing ideas, feedback, and their own direct experience.
Ironically, or not so ironically at all, leaders are reaching out to me with the same list of concerns for their own teams.
How do we engage them? How do we get them to show up and work? How do we hold them accountable?
These professors were diligent, engaged, optimistic, driven, and visibly hungry to create change within their departments.
And so are the leaders I’m speaking to.
So why is it that we're experiencing parallel problems in the education space, but also on our own teams?
I don't think I can solve the world's problems with one Unapologetic Edit, so I won't try here. BUT I will say that leadership, no matter your industry, isn't a light lift.
Our passion, our drive, our excitement, our hopes...they're not a guaranteed transfer.
Some of the people around us get it. Some of them don't. And too often, we can feel like the only ones who give a crap.
But maybe that's part of leadership.
Believing in people before they fully believe in themselves.
Believing in a vision before everyone else sees it.
Believing that what's possible is worth pursuing, even when participation, engagement, and enthusiasm don't immediately follow.
So if you're sitting in a season or a circle where you're looking to re-engage, re-ignite, and re-inspire...you're not alone.
I'd love to give you three suggestions from what I saw not only in this conversation, but from some of the best leaders I know...
There is power in numbers...collaboration is key. This group had a productive conversation with a plan of action. Not a circle of complaints, but a collaboration that led to movement.
If you're the most excited person on your team, I'd do an audit of your space. Are you on the right team? In the right space? In the right seat? You can facilitate change, but you can't create miracles.
Sob stories rarely move us closer to a solution. This group of professors could've spent their entire discussion talking about everything going wrong, every obstacle and every objection. They didn't. They addressed legitimate concerns and roadblocks, but they focused on the controllables…Focus on what you can control and avoid dwelling on what you can't.
Leadership isn't found in your signature line, title, or the placement of your office.
Leadership is how you show up every day.
And I hope today you show up like a circle of professors committed to serving the next generation because they believe in them.
Because sometimes leadership looks a lot less like having the answers and a lot more like continuing to believe when the results haven't shown up yet.
I hope you can mirror that same belief in the space you serve too.
Big hugs & so much love,
Cassy
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