Why lead the learning?

For the past, almost ten years, I have pondered setting up a blog. Maybe write a book. In many ways I have had a bit of practise using various social media platforms. My presence on social media continues to change and at times I choose to just take a break and turn it all off. Yet I do find it to be a way to express my thinking about many of the things I love doing. My pages tend to blend themes and ideas of wellbeing, leadership and education. Then at times these all become one thing. What I do know is that I want to add value for those who choose to follow or share the same interests and passion. To come from a place of service and share some of my own learnings. Then this morning, just like that, it came to me and I knew it was time to get writing and sharing. I know exactly what it is that I want to share right now. I also know, that this will evolve and transform, as I continue with my own learning and leading. As an experienced educational leader, I began to reflect on where I have been and where I am now. I am often asked 'how did you know how to say that thing, the way you said it?'. Or 'where did your vision come from?' There are many more, but I am sure you get the point. I will share over time. Even as I am writing this... my thoughts are all over the place as there is so much to capture. I commit to my readers that I will try to find a somewhat more structured way of sharing my ideas and thinking. My hope and vision for 'Lead the learning' is that I can fill a gap, a gap that became very evident to me toward the end of 2012. To become the leader I knew I needed to be, meant for me, I had to step outside of education for a while. I stepped out and into the world of personal development. Mind blown. I am going to share what has and hasn't worked in my relentless pursuit to be the best version of me that I can be. To show up every day to be the best leader I can be today. To influence those in my charge to be the best that they can be also. Every pathway in becoming and improving as a leader is different. I promise you...if you can see your pathway and have mapped it all out, it isn't your path. The 'born leader' phrase isn't something that resonates with me. Sure, some people may have some useful character traits that will support a leadership path, yet what I have learned is that I must do the work on myself every single day, to be excellent. Listen to the podcasts, do the reading, find leaders who have and are achieving the things I desire, in order to grow and be better. Ask great questions and then turn up again the next day and do it again and again. Being a great teacher does not and rarely equates to being an excellent educational leader in terms of leading a school, an organisation, a culture, your people. It is all about the people. Day in, and day out. The greatest challenge however, is self leadership. So that it where I will start in blog #2.

Belinda