Elevate Your Impact: RISE as an Empowered Educator!

"Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flow charts. It is about one life influencing another."    --​John C. Maxwell

The journey to become a leader in the constantly changing landscape of education is exciting but can also be scary or intimidating. There are a lot of excellent opportunities but there can also be numerous challenges. It is not enough to change your title. You must also make a fundamental shift in mindset, perspective and approach to be a viable candidate for any leadership position. Adopting the RISE Framework - Reframe Your Perspective, Inspire Others to Follow, Strive For Excellence, and Evolve As a Leader, you will unlock the potential not only to navigate, but to thrive on your leadership journey.

(R)  Reframe Your Perspective
Positive thinking is essential, particularly in the world of education. Our ability to discern the positive can be clouded by negative thoughts or self-doubt. To become a leader, you must first challenge negative thinking by re-framing it into affirmations. Create a leadership journal. Write down challenges and identify positive outcomes or perspectives. It not only improves resilience, but it also changes your attitude towards possibilities and growth.

(I)  Inspire Others to Follow 
Inspiring others and leveraging their gifts and talents is just as important as achieving your own goals when it comes to leadership in education. Your vision of a better education system should be communicated with clarity and passion. Your leadership ambitions can be shared with your colleagues, your mentors or even your professional network. A supportive network can help you to feel more connected, give you inspiration,  and also increase your influence. The journey of 1,000 miles starts with one step taken by all together.

(S)  Strive for Excellence 
The foundation of any leadership journey is setting goals. Set your goals using the SMART framework (Specific Measurable Achievable Relevant Timebound). Your goals should be regularly evaluated and refined to reflect changes in the educational arena and your own growth. Set small milestones for your accomplishments to avoid overwhelm and create a sense of accomplishment. Accomplishing a goal, however small it may be is encouraging when working toward those larger goals. The continuous cycle of setting goals, achieving them, and then celebrating your achievements keeps you on track and motivated.

(E)  Evolve to Be a Leader
A great leader will always be open to learning new things and adapting. Choose a leadership skill that you would like to improve, such as effective communication, strategic thinking, or problem solving. Commit yourself to continual personal development through books, workshops or podcasts. Seek out opportunities for growth and evolution in your leadership, as the journey not a destination. You will be noticed for your willingness to adapt and learn. This is what sets you apart from others.

Leadership in education does not follow a linear path. The journey to leadership in education is one of constant learning, reflection, and building community. By adopting the RISE Framework you are not only setting the stage for yourself but for the success of others as well. The impact of a leader's work isn't measured in accolades, but rather by the positive changes you bring to the educational system.