As I was prepping for the last #IMMOOC Twitter chat, with George Couros and Katie Martin, these two questions found a lodging place in my thoughts:
What story do you hope to tell?
How will you make it happen?
As I pondered the above questions, two words came to my mind.
Servant Leader
Servant: one that serves others.
Serve: to give the service and respect due to
Leadership: the act or an instance of leading
Leading: providing direction or guidance
I then immediately thought about a recent book I read, Lead Like a PIRATE by Shelley Burgess and Beth Houf. These two ladies represent what I hope my story will one day include.
A PIRATE leader is “dedicated to the mission of the crew and doesn’t care about credit!”
“It is one thing to say you value servant leadership; it is another to make it happen.”
Shelley Burgess & Beth Houf – Lead Like a PIRATE
My story…
I hope my story entails tapping into the strengths of others and pushing them forward. I hope others say, “Tara Martin? Yes, I know her. She is a leader that values others differences and appreciates their voice. She will jump in and DO! At the same time, she’s not afraid to take the helm and guide the ship. She celebrates the success of those she leads with every fiber of her being; it’s sincere, not a forced action. She is a strong, passionate leader, and her servant guidance should never be mistaken for weakness.”
No matter where life leads me, I never want to lose my desire to honor others with enthusiasm. I want to be laser-focused to the mission of providing students the best education possible and empowering others to LEAD. I never want to be named among leaders that dismiss giving acknowledgment where it’s due or concerns oneself with getting “credit” to attain a status. If it ever becomes “all about” ME, I’ve lost my focus and need to rewrite my story!
I will Lead Like a PIRATE and use my treasure chest of priceless gems, written by Shelley and Beth, to guide me along the journey.
I desire to be the glue that holds things together, but not the goopy hot glue that is bubbling out and making itself visible. YUCK! I’d rather be more like super glue, carefully placed and dries without oozing. It’s ever-present and serving its purpose but doesn’t need to be seen by all.
Servant Leader.
Invisible Glue.
That’s the story I hope to tell.
