Non-Negotiables

As a leader, what are my non-negotiables? The foremost non-negotiable for me is putting students first.  Every single decision needs to begin with what is best for students.  After all, that is why schools exist- to educate students.  So before we make a decision based on convenience, time-savings, or cost-effectiveness, let's just make sure that students are at the center of that decision, regardless of how convenient, time-saving, or cost-effective that decision is. As an organization we must remember why we exist and who we serve.  I'm not completely naive, and I know that many times it will be the budget or the politics that will define my decision-making parameters.  But what I can commit to is that within the parameters I am given, I will have students at the heart of decisions.  Honesty is another non-negotiable for me.  The truth is the only thing that matters.  Tell it to me (and everyone else) straight, so that no matter how big the problem, we know what we are truly dealing with from the get-go. Problems are navigated much more easily when all of the truths are on the table from the beginning.  Plus, I need to know that I can trust people.  Trust is like a first impression- it's hard to get a second chance- it's just human nature.  Another non-negotiable is Respect.  I will give it and I expect it for all people. People may differ in opinion, and that is ok.  In fact, a difference of opinion can lead to some interesting, healthy, and productive discussions.  No matter the difference of opinion, respect must still be present.  Respect allows people to exchange ideas with trust and reverence. Respect isn't always easy to give freely, and I, myself, have struggled with feeling like I "have to" respect a person of authority (in title) over me when I didn't really feel it for various reasons. As I examine that, I see that my resistance had nothing to do with respect, for respect does require that holistic deference, but it had to do with my having a major difference of opinion.  In the examples I am thinking of, I can see now that I saw that experience as me having a lack of respect for a person, mostly because of my own laziness and quickness to judge. I think everyone deserves respect, and I know respect is tricky.  Sometimes I find that there is something about a person that I really dislike.  Maybe it's a habit.  Maybe it's an attitude.  Regardless, if I consciously sit with it and examine it, I don't really have a full disrespect for the person.  The person has a quality that annoys me.  But that person still deserves to be treated well by me, and still deserves to be heard.  Leadership is not easy.  There is a lot to maneuver.  A lot to handle. I think, though, that articulating one's non-negotiables is a fantastic way to begin to see one's path.

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