100 Posts in 100 Days
Yesterday’s post illustrated one form of feedback that I have used: a 360 survey process. The quantitative and explicit nature of that form of feedback was very useful to me in developing asset-based action plans for my growth and development. I feel it did help me improve as a school leader.
That post also got me thinking about other kinds of feedback I have received and found useful. In a phrase, it got me thinking about some useful anecdotal feedback.
One year, several members of our school staff attended a concert for a colleague who was the lead singer in a band. We dressed up and headed to the concert venue for dinner and the show. The atmosphere was social and festive. During a break between musical sets, the husband of one of the teachers pulled me aside. His wife had taken the previous school year off, but was again working in our building. It had been a challenging year for her. “She is really, really happy to be back working again and working with you. This has made such a difference for our family. Thank you for making this possible for her.” Obviously, a number of circumstances beyond me contributed to his wife’s happiness, but he was taking a moment to acknowledge that I had a role. It was a very touching comment and I was grateful to have received it, which I shared with him.
A few weeks later, we had another staff event where spouses were in attendance. This time, the husband of a different teacher approached me. He shared, “My wife has worked in this school for over a decade and for multiple principals. She tells me you are one of the best and she likes coming to work every day.” I thanked him for his kind words and expressed gratitude for his wife’s service and commitment to our school. I also thought to myself, “Hmmm, that’s twice in a few weeks that family members have gone out of their way to share with me about my impact on their spouse.”
Since then, I’ve had several more instances of spouses or partners sharing similar sentiments. Those incidents have occurred across years, across roles, and across different schools I’ve worked in. The first time it happened, I accepted it as a unique complement. The second time, I felt happy that our focus on improving school climate seemed to be working. As the instances continued to accrue, I have come to recognize this as a pattern of usable and useful feedback. Supporting people at work and helping them feel valued is a strength I have and take pride in. When I really think about it, this corresponds with what I shared yesterday about my results for “Model the Way” and “Encourage the Heart” on the Leadership Practices Inventory.
The real lesson this pattern affords me is the regular reminder that I don’t work with “colleagues” or “employees”, but with people.
These spouses and partners keep reminding me of the ripple effect of creating a positive work environment. When the people who work with me leave happy and fulfilled at the end of the day, they enter their homes happy and fulfilled and ready to be present with their families. And when they have quality time with their families, they return to school ready to face the pace and challenge of another day. I use this unsolicited and consistent feedback as a reminder of my impact. It may be anecdotal and qualitative in nature, but it is equally as useful and usable for me.