Iron Sharpens Iron

If you are in any leadership position or position of influence, you know that it's hard work! Sometimes it's a lonely place which makes it all the more important to connect with people that can help you grow, offer encouragement, and provide accountability. Over the last 18 years serving as an assistant principal and principal, I've found that it's very important for me to have people in my life that can do these things.

Relationships Matter, Engage and Connect, Share Ideas!

The inspiration for this blog is the result of making a connection with another elementary school principal while attending the International Center for Leadership in Education's Model Schools Conference in Atlanta in June 2015. As the new school year began, I reached out to him for assistance with a project and he offered it. We began to follow each other on Twitter and then he offered to share his weekly staff notes with me. These notes were great as I got to see how he led his staff, encouraged a positive culture, and helped his team through challenging times. What I didn't expect was how his notes would encourage and challenge me to be and do better. It wasn't long before he asked to receive my weekly staff notes and we began to learn from one another as we shared ideas about culture, relationships, and leadership.

The work is too hard to do alone!

Folks, the work is too hard to do alone! If you are in a leadership position of any kind, I encourage you to attend professional conferences, read books, and find someone that you can learn from, confide in, talk to, and/or pray with so that you can stay sharp as you lead others. And, when you learn something, share it! We all have experiences that can help us form better relationships, improve culture, and sharpen our leadership skills. I hope you find the blog beneficial and make new connections as we sharpen one another just as iron sharpens iron.

"The best way to find joy in our lives or overcome struggle is with the help of others." Simon Sinek

What suggestions do you have for keeping yourself sharp?

What are some ways you have sharpened someone else?
How have others sharpened you?