· Describe why reflection is an important skill in leadership.
A true leader is one who can listen and learn as well as speak and implement. The reflection process is a skill that each leader should possess. Leadership has many demands and knowing how to carry out those demands is imperative. The process of reflection on decisions allows a person to broaden their knowledge and application of the skills necessary to lead. The expression “to learn from your mistakes” provides a valid relationship to the reflection process. Even though we try to make the best decisions daily in our role of leadership, by reflecting on those decisions we learn that there are mistakes made. To glean from the reflection process we can become better decision makers and stronger leaders. Each time we can reflect on a situation we will be able to determine the validity of that decision. Consequences will result from each decision made. The skill of reflecting on those decisions individually, as well as with others, will build us as leaders and allow us to grow in wisdom. To me, this is the most important leadership skill. Without stopping to analyze or reflect on what we have accomplished, we will not be able to move ahead with confidence to what can still be accomplished.
Provide examples of reflective practices throughout this program citing examples from:
· Course assignment activities
In reflecting back over all the course assignment activities I am amazed at all we have been lead to accomplish. Each course was designed to provide a different opportunity to learn and grow. The syllabus for each course and week prepared us for what was expected. At first I felt like a novice in every area, as I continued to grow, learn and reflect much of the information I was able to transition. As a first year building principal, I wanted to develop my leadership skills. These assignments have continuously challenged me to do just that. The finance course has been my biggest challenge because it was an area of which I had no experience. The technology was also new to me and both used in the same course was very difficult for me. Yet the opportunity to work with my group gave me the encouragement and confidence I needed in both areas. Looking back to those assignments, I learned many important things that I now can utilize as I work with my on budget. I can better understand how it all ties together for our district and how as a superintendent there are so many areas that I must have knowledge and skills. I truly enjoyed the lectures that helped us understand the purpose of the course each week. I gleaned much from the expertise that each of our professors brought to our classes. My interviews with Dr. Creel also allowed me to hear about true challenges that will come our way and the importance of knowing the behind the scenes information as well.
· Blogs
I have truly learned from my cohorts’ discussion blog postings. They have taught me many things as we shared with each other. I enjoyed the way communication was direct and immediate. The postings on our blog spots have helped me see how this tool could be used with my own faculty. We are currently doing a book study and this skill is one I plan to implement as an ice breaker. My campus has many levels of technology but when I read my cohorts technology tools on their campuses and districts it confirmed the need for me to lead my campus in this area. The wiki process was very challenging to me, and as I reflect on it I now believe I have the confidence to use it with my staff as well. We are implementing CScope and are putting individual grade level lessons on our Sdrive. I believe this is where the wiki process could provide teachers to brainstorm together and develop great ideas for implementations. The webinars were fun because it was good to put names with faces of my cohort friends. They did present technological challenges at times because of the delay in voice. I hope this area of technology continues to improve because it is a great way to reflect together on the topics or areas of which we all usually have questions or concerns. In reflecting on this tool, I can see how it could be very beneficial to use across the district from campus to campus.
· Course and campus supervised logs
The logs were a great way to document the intern plan activities and reflect of what those activities allowed me to learn. In connecting the activities with the domains I could see the correlation as I worked through each one. In reflecting on the course embedded logs, many hours were contributed to learning there as well. The activities all revolved around the domains and allowed us to reflect on how the activities, especially in the finance class, tied in with the leadership competencies. Many of the activities aided in developing my understanding of what leadership skills are necessary in a leadership position. As I worked through my selected activities I gained much knowledge and developed a better understanding of the many facets of which a superintendent must acquire. My confidence in my leadership skills continues to grow as I work to learn the various areas of skills and how they tie in with the competencies and domains.
· Assessments
The pretest and posttests were valuable tools for me to be able to reflect on what I knew at the first of the class and then what I knew at the end of the class. This assessment process aided me in developing a better understanding of the skills I had and the skills I still needed to develop. The class finals and midterms on line were a new way of test taking for me. I was very nervous about this process, but grew to appreciate the techniques. The LCE was a great tool for the preparation of the certification exam. In reflecting on these test taking procedures I have learned to budget my time and put those items to the front that I knew without a doubt. This process also helped me in the development of time management. In reflecting on time management many of our activities focused on this skill. As a leader that is one area that I will continue assess. I enjoyed reassessing my competencies in the competency areas because it allowed me to reflect of all that I have learned throughout these courses. My confidence as a leader continues to grow and I look forward to the opportunities ahead in whatever leadership position I hold.
· Other intern reflection experiences
One of the most important intern experiences was the one on one interviews with all the personnel that help run the district. I truly learned from each person about their specific job and expertize. I was able to reflect on how they aid the superintendent in his understanding of what is required of the position of superintendent. Each person correlated their job descriptions together with the big picture of a running a successful district. In working with my superintendent, he acknowledged the importance of having the right people in the right positions. I also enjoyed working with my staff to help our campus focus on our vision and mission. To begin this process together at the first of the year and to reflect on where we are and where we have come has continued to cause my decision making skills to develop and grow. I look forward to using the information learned from my intern plan and reflect on those activities to continue to develop my leadership abilities.
Describe how you plan to use reflective practice to improve your leadership skills – provide some specific suggestions for applying the skills of reflection.
Reflection is now one of the most important skills that I implement. This skill has shown me the necessity of taking the time to reflect on each situation. In my current leadership role there are many decisions, situations, circumstances, outcomes, successes and failures that occur every day. Some of these are new experiences for me. When looking at them through the eyes of a novice and analyzing the outcomes, I now understand the importance of taking the time to reflect of what was accomplished and learned. I am also using this skill with my assistant principal and counselor as we meet each day to view and plan what has, is and will happen on our watch. I have also been able to reflect on the stages of decision making: declarative, associative and autonomous and learn more. Decision making is constant and continual for a person in a leadership position. In my current leadership position, and throughout these superintendence classes, I have been given many opportunities to develop my decision making skills and reflect on those decisions as they are made. At my campus my teachers use reflection every week at their team meetings. I plan to expand the reflection process to my entire campus to aide us in analyzing my first year as campus leader. This will provide me with ways to reflect on and improve my leadership skills. I look forward to learning and growing as a leader and using the reflection process along the way to help me become the best that I can be.
No comments:
Post a Comment