mistakes and carried on with their true con- viction. n Be strategic: Pick your battles care-
fully. Keep in mind that it likely took your school, department or organization some time to become what it is. Lasting and sus- tainable change will occur over a period of time marked by focused leadership that does not waver on its primary mission and direc- tion. n Seek help when needed: You can’t do
it alone. All great leaders have individuals in their lives who provide expertise, sup- port, love, mentorship and friendship. Cou- rageous leaders make sure they surround themselves with a network of individuals who support them in good and bad times. Courageous leaders also know when to let down their pride and guard, and seek the help they need. n Take a break every once in a while: They
are called mental health days for a reason. Sustaining courage in the midst of a pro- tracted battle takes tremendous mental and physical energy. Taking occasional breaks
away from the action is necessary to ulti- mately stay in and win the battle. It’s OK to take time every once and awhile to rejuvenate one’s resolve and focus. n Be what you want your organization to
be: Emulating the change you want is the first step to leading change in an organiza- tion. Leaders must display the values they want the organization to represent on the ground level. Those you lead must see and know firsthand that the values you expose are ones that come from within your leader- ship traits. n Recognize when you’ve done all you can:
In some cases, you may not be the right fit for organization. A time may come when you simply cannot move the organization any farther. The reasons for this could be any number of factors. Sometimes it just comes down to timing, politics, personal chemis- try, or other extenuating circumstances be- yond your influence. In such cases, it may be better to move on in your career and find a more suitable situation. Sustained courage under challenging
conditions requires a unique set of skills. These include the ability to adapt and im- provise in ways that keep an education leader on track. The major battles facing an educational leader will require dedicated and focused courage over extended periods of time under often difficult circumstances. As opposed to heroic episodes, sustained
courage will create professional and per- sonal challenges for educational leaders that can have far-reaching consequences if not successfully addressed. Recognize that fear, anxiety and worry
are normal emotions affecting other great leaders. By focusing on ways to channel these emotions into healthy and productive pursuits, leaders will be better equipped to engage those they lead and galvanize their organizations into positive action. n
Brett McFadden is the chief business officer for
the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, and the ACSA Region 10 representative to the ACSA Business Services Council.
20 Leadership
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