How to Lead More Authentically: A Challenge for School Leaders
Step Out of the Comfort Zone: Authentic Leadership in Action
The Start of a School Year
The start of a school year is full of energy.
New students. Fresh ideas.
Renewed goals.
But here’s the reality—while we often set big plans for our schools, we rarely set bold challenges for ourselves as leaders. We know how to push our teams and our students to grow… yet we often let ourselves stay within the same safe, comfortable leadership patterns year after year.
This year, I want to challenge you: step out of your comfort zone and lead more authentically.
Why?
Because authentic leadership is not just about making the right decisions—it’s about showing up fully as yourself, even when it feels risky. It’s in those moments of vulnerability and stretch that you connect more deeply with your staff, inspire trust, and set the tone for a culture of openness.
And living more authentically, more inline with your values and less behind the artificial masks we create, brings a greater sense of freedom.
Where to Begin?
Here are some practical starting points:
1. Be More Vulnerable
Share a personal story with your staff—about your journey, a past failure, or a lesson you learned the hard way. You’d be surprised how much connection honesty creates.
2. Invite Feedback
Ask your team: What’s one thing I could do to be a more effective leader for you this year? Then, listen without defensiveness.
3. Set a Personal Goal—Publicly
Whether it’s improving your fitness, reading a leadership book a month, or committing to more intentional informal classroom visits—declare it out loud to your staff and let them hold you accountable.
4. Build an Accountability Partnership
Reach out to another leader—maybe in your school or across your network—and commit to checking in monthly. Share progress, challenges, and encouragement.
5. Mentor or Be Mentored
We all have something to give and something to learn. Find a leadership relationship that stretches you.
The Payoff
When you take these steps, you model something powerful:
- That growth is not just for students.
- That courage in leadership means being willing to learn and change.
- That leaders who stretch themselves inspire others to do the same.
The Challenge
Here’s my challenge to you:
Before this month is over, identify one specific way you will push beyond your comfort zone in your leadership this year—and tell someone about it.
Let’s make this school year not just about stronger schools, but about stronger leaders.
I’d love to hear from you:
What’s one leadership risk you’re willing to take this year?
