Excerpt from Leadership Now, April 14, 2020
Harvard Business School Dean, Nitin Nohria, spoke to the Harvard graduating class of 2016 in which he addressed Hope, Humility and Honor. Of Hope he referenced Ernest Shackleton in his actions as he led in a difficult situation. Shackleton “continued to be optimistic himself, but continually instilled hope in his crewmates. He refused to allow crewmates to give into despair…”
Of Honor, Nohria said we should think of honor as a verb. He said it is putting action to our commitments.
He discussed Humility as three types: intellectual, moral and personal. By breaking humility into three types the author says it might help us nurture the behavior(s) more fully in our own lives.
Intellectual humility is the knowledge that no matter how smart we are, we can always learn from others. In thinking about intellectual humility, I am reminded of how much I am learning every day from observing the work that is going on in the schools in addressing the new culture. Teachers are learning from each other, students are learning in a unique classroom setting, parents are supporting the learning environment in ways they never imagined, and school leaders are having very different conversations with teachers than they have had in the past.
I have heard Mr. Forson talk about his learning at home as he helps his children and, in the district, as he listens to parents and engages with school and district leaders. He has mentioned how important reflection is to him in his practice. I am learning to be more confident in my use of technology as I scan the internet for new leadership practices across the state and country. As I read and reflect, I think about my time as a Principal and ponder if I would be able to lead effectively in the culture of remote classrooms. I wonder how I would have put practices in place to lead teachers and instill confidence in them to blaze novel trails. Would I have remained calm in the face of so many unknowns?
I admire all of you for being ahead of the curve with our present school culture. What steps are you taking to intentionally learn from others and assimilate those learnings into your practice? How do you share this with colleagues and subordinates?
Moral humility is the “awareness that no matter how self-assured you are about your moral compass, you are vulnerable under stress or in certain contexts, to losing your way.” The role of a school leader is very complex in situations we have been trained for and have experienced. We have discussed strategies for maintaining a balance between our personal and professional responsibilities and roles. Are you taking good care of yourself? Are you able to know when to say no if you need to?
In the context of working from home it is easy for me to be distracted. I have found that following a schedule is important and digging deep into my work gives me intellectual stimulation and comfort. As it is for each of you, my work has always been in a school where I could go in and out of classrooms and talk to students and teachers. I thrived professionally on the challenges in the school; always something different which kept me focused and moving forward. Yes, there was stress, though solving one issue provided momentum for addressing the next problem! I have been reading your school posts and reflections from some of our school APs. Leadership practices continue to be anchored on moral humility, students first through honoring the instructional practices of teachers.
Personal humility is the skill of listening intently to others, celebrating small milestones, recognizing the contributions of team members and accepting the praise of others. The quote from Lao Tzu, “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
It has been my honor, over the past few years, to work with you and get to know you as leaders, I recognize each one of you is very humble. I hope you will continue to share your awesome practices with each other. As a district, we will continue to grow in our leadership capacity if we are willing to share our thinking and our actions. Dr. Julie Smith calls this ‘professional displays of effection’ or PDE!
Each of you continues to accomplish many things every day. I hope you will take time to reflect, learn from others, act with moral clarity and purpose and celebrate the difference, as a leader, you are making!
How do these three types of humility resonate for you in your life?
