It’s so easy to allow our focus to be consumed by tasks. Whether it’s making sales calls, updating a budget, filing reports or just doing our best to lead well, it’s easy for our attention to slip to tasks. Isn’t there more than preparing the next speaking topic, the next podcast, the next sales seminar presentation? Well, recently, I had an opportunity to break free from my routine and visit Roots Charter High School in West Valley City, UT. And how I wound up there is actually a story in itself and part of today’s key learnings!
As many of you know, I host an EPIC breakfast every month and a half or so with other learning leaders from multiple industries. Someday, I’ll do a podcast just on the EPIC breakfast so you can figure out how to do the same thing. Anyway, it’s a highlight of my leadership life – these leaders pursue excellence and raise not only my expectations of myself, but they raise my capability as well. One of the attendees, Caleb Cottle, shook us up a bit when he shared with the group about his work as an Executive Director at the Oakley School outside of Heber, UT. I’m not exaggerating – the work with “at risk” high school kids will give you a new perspective.
Then, Maxine Turner and her husband Marvin, who are part of the inaugural core that attended the first EPIC breakfast, shared about their involvement with the Roots Charter High School and some of the amazing success stories as well as heart-breaking moments working with “at risk” kids.
Five Leadership Learnings:
- Remember to connect with others in your community
- Be ready to take a risk
- What you do today will matter tomorrow
- What is meaningful to us might not be meaningful to those we lead
- Deescalate to prevent the endless cycle of raising the ante
The Roots Way:
“I am a part of a community and I will honor that community through words and actions. I will respect the farm and will spend my energy to make it a peaceful, beautiful and fruitful place. I always have choice. I will learn to understand my choices. My actions are in my control. I will guard my actions and align them with my goals. I have energy to expend. I will expend my energy in reaching my goals. I am connected to everything. That connection makes me who I am. I will remain connected and engaged in my life and the life of others.”
Make sure to go check out Roots Charter School here.
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