Being a leader—and always learning to be a better leader—is an essential part of our job. In today’s world, we need to embrace AASL’s Vision, “Every School Librarian is a leader; Every learner has a school librarian.” When we aren’t leaders, our learners are more likely to lose their school librarian.

The stress school librarians are facing while trying to do their jobs is taking away their joy, replacing it with fear. It’s time to turn the page. We must be interwoven into our school community and the outside community as well. We must become like Velcro, totally attached. Someone who would be unthinkable to eliminate.

After spending too much time focusing on work and losing touch with what was most important, Joshua James, co-founder of 8 Bit Content, made the conscious decision to spend more time with his family and children. And while coloring… he learned important lessons about leadership. In his article, 5 Leadership Insights from Drawing with My Kids, James provides us with an idea of not only in how to be better leaders, but how to restore balance in our lives. These are his insights, with my thoughts on how we can best manifest them:

1. Perfection Is the Enemy of Progress – James noticed that for his children “their best work isn’t the one with the most perfect lines or flawless details. The drawings they’re most proud of are the ones they finish.” We can’t be perfect. Neither can our students. Consistency and growth bring progress. You will smooth out the wrinkles later. Everything we complete, everything that goes well, if not perfectly, is a win. If you need help to see your progress, keep a Succes Journal to record all your wins, big and small.
2. Frustration Is Part of the Process – Sometimes it feels as though you will never get it right. But that… is part of the process, part of learning and leading. James says, “How we respond to this frustration is critical to how we lead. By taking a step back, reflecting, and giving ourselves space to reframe a situation, we can model healthy coping strategies for our staff and students.” Being emotionally resilient means we are patient when needed and can adjust our perspective. We allow it in our students. We must allow it in ourselves.
3. Plans Don’t Always Go as Expected—and That’s Okay – In my experience, if it’s a large plan, it will rarely go completely as expected. I end up learning – and growing – along the way. It’s getting to the desired outcome that matters. As Ursula LeGuin famously said in The Left Hand of Darkness, “It is good to have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Learning doesn’t occur in a straight line. We face a block, we pivot, we find a new way, a work-around and learn something new along the way.
4. Unplug to Be More Present – We are attached to our devices and our to-do lists. If you are doing that at work and home, you have a higher chance of burn-out and overwhelm. On top of that, you are also likely to become short-tempered and miss important subtle messages we get from students, teachers, and our family. Make time to get away from your devices. My salvation is taking walks. Yours can be anything you enjoy. Block it into your schedule. You will be a better leader and person as a result.
5. Surround Yourself with Passionate People – Being around his children, sharing what they loved was a game changer for James. While we work to have good relationships with everyone (teachers, students and administrators) because all are served by the library, you need to connect with people who are feeling positive about what we do and why. We don’t need to buy into the views who only see gloom and doom. Reach out to your PLN not to mention friends and family. My life Vision includes “living with passion and purpose.” I choose to be close with those who are passionate about what they do. It motivates me further, enriching my life and well-being.

Bring balance into your life. Reconnect into your passions and your purpose. Remember why you became a librarian and what you want to achieve. As you internalize these five lessons, you present a more positive face to the world, making it easier to build more connections and become that Velcro to your school and outside communities.