Posted on by hildaweisburg

I Believe In…

How did you fill in the next word? There are many good answers to that question. But you are likely not to have thought of the one you should. The sentence that will serve you best as a leader is, “I believe in Me.”

In my soon to be published book, I identify nine attributes we need to have and employ in our three communities to thrive in these (and even simpler times). The first of the three communities is ourselves. We live in our heads. What we think shows up in how we interact with others.

The very first of the attributes is Confidence which gives us the self-trust necessary to do everything else. In her Middle Web article (a website all about Middle Grades!), Self Trust: A Leader’s  Most Valuable Tool, Jen Schwanke, Ed.D. concurs with my thinking and explains why this is so important. In her book Trusted she writes about how leaders need to be trustworthy and trust willing. “But the final chapter in the book deals with one relationship many leaders often neglect: the trust we have with ourselves…. Cultivating self-trust isn’t just a nice idea — it’s essential for our well-being.” She offers four ways to build it. Here they are with my usual tweaks:

  1. Lead with a mix of confidence and humility – Take an honest look at your knowledge of what your job entails. You know how to do it. Draw on that knowledge to build your confidence. Your students and colleagues recognize your ability and count on it. At the same time, self-confidence doesn’t mean you know it all. You can learn almost as much from your students and their projects as they do. Teachers will give you insight into their subject areas. Your principals, good and bad, can teach you much about leadership. When you recognize this, people are more comfortable working with you.
  2. Manage our emotions and don’t rush to react – Responding fast to a new issue doesn’t mean it’s the best approach or plan. The fires we are rushing to put out are not physical fires. We don’t need to save lives. Think first. Check with your PLN or mentors for more ideas. And as Schwanke points out, each time we successfully manage a crisis, we build our confidence and self-trust.
  3. Consider all perspectives when making decisions – Our world isn’t neat and tidy. Changing one thing will affect something or someone else. Schwanke cautions us to recognize, “we may not know the full story.” She further adds that remembering this “prevents impulsive judgment and allows us to gather more information. It builds trust with others because it sends the message that we won’t be impulsive, that we won’t always take one particular side, and that we care about all perspectives.” Notice your biases and be willing to learn.
  4. Give credit away – I deeply believe in this. When you give credit away, you get it back many times over. Remember, the job of a leader is to build more leaders. A teacher who now feels confident and comfortable with you will seek you out in the future and recommend you to other teachers. A principal who recognizes how you have strengthened their reputation with their bosses is more likely to listen to your requests for funding. As students see their own successes, they feel more confident in tackling more challenging explorations.

Confidence and self-trust are at the root of your ability to grow and thrive. You have what it takes. Believe in yourself and watch as others do, too!

Posted on by hildaweisburg

Developing Confidence

A baby takes its first steps and falls. The child gets up and tries again. Totally confident that success will happen. When does that innate confidence in one’s ability disappear?

It’s usually not the failures that make us lose self-confidence. It’s the comments and criticisms we have received and the comparisons we make with other people that have nibbled our confidence away. The result is we struggle to leave our comfort zone, often question our decisions and are fearful of making a mistake.

But you are a leader. You need self-confidence to take your program to the next level. Is there a way to get back what you once had instinctively?

In Where Does Confidence Come From?, Frank Sonnenberg offers ten way to strengthen your confidence. As you read through them, acknowledge the ones you can do immediately and lean into those first, then consider which one you want to add next:

  • Successful Track Record – Sonnenberg starts with something simple – every win can boost your confidence – no matter the size. If you have trouble recalling these, consider a Success Journal or Win Folder on your computer so you don’t forget your accomplishments. And take a little time to celebrate and cheer yourself.
  • Courageous Action – Look for ways – big and small – to step out of your comfort zone. It can be intimidating, but you know when something needs to be done, and not doing it doesn’t give you the results you want. Take those first steps (and then add that win to your Success Journal).
  • Prepare and Practice – Athletes don’t just walk out into the field and turn in an outstanding performance. They practice. If you are giving a presentation, write it out, tweak it, tweak it again. If it helps you, learn it almost by heart. For a big project, outline the steps. Create a timeline. Be prepared to adjust that as the project progresses.
  • Self-improvement Efforts – We are lifelong learners. Be committed to your own growth and improvement. Since it’s rare for the Professional Development offered by your district keyed to librarian needs, seek out your own PD. Or you can use your Professional Learning Network, find a mentor, or attend a library conferences.
  • Mindset and Attitude – “If you think you can, or you think you can’t, you are right.” Our brains are powerful. Don’t let yours defeat you. You have been successful before (you have proof!) and will be again. Use your failures as learning opportunities to take into your new endeavor.
  • Supportive Environment – Every school has people who only see the negative. While you must have a collegial relationship with them since the library is for everyone, you don’t need to take in their gloomy view of everything. Be closer to people who can see what is good and enjoy what they do.
  • Encouraging Comments – Savor positive feedback. Knowing that others see your achievements is validation. It helps to power you forward. Be mindful of that and do the same for others. (And when someone gives you positive feedback – that goes in the Win Folder!)
  • Self-reflection – Make time at the end of the day, perhaps on your commute home, to reflect on what you accomplished. Was there a student whose eyes lit up as you helped them find the “just right” book? Did you strike something off your to-do list that you had been putting off? Focusing on these large and small achievements improves self-confidence. (Yup – Success Journal time!)
  • Goal Setting and Achievement – What is something large you wanted to achieve and did? Good news – you can do it again. Write the goal and develop the action steps needed to attain it. And of course, Prepare and Practice.
  • Personal Values and Beliefs – This is what holds you steady. Confidence comes from within as do these values and beliefs. As librarians, we hold to the ALA’s Code of Ethics and the Library Bill of Rights. As school librarians we consider AASL’s Common Beliefs are intrinsic to our program. Build your confidence on your values and you’ll see some amazing results.

Sonnenberg concludes with this quote by Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.” When you build your confidence, you grow into the leader your library program needs. Take those baby steps. Get up when you fall. You can do it.