Thinking about leadership and team work, I don't have to look far. My classroom teaches me this single day. As a basic class teacher, I don't only teach Maths, English, Civic Education and others, I'm also practicing leadership where directly or directly.
A good leader needs a clear vision, and for me, that vision is simple, I want my pupils to understand what I'm teaching, not just memorize it to pass exams. Every lesson note I write, every class activity is built around that goal.
Honesty and consistency matters too. Children notice everything. If I promise a reward for good behavior, and don't follow through with it, they remember. If I'm patient one day and impatient the next day, they feel that inconsistency. Trust between a teacher and pupils is the same way trust is built any leader and their team.
Communication is probably the biggest one. As a teacher I realize that children don't understand big grammar or long explanations. A good leader break things down, uses simple words, repeat when necessary and watches faces to see who was actually following. That's emotional intelligence in action.
Coming to team work, my class is not a one woman show, even though it might look like it. I woke with other teachers, share ideas on lesson planning, and how teaching can work effectively.
When we come together during staff meetings to plan the terms syllabus, that's teamwork producing what one person cannot do. Even the pupils practice teamwork too. Group activities, class monitors, pairing a brilliant pupils with the one that's struggling . I am the leader guiding the direction, but the classroom works well when everyone plays their part.
Teaching has shown me that, leadership isn't about control, but it's all about guiding people towards a goal. And teamwork isn't optional it is what makes that goal achievable.
