Leadership Tip – Leaders GLOW UP

Lessons in Leadership: Don’t Wait to Show Appreciation

In the world of education, there are several days, and weeklong celebrations devoted to acknowledging the efforts of specific groups. There are days devoted to teachers, social workers, librarians, principals, custodial workers, etc. Taking the time to show your teams appreciation can help boost morale, improve work culture, and increase capacity.

But why do we wait for these specific dates to show our appreciation?

This time lapse may be counterproductive to the meaning of ‘appreciation’. Choosing to wait may come across as disingenuous. I personally do not want my teams to think I am just going along with the flow. I want them to know that even on the most difficult days, I value and appreciate their work, input, and perspectives. My appreciation for their daily efforts extends beyond the typical weeklong celebrations.

For that reason, I do not hesitate to let my teams know that I appreciate them. Whenever an opportunity to show appreciation comes along, I take it. I often send emails, written notes, or simple text messages giving my teams a bit of praise and acknowledgement. I find that these small acts of appreciation are more valuable than waiting for an annual celebration.

To help get you started, here are two quick and easy ways to increase the frequency through which you show appreciation to members of your team:

Say, “Thank you.” – A simple “Thank you” goes a long way especially when they are immediate and help to validate the work that an employee is doing.
Acknowledge effort. – To acknowledge effort, leaders need to be in tune with what employees are doing. This requires frequent check-ins and an understanding of the work that is being done.

Planned and intentional day or weeklong celebrations in honor of employees are great, but you should not wait until then to show appreciation. Take daily steps to show your teams just how much you appreciate them!

Keep going, keep growing, keep glowing… thank you for reading,

Elaine Margarita

Guided Mindfulness Meditation as a Leadership Tool

I promised to share tools and strategies contributing to my leadership Glow Up. First up is a daily practice that has helped me be a more centered and present leader: guided mindfulness meditation.

Before sharing my experience, please know that I am not an expert. I have been practicing guided mindfulness meditation for approximately three months. Consistency has allowed me to leverage its side effects to support and enhance my leadership practice. It is important to note that a guided meditation practice does not require extensive amounts of time. By devoting just five minutes a day, you can build consistency and begin to reap the benefits of the practice.

What is guided mindfulness meditation?

Essentially, guided mindfulness meditation involves an experienced instructor who leads or teaches the session. They provide direction and encourage participants to monitor their thoughts throughout and after the session. This practice does not have to be live and in person. In fact, guided mindfulness meditations can be accessed virtually, too. Now that I have defined what guided mindfulness mediation is, let me tell you about my favorite mindfulness activities.

Breath Work

My absolute favorite mindfulness activity is breathwork. Controlling my inhales and exhales allows me to calm my mind and anchor my thoughts. I enjoy the soothing and relaxing sensation that takes over my body. Before I have difficult conversations or deal with difficult situations, I take a few moments to pause and focus on my breath. This practice allows me to think clearly and rationally, improving my decision-making skills and my ability to recover from any setbacks.

Mantras and Affirmation

Guided mindfulness meditation often incorporates the use of mantras or affirmations. They help participants relax, practice self-compassion, sustain focus, and enhance awareness. Mantras are my second favorite mindfulness activity. Selecting mantras that relate to my experiences is vital. Once I have chosen a mantra for the day, I repeat it often to remain focused and purpose-driven.

How to get Started:

You can start your meditation practice for free. YouTube has several channels that provide free guided meditation. Several online applications offer free subscriptions to teachers and administrators.

HeadSpace is my app of choice and the one I have used for the last three months. It provides beginner meditation courses that span over several weeks. Additionally, there are focused meditations to help participants manage anxiety and stress. If you have a Peloton or FitOn subscription, you can use their guided meditation videos, too.

Leadership Tip: Add a guided mindfulness meditation to your daily morning routine. Five minutes of breathwork and positive affirmations can help set the tone for a productive workday.

Before I conclude, I do want to share that in the beginning, I was skeptical about the benefits of this practice. Learning to quiet my thoughts and not be distracted by the outside world took several attempts. I still struggle with this, but I understand there is no right or wrong way to practice, and staying consistent is key. After three months of staying consistent, I am able to stay in a meditation state for 10 to 13 minutes. I’ve learned to use mindfulness as a way to calm anxiety, release stress, and focus on being grateful for each day.

I hope that mindfulness meditation as a leadership tool can help you on your leadership journey.

Keep going, keep growing, keep glowing… thank you for reading,

Elaine Margarita

Yes, Kindness to Self… Matters!

This week was a tough one. When self-criticism and doubt tried to creep into my thoughts, I showed myself kindness and recited the following mantras:

“I can handle whatever comes my way.”

“I am resilient.”

“It’s okay to say no.”

Kindness to self involves self-compassion and self-care. When we are kind to our minds, we allow ourselves to identify and accept our limitations. We become more aware of our thoughts and feelings, leading to positive well-being and improved mental health. We are more equipped to handle challenges, make sound decisions, and empathize with others.

Leadership Tip: Choose a phrase or mantra that resonates with you. Repeat your mantra regularly, especially in moments of self-doubt. Be gentle with your mind, practice self-compassion, and prioritize your mental well-being.

In a few days, I will share how I show myself kindness.

Keep going, keep growing, keep glowing… thank you for reading,

Elaine Margarita

Conversation Gone Astray

I’ve been guilty of doing what this post suggests leaders avoid doing. Thankfully, I learned from my mistake and am mindful of my words when conversing with my staff.

Background Story:

One of your team members is highly upset for reason “X.” They come to you and share their frustration. You listen attentively and respond to their needs. Toward the end of the conversation, you wrap up by saying something like “don’t take things personally” or “try not to let things get to you.”

It wasn’t until my most recent use of the phrase, “Don’t take things personally,” that I realized that although my intentions were good, responding to someone’s concerns with my choice of words to close out the conversation was perceived as having a lack of empathy.

This turn of events was shocking to me. I thought I was both being a good listener and leader. I wanted to end the conversation on a light note but failed miserably because of those last four words. I wholeheartedly believe that good leaders lead with empathy. So, to hear someone suggest that I was not empathetic to their needs made me think about the conversation. I wanted to discover “where and how did I go wrong?”

After much reflection, I realized my choice of words unintentionally made a member of my team feel unheard. As a result, those four words nullified our entire conversation and led them to believe I dismissed their feelings, thoughts, and frustrations. I missed an opportunity to connect and strengthen our working relationship.

As leaders, we want our teams to feel comfortable enough to engage in dialogue, inclusive of their concerns and frustrations. We want them to understand that we hear and validate those concerns. We want to encourage communication and build trust. Phrases like “don’t take it personally” are counterproductive to building relationships.

One way we can work to ensure our staff members feel seen, heard, and understood is by being mindful of what we say when responding to concerns. Being intentional with our choice of words can help cultivate a supportive environment.

Leadership Tip: Consider using any of the following phrases when responding to concerns brought up by a member of your team:

I understand how you feel…
Let’s work together to find a solution…
How can I best support you through this…
We’ll get through this as a team…

Empathy is not just about using the right words. It’s also about genuinely listening and understanding the emotions and concerns of your staff. The phrases suggested above are grounded on empathy, care, and concern. They exemplify a collaborative approach to solving problems, which can lead to increased trust and positive relationships, climate, and culture.

I hope my mistakes and reflections help you on your leadership journey.

Keep going, keep growing, keep glowing… thank you for reading.

Elaine Margarita

Leadership Tip: How to Foster Openness and Transparency

Embedded in the GLOW UP acronym is openness. Openness should be an area of focus in your leadership development. When leaders are open and transparent about initiatives, procedures, processes, etc., they help to facilitate positive work and learning environments for all.

I did not want to make this post so incredibly long that it felt like a chapter in a book. Therefore, I focused on my top three ways of increasing openness and transparency in the workplace. I condensed my thoughts into three categories: establish effective communication, build trust, and invite different perspectives.

Establish Effective Communication: Effective communication is essential for solving problems, making informed decisions, facilitating collaboration, and promoting positive school cultures. There are several methods of communication ranging from meetings to emails to social media. Typically, the form of communication used will depend on your target audience.
Build Trust: Successful teams trust their leadership. Trust develops through openness and honesty. It is important to note that this process does take time. Building trust takes effort, is done by being intentional, and does not occur overnight. There is no magic formula for establishing trust.
Invite Different Perspectives: Openness allows for giving and receiving feedback and encourages dialogue. Inviting team members to share their thoughts, ideas, and perspectives helps strengthen collaboration and creativity but also helps to establish a collective sense of responsibility. This exchange can facilitate collaboration, growth, and development while ensuring that leadership and their teams move in the right direction.

Glowing up as a leader requires consistent effort. While these suggestions for creating an environment that fosters openness and transparency are by no means the end-all-be-all, they are a great way to start thinking, planning, and reflecting on how you lead.

Side Note: When I started my leadership journey, I recall jotting down an incredible amount of notes based on what I read, the professional development sessions I attended, and even the Twitter/X chats I followed. I thought all my notes would help me navigate the struggles. What I eventually realized was that the notes overwhelmed me. There was too much, and I could not figure out what to focus on. After much reflection, I realized that I needed to chunk my thoughts. I share this so that you gain some insight into how my mind works. I will touch upon this topic again and provide additional tips, insights, and suggestions to help you on your journey. For now, I think these three are just right!

Keep going, keep growing, keep glowing… thank you for reading,

Elaine Margarita