New Blog – 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

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

What’s in a name?

Real TALK time, coming up with a name for this blog was EXTREMELY difficult. I drafted about a dozen different domain names. Once I made my decision, I eagerly purchased the name only to find out it was already someone else’s name. I know what you’re thinking… I should have Googled it first. I completely agree! I should have looked up every name I’d written down, but I let the excitement get the best of me. Fortunately and after much thought, I came up with THE perfect name. Well, at least I think it’s perfect!

Just in case you’re wondering what the term “glow up” actually means, here’s a basic definition I found through online research:

“Glow up” is considered slang. It indicates a significant transformation or improvement in a person’s appearance, confidence, or overall life situation over time. It’s also used to describe someone who has undergone positive changes in their physical appearance, style, self-esteem, or personal development.

This term is PERFECT because, well, effective leaders do GLOW UP! Think about it… learning and growing come with the role. Mistakes are often made and learning inevitably happens. I am by no means perfect. What I do have is the desire to continue to learn, improve my practice, and lead efficiently and effectively.

For the purpose of this leadership blog, “GLOW UP” is an acronym that encompasses effective leadership characteristics like: prioritizing Growth, Leading by example, promoting Openness, demonstrating Wisdom, fostering Unity, and instilling a sense of Purpose.

Let’s take a deeper look into the meaning of “GLOW UP” as it relates to this blog:

G – Growth: Effective leaders prioritize personal and professional growth, both for themselves and their team members.

L – Leadership: Instructional leaders lead by example, demonstrating the qualities and behaviors they expect from their team. They understand that coaching and mentoring are essential for leadership success.

O – Openness: Humble leaders foster an environment of openness and transparency, encouraging honest communication and feedback.

W – Wisdom: Wise leaders make informed decisions based on experience and knowledge, guiding their teams towards success.

U – Unity: Collaborative leaders promote unity and collaboration among team members. They recognize the strength of diversity and teamwork and promote trust, and engagement.

P – Purpose: Purposeful leaders instill a sense of collective purpose and meaning in their teams, aligning everyone’s efforts with a shared vision.

As I glow up in my leadership journey, I have come to the realization that I embrace a combination of leadership styles. That is why creating an acronym that demonstrates that leadership is multifaceted was important to me. GLOW UP is my way of sharing this notion with all of you.

I hope my words inspire you to continue to glow up as leaders even in times when you may feel your light is dim (don’t worry, that happens to me a lot. I will share with you my tips and strategies to reignite your glow).

For now, I plan on publishing new blog posts on Sundays. If, however, you feel inclined to ask me a question or would like me to elaborate or share further insight on a topic, feel free to message me. I thank those of you that bravely asked “why glow up?” Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read this blog. I appreciate you!

Peace and love,

Elaine Margarita

Here are a couple of question stems to help you reflect on this post:

What thoughts came to your mind as you read through this post?
How do you feel after reading the meaning of glow up in relation to your leadership practice?

Taking a Reflective Approach: Why Blog?

Welcome to the first post in my leadership tips, strategies, and reflection blog. I’m excited about this journey and want to share the reasons behind this “stepping out of my comfort zone” move!

First and foremost… Why Not? Leadership is an ever-evolving journey. It is one filled with challenges, successes, and a never-ending quest for personal and professional growth. Throughout my own leadership path, I’ve come to appreciate the profound impact that reflection has played on my professional growth and development. It’s not just about moving forward; it’s about moving forward with intention, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to self-improvement. So why not jumpstart my leadership reflections via a blog? Besides, I’ve spent the last three years writing and reading, reading and writing my dissertation along with other writing projects; but, since my defense, I felt like something was missing.

And so… here I am, embarking on another challenge. Here are my top four reasons for blogging:

1. Personal Growth: I believe that leadership is not a destination but a continuous journey. It’s a journey where we learn, adapt, and evolve. Through this blog, I hope to document my own growth, learn from my experiences, and inspire others to embark on their own quests for personal and professional development, too.

2. Shared Learning: My favorite hashtag is #bettertogether which suggests that leadership isn’t a solitary endeavor. It thrives in the exchange of ideas, experiences, and insights. This blog is a platform where I intend to share my experiences, the lessons I’ve learned, and the strategies that have worked for me. But more importantly, it’s a space for dialogue. I look forward to learning from you, too. I hope you share your thoughts and ideas in response to some of my blog posts.

3. Inspiring Emerging Leaders: I firmly believe that leadership is not defined by titles or positions but by actions, mindset, and a willingness to make a positive impact. Whether you’re a veteran or just starting your leadership journey, I hope this blog will serve as a source of inspiration and guidance, helping you to realize your leadership potential and take meaningful steps toward your goals.

4. Time for Reflection: Reflection is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. It allows us to pause, examine our experiences, and gain valuable insights. I want to emphasize the importance of reflection as an intentional practice. I often reflect on my day, interactions with others, things that didn’t go as planned, and things that actually worked out.

I’d love it if you joined me on this journey. I look forward to learning, leading, and GLOWING UP with you all.

Peace and love,

Elaine