Reflecting on Drive

At our first face-to-face class meeting, we discussed several aspects of site-based leadership. One topic was that of motivation and drive, and how we hope to push the members of our site to do their bests.

The following is my reflection after I watched the RSAnimate video Drive, adapted from Daniel Pink's talk at the RSA (link at the end of the post.)

There will always be things that people need and what they want. In regards to motivation, there can be a disparity between these, resulting in a battle between what drives people. What I hope to achieve as a leader is to mesh what people need to do their job with what they want to do. I would like to be able to provide the support so that people’s immediate needs are met and they feel able to do their job in the way that they want, within reason. Autonomy and self direction are valuable things, but within the field of education, it can’t be anything goes. I hope to achieve a level of loose-tight leadership, ensuring boundaries and goals are universally defined, but motivating people to be creative in the way they accomplish our team goals and their personal goals. Motivation to one might be a personal conversation, while to another person it might be praise at a staff meeting. I want to be a leader who gets to know their staff, individually and as a cohesive group and find out what motivates them. I aim to lead by example, showing those around me what motivates me, passion and purpose.

Enjoy the video!