3 Powerful Leadership Lessons I Learned From 2nd Grade Teachers Yesterday

Teachers are amazing leaders. All day long they manage large groups of young people. They have to navigate complex behaviors, inspire, motivate, coach, and teach to name but a few of the dozens of things teachers must do.

I was at a school this week with Taine Dry running a cricket session for 42 second graders on behalf of American Cricket Academy.

Watching the teachers was inspiring. High quality leadership was in action. There were three main behaviors I witnessed that if leaders can do, will have an immediate and powerful effect on their teams.

Let's dive into the three behaviors of effective leaders.

Clarity

“Clear is kind”. (Brené Brown).

The teachers in the gym gave precise instructions. Students were crystal clear on tasks and expectations.

A leader who lacks clarity causes confusion, a degree of chaos and eventually distruct in their people. Clarity helps create a safe space for employees to feel comfortable so they are better able to bring their best selves to work. It reduces uncertainty which is vital in the volatile world we live in. And, clarity helps everyone focus on the team's goals. The team members know where they are going.

Bring more clarity into your leadership and you will see greater focus, effort and stronger relationships

Courage

Walt Disney said, “Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion no matter where it is exercised.”

The teachers were courageous in two areas.

1.     They modeled the way by getting involved in playing cricket, a game they had never played. This courage inspired the students to give it a go.

2.     Keeping students on track. Teachers did not at any stage back away from calling out a behavior issue. Now, these kids were really good, but they are second grade and were very excited by being in a gym  playing cricket! The teachers never shied away from redirecting behaviors.

Courage in leadership matters. It takes courage to set the direction for the team. It takes courage to hold people accountable. It takes courage to lead change and stay the journey in spite of the pushback, fear and negativity others may bring.

Being more courageous is an attitude and choice. It’s showing up and embracing small acts of courage each day. The result is allowing others around you to feel confident and overcome obstacles.

Character

“Successful leadership is not about being tough or soft, sensitive or assertive, but about a set of attributes. First and foremost is character.” (Warren Bennis)

The teachers were pleasantly relentless in holding the students to high standards of character. Whether it was listening to each other, helping the coaches clean up, walking quietly past other classrooms, or supporting and encouraging others, the focus was on being good people.

In John Wooden’s words, the teachers, had “the courage to make character count among the qualities you seek in others.”

Character is “the secret ingredient for success.” As a leader not only do you need to exhibit behaviors and decisions that align with your moral and ethical traits, you also need to hold those around you to those high standards. This creates a team that regularly exhibits resilience, and empathy, compassion and a willingness to serve and plays a pivotal role in determining how individuals navigate challenges and opportunities.

Finally, research shows that organizations with leaders who achieve high character scores have an average return on assets five times higher than those with low character scores. (The Case for Leadership Character, Diane Belcher in HBR February 13, 2024)

Character plays a significant role in decision making and performance, and it’s important for leaders at all levels, not just those in senior roles.

I hope that these lessons in leadership from 2nd grade teachers resonate with you and provide actions to enhance your leadership.