At the end of a school year it is an interesting time to reflect, so while talking about being new might feel out of place, that's where it comes from. It is also a time when new administrators and leaders may have been named and are looking to start a new adventure in the fall so maybe it is timely for them?
This is my 12th year as an administrator, so it is fair to say that at this point I have been at many different administrator meetings. The longer I am in the role, the more I notice new faces at these meetings and I am glad to see leaders stepping up when the old faces retire.
At this point, I am fairly comfortable in these spaces but that was certainly not always the case!
I do remember being new in the room, however, and have had to do it a few times in my career when I changed roles or geographic locations. I remember the anxiety of wondering what was in store, hoping I didn’t say anything to get myself in trouble and of course, wondering what people must have thought of me.
This particular entry is aimed more at new leaders going into those spaces but is worthwhile for veteran leaders as a reminder as well.
Show up early. By showing up early you can pick a place to sit and set up shop. This may be a little less intimidating to do towards an empty table since others will then approach you about sitting there rather than you having to approach them. If you have a friend, it may be worth saving them a seat or having them save you one so you don’t find yourself looking for a spot. It also gives you time to troubleshoot or get yourself set up for the day rather than trying to do it at the last minute.
Be a Listener. One thing about me is that I love to talk. But, there is also a time and place for it. Being new in the room it is important to have opinions and be able to engage in conversation, but be mindful that you don’t necessarily need to lead off with those same opinions. Listen and learn from the others in the room. Take time to use your active listening skills and take in what is being said rather than just listening to respond.
Be Confident. You were selected to lead or help lead your school, and that’s the hardest part. You aren’t here to prove yourself, you are here to learn. You prove yourself daily at your school, you belong here. Don’t worry about being new, everyone in the room was new at some point and no one has it all figured out.
Read the Room. There are times where conversation is encouraged and times that it is not. Take your cues from some of the others in the room. Have quiet conversations with a shoulder partner if you are questioning something rather than to the entire room. It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion before you invite the opinion of everyone!
Make Connections. One of the best parts of being in spaces like these are to build your network so you have people to call when you are looking for advice or guidance. Meet people at your table, pay attention to who others are talking to. The people who share your ideas and personality because they are more likely to do things in a way that works for you. Finding people who think differently are a great way to inject new ideas into your practice.
Take Notes. Generally these meetings are designed to give you information to take back to your schools. It’s a good idea to try and get that information correct. A colleague of mine used to describe meetings like this as ‘drinking from the firehose’ with all the information. Jotting down some of it helps to organize it in your mind so you will remember it later.
There are a lot of things that happen at these meetings that have nothing to do with what is on the agenda. Listen, learn and you will pick up what the norms are. You’ll also get a feel for who are the leaders in the room, both officially and unofficially, and see who is worth having deeper conversations with and who might be a good connection to build.