Byron's Babbles

We had an incredible leadership development gathering of THE Leadership Academy Hamilton Heights School Corporation participants this past weekend. Included with this was a “family” reunion of sorts with participants from all four cohorts of the program. Needless to say, it was incredible and affirmed the principle of andragogy (method and practice of teaching adult learners) that adult learners want to learn in a cohort. I also employ heuristic learning practices that pull great vital things out of the learning. One of our incredible up and coming leaders and third year teacher, Audrey Summers, made a point that became the word of the day – AVAILABLE.

Her point was we talk a lot about being present and visible as leaders, but what we really need is leaders who are available and accessible. While being present and visible are crucial for leaders to connect with their teams, being available and accessible plays an even more vital role. She shared how important it had been in her first years of teaching for her department head and entire social studies team to be available to her. When leaders are available and accessible, they create an open environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, concerns, and feedback. This openness fosters trust and collaboration, allowing everyone to contribute to the team’s success. Accessibility also helps leaders understand the needs of their team better, enabling them to provide support and guidance effectively.

It was amazing to learn from Audrey (what I call a reverse mentoring moment) about her views of being present. It so much more than just saying we have an open door policy. Ever noticed that most that say that really do not? It is about really being accessible and available to access us for questions, ideas, and concerns. Think about it. Sometimes all we need is to talk to someone. Leadership access is about creating an environment where communication flows freely and everyone is valued and heard. As leaders, we need to make a habit of making ourselves available and accessible to those we serve to see how they are doing, both professionally and personally. I shared with the group something that happened organically that we called Fireside Chats when I was principal of Emmerich Manual High School. It was one of my favorite parts of the day and made everyone accessible.

We all need to continually work at being accessible and look for those moments where we can encourage our team members to share thoughts, ideas, and learn what they are needing. What are your thoughts on how leaders can enhance their availability and accessibility?