You have pressing work on your mind and plenty of deadlines.  And having them interrupt you at this moment is a guaranteed inconvenience.  But this isn’t about you….it is about them.  If you pass up your chance to help your students, they will seek out someone else, and then THAT person will become their leader.  Like former Secretary of State Colin Powell said, “When your people quit bringing you their problems, you quit being their leader.”

In his book, Let Them Lead, author John U. Bacon suggests that when your people you bring their problems, concerns, questions, suggestions, and ideas, instead of moaning about it, thank them!  Think about it.  When you have problems….and we all do….you seek out the person we think has the most compassion, wisdom, and possibly power to help you.  So if your students pick you to confide in, they are giving you a great compliment on several levels.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider how you respond when your students show up at your office door with something on their mind.  No, it is probably not the best time.  But whenever a student has the guts to come to you to unload whatever is on his or her mind, you can’t blow them off.  They came to you because they trust you and they need you to listen.  Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Lead Mentor/COO

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education