Lifelong Leadership by Design
How to Do More Good for Kids and Feel Better About Your Life's Work
1st Edition
Published on 1. December 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
208 pages
978-1-4129-6906-2 (ISBN)
Description
"This book offers aspiring and veteran school leaders insightful, practical, and proven strategies to successfully acquire and thrive in meaningful professional positions."
-David Freitas, Professor
Indiana University South Bend
Build a dynamic career by design-not by default!
Given the challenges of today's educational environment, a school leader's career is far from predictable-but it can be a purposeful and successful journey. This essential guide helps educators take charge of their careers, advance professionally, and leave a legacy of stronger schools and improved learning opportunities for children.
Based on the best-selling author's extensive school leadership experience, this book helps readers wisely navigate their careers and stay true to their values. The author addresses concerns for readers at every stage of professional life-from highly experienced administrators to those aspiring to leadership positions. Readers will find personal coaching on leading both oneself and others, including:
The seven critical choices that shape school leadership, from setting goals to choosing the right battles
Guidance on making tough calls and hard choices
Advice on finding the right position and work environment and how to flourish personally and professionally
Numerous real-life examples of how education leaders face and overcome challenges and build effective learning environments
Take action today to build a purposeful career in school leadership and make a positive difference in children's lives!
-David Freitas, Professor
Indiana University South Bend
Build a dynamic career by design-not by default!
Given the challenges of today's educational environment, a school leader's career is far from predictable-but it can be a purposeful and successful journey. This essential guide helps educators take charge of their careers, advance professionally, and leave a legacy of stronger schools and improved learning opportunities for children.
Based on the best-selling author's extensive school leadership experience, this book helps readers wisely navigate their careers and stay true to their values. The author addresses concerns for readers at every stage of professional life-from highly experienced administrators to those aspiring to leadership positions. Readers will find personal coaching on leading both oneself and others, including:
The seven critical choices that shape school leadership, from setting goals to choosing the right battles
Guidance on making tough calls and hard choices
Advice on finding the right position and work environment and how to flourish personally and professionally
Numerous real-life examples of how education leaders face and overcome challenges and build effective learning environments
Take action today to build a purposeful career in school leadership and make a positive difference in children's lives!
Reviews / Votes
"This book offers aspiring and veteran school leaders insightful, practical, and proven strategies to successfully acquire and thrive in meaningful professional positions." -- David Freitas, Professor "A warm, personal approach to leadership which reflects a writer with a deep sense of the value of every person and a deep spirituality designed for doing the most good for the most people, especially the students. Prospective leaders can benefit greatly from this work." -- Sister Camille Anne Campbell, Secondary School PrincipalMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Publishing group
SAGE Publications Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
402 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4129-6906-2 (9781412969062)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Robert D. Ramsey
Lifelong Leadership by Design
How to Do More Good for Kids and Feel Better About Your Life's Work
Book
1st Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€77.03
The article will not be published
Person
Robert D. Ramsey is a lifelong educator who has served as a "leader of leaders" in three award-winning school districts in two different states. His frontline experience includes positions a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, curriculum director, assistant superintendent, acting superintendent, and adjunct professor. Most recently, he has served as associate superintendent in the St. Louis Park (MN) schools, where every school has been designated by the federal government as a National School of Excellence. Ramsey is now working full-time as a freelance writer in Minneapolis.
Content
Preface: It's Not My High School Principal's Predictable Career Path Anymore
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Title
Introduction: No-Limit Leadership by Design
1. Your Chosen Journey: Building a Better Leadership Career on Purpose
Is This What You Want?
Are You Leadership Material?
What's a Career? What's Not?
Who's in Control?
What Should You Expect?
What's the Plan?
2. The Seven Critical Choices That Shape Your Leadership
1. Choosing Core Values
2. Leading With Attitude
3. Defining Stretch Goals
4. Getting Priorities Straight
5. Finding Role Models
6. Associates by Choice
7. Picking the Right Battles
Choosing When It's Confusing
3. Overcoming Self-Imposed Limits, Career Blockers, and False Ceilings
False Ceilings and Self-Made Limitations
Other Self-Sabotaging Behaviors
4. Natural Laws of Lifelong School Leadership
Natural Laws You Can Use
Natural Laws of Career Design
Natural Laws of School Leadership
Ignorance Is No Excuse
5. Navigation Tips for a Lifelong Journey in School Leadership
The Journey Begins in Your Mind
Seeking, Starting, Stopping, and Switching Jobs as a School Leader (or Growing Where You're Planted)
Becoming Indispensable, Promotable, and Transferable
The Most Important Skill of All for Today's (and Tomorrow's) School Leaders
How to Step Up, Stand Out, and Stand Apart as a School Leader
Staying the Course and Staying Motivated
Finding Your Soul as a School Leader
6. Success "Secrets" for Career School Leaders
The Power of Thinking Big
Leading Others: Building Relationships to Get Results
Leading Yourself: Managing the Most Difficult Person of All
7. Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks to Effective School Leadership
Common Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks for School Leaders
The Most Influential Career Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks
The Boss Factor
The Job Itself as a Stumbling Block
The Resilient School Leader: Overcoming Stumbling Blocks and Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities
8. Making Tough Calls and Hard Choices
Deciding to Decide
Career-Changing Choices
A How-to-Decide Guide
A Permanent State of Transition
9. Evolution of a Lifelong Career and Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Developmental Phases of Successful School Leadership
Every Phase Adds Value to the Legacy
Definition of a Legacy
Planting Seeds for Lasting Impact
How to Design a Legacy to Be Proud Of
10. A Final Word
Resource A. What Others Say
Resource B. Read More About It
Index
Acknowledgments
About the Author
About the Title
Introduction: No-Limit Leadership by Design
1. Your Chosen Journey: Building a Better Leadership Career on Purpose
Is This What You Want?
Are You Leadership Material?
What's a Career? What's Not?
Who's in Control?
What Should You Expect?
What's the Plan?
2. The Seven Critical Choices That Shape Your Leadership
1. Choosing Core Values
2. Leading With Attitude
3. Defining Stretch Goals
4. Getting Priorities Straight
5. Finding Role Models
6. Associates by Choice
7. Picking the Right Battles
Choosing When It's Confusing
3. Overcoming Self-Imposed Limits, Career Blockers, and False Ceilings
False Ceilings and Self-Made Limitations
Other Self-Sabotaging Behaviors
4. Natural Laws of Lifelong School Leadership
Natural Laws You Can Use
Natural Laws of Career Design
Natural Laws of School Leadership
Ignorance Is No Excuse
5. Navigation Tips for a Lifelong Journey in School Leadership
The Journey Begins in Your Mind
Seeking, Starting, Stopping, and Switching Jobs as a School Leader (or Growing Where You're Planted)
Becoming Indispensable, Promotable, and Transferable
The Most Important Skill of All for Today's (and Tomorrow's) School Leaders
How to Step Up, Stand Out, and Stand Apart as a School Leader
Staying the Course and Staying Motivated
Finding Your Soul as a School Leader
6. Success "Secrets" for Career School Leaders
The Power of Thinking Big
Leading Others: Building Relationships to Get Results
Leading Yourself: Managing the Most Difficult Person of All
7. Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks to Effective School Leadership
Common Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks for School Leaders
The Most Influential Career Stepping Stones and Stumbling Blocks
The Boss Factor
The Job Itself as a Stumbling Block
The Resilient School Leader: Overcoming Stumbling Blocks and Turning Obstacles Into Opportunities
8. Making Tough Calls and Hard Choices
Deciding to Decide
Career-Changing Choices
A How-to-Decide Guide
A Permanent State of Transition
9. Evolution of a Lifelong Career and Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Developmental Phases of Successful School Leadership
Every Phase Adds Value to the Legacy
Definition of a Legacy
Planting Seeds for Lasting Impact
How to Design a Legacy to Be Proud Of
10. A Final Word
Resource A. What Others Say
Resource B. Read More About It
Index