Written by: Robin M. Wilson, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
This year, I was assigned to teach kindergarten French within my school building. Initially, my school hired me to teach science and art. Then, I became a first-grade English language arts teacher. Now I am teaching in a French-language immersion classroom, and it is truly a full-circle moment. I am in the same classroom where I conducted French- language learning research as an undergraduate student.
Last week, I was honored to usher my kindergarten scholars into our classroom. It was their first time being in a classroom setting. Therefore, they learned how to properly walk into our learning space. They learned how to properly sit at their desks and how to walk in the hallways quietly.
All of this may sound simple. However, it takes time to develop these habits. For them, it was a new experience.
My first week working with my young scholars was successful because I have cultivated the powerful habit of consistency. Regardless of your sphere of influence, consistency can create effective learning environments, whereas the lack of consistency can create dysfunction.
I can speak candidly about the power of consistency for effective leadership. My first three years in the classroom were challenging—not because I could not teach or lead—but because it simply takes time and continual learning to become an effective teacher. Teaching is multifaceted. Admittedly, I am still growing as a classroom teacher.
A major component of effectively leading scholars is classroom management. You will not learn this in a teacher preparation program. Classroom management is critical to teaching, and the key to mastery is consistency.
Whether you are leading in a classroom or a boardroom, the leadership principle of consistency applies. It is the language that we all understand. It impacts the culture of your workplace. Additionally, it can shape how people respond to your leadership. In my view, I think of consistency in four components. That is CEAPR:
Consistent Communication
What type of communicator are you? It is important to become self-aware. That means that you can identify how you give and receive information. It also means that you are aware of your body language. We often attempt to give information in the same way that we receive it. However, I truly believe that communication is for the receiver. Therefore, it is important to understand yourself and the people that you serve.
Intentionally observe how people communicate and be mindful of what drives your communication style. Next, be consistent in how you communicate with people. This builds trust and promotes mutual understanding.
A tool that can give you insights into your communication style is the 16 Personalities Assessment. This assessment tool is intended to support your understanding of how your personality can affect different aspects of your life, including your professional life. To complete the assessment, visit https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test.
Consistent Expectations
In any given situation, we all like to know what to expect. It gives us a point of reference and parameters to successfully operate within a given space. While objectives may change and it is important to be flexible, the people that you lead must know what you expect of them from the beginning.
Set reasonable and high expectations. Verbally communicate your expectations and post visual reminders. Additionally, give them support and adequate time to master various tasks to demonstrate proficiency.
Finally, consistently communicate constructive feedback and give your team members opportunities to self-assess their performance. Be intentional about how you communicate feedback and hold people accountable.
Consistent Actions
Sometimes it is hard to look inward and make critical assessments. This is hard for most people. However, self-reflection is necessary to develop consistency and to grow. Self-reflection can support our understanding of whether our actions are in alignment with our intentions.
As a leader, one of the ways that I self-reflect is through journaling. Journaling can be a powerful self-reflective practice. It fosters critical and creative thinking.
If I have a challenging day of teaching, I will think about what went right and what could have been done differently. In other words, I think deeply about my “glows” and “grows.” Furthermore, I plan and strategize to improve.
There will always be people who do not want to follow the guidelines that you have put in place. However, your actions must align with your expectations of the people that you lead. When integrity is a part of your leadership model, people may not like your expectations, but they will see your example. This is leadership consistency in action.
Consistent Positive Reinforcement
Never underestimate the power of positive reinforcement. I have been in spaces where shaming and blaming have been used as tactics to motivate group members to perform. However, this strategy does the opposite. It lowers the morale of the environment and breeds mistrust and resentment. Instead, it is more effective to use positive reinforcement to cultivate a culture of achievement. This can be done through genuine recognition and appreciation. Most people like to be recognized for a job well done. I believe in giving honor when honor is due. When you spotlight people within your team who are doing an excellent job, it not only reinforces the desired behavior but can build trust and rapport within the team. Furthermore, it can increase the morale and motivation of the people that you lead.
Like properly sitting in your seat or walking in the hallway, these components of consistency seem simple. However, it takes time and practice to properly lead people. Whether you are leading five-year-olds or fifty-five-year-olds, consistency speaks volumes to the people that you serve. It is the language of effective leadership.
If you are a leader within an organization, you should strive to learn something new every day. Are you consistent in your leadership? How do you communicate and model expectations for your team? What areas do you glow in? What areas do you need to grow in? We all have areas for growth. It is important to ask ourselves reflective questions daily. Additionally, we must be willing to change to increase our leadership effectiveness and capacity.
Beyond teaching my kindergarten scholars the curriculum content, I am committed to leading them with consistency. I have high expectations of them, and I expect to have a successful school year of continuous learning and growth.
My scholars are discovering what it means to be learners in our classroom. They are following my lead. And that is a great start.
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Robin M. Wilson, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Robin M. Wilson is the founder and CEO of Robin Wilson Educational Consulting LLC, where she combines her research knowledge and professional experience to guide nonprofit organizations in developing effective strategies for serving youth, especially young girls and women.
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