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Monday, June 14, 2010

Loser or Winner

I was discussing with a group of senior students about the desire to achieve and be a successful learner. It was interesting how some of them found reasons, almost excuses,why they could not reach their true potential.
I shared this little list below with them. I was given this many years ago by a notable rugby coach and academic, I had the pleasure to be associated with in my growing years [Carwyn James].Carwyn was a great thinker and an up front bloke when it came to looking at yourself. He used to say is the problem with you or is it with what you do. If either is the case then you can do something about it!
This is the list and it was framed around being a winner which if you have any inkling of who Carwyn was - he certainly knew what it was to achieve.
Losers procrastinate
Losers see a problem in every answer
Losers make mistakes and live with them
Losers spend time on trivia
Losers grumble about the past
Losers say.. but we’ve always done it this way

Winners make commitments
Winners see an answer in every problem
Winners make mistakes and learn by them
Winners make time for the important tasks
Winners look for opportunity in the future
Winners say... there must be a better way!

So as you see - if you don't achieve then the problem may lie in your attitude.

'Attitude gives aptitude & altitude'

Monday, June 7, 2010

Common sense response to Nat Stds

I came across this video clip and it clearly sums up where my thinking is with the debate. As I have reiterated on several occasions lately we have to view the Nat Stds as part of the learning & teaching process - not as the end product. By having this approach we will surely keep focussed on what really matters - the purposeful learning for our kids.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Leadership as a servant?

Leadership is a challenging but rewarding role. I am currently working with the student school leaders at MBS (our Waveriders).
These 13 year old young adults have such wonderful potential and take on the leadership mantle with commendable thought and commitment.
We had a discussion the other day about the qualities of leadership and why it is important we do have leaders in our community.
We all agreed Leaders need courage. They should be thoughtful risk takers and have a strong belief in what they are striving to achieve. Most importantly though they must be prepared to serve the community. This was an interesting thought for them to process as they had the idea that the group, team or community should be at their beck and call.
I guess this is where many leaders do fall by the wayside. They forget that to truly lead you are the servant of your followers first and foremost.
We are sharing the book 'Peter Blake- leader' and it is a driving point in this that Peter Blake was of this ilk.

When we looked at some of our leaders within our national perspective some did not match up to this where as others it was glaringly obvious.
Incidentally we talked about Anne Tolley - she was way out of kilter. Yet John Key and Ritchie McCaw seemed to have nailed it (as the kids said)
I have taken this stance in my own Leadership during the past 5 years to be the servant of my team yet still show the ability to make the tough calls when need be.
It took an upheaval in my life to assist this shift. Before this I had fallen into the false belief because I had position I should be followed and obeyed.
Where did that come from?
I guess it could be easy to do when you have too much power and do not self reflect.
Anyway we are involved in the Red Sock day and are offering our Waverider service to the wider community. These students are learning the value of being a true leader and I am sure will prove their potential in the near future.
In the meantime Waverider 1 is certainly gaining a lot of inner satisfaction in being part of the team. check our the Waverider challenge at the Adventure Forest.