No Apologies...No Excuses

I HATE when people make excuses!  I have colleagues who start every conversation with a statement along the lines of, "You wouldn't believe how busy I've been..."  or  "I get to my office every morning at X O'Clock and still cannot get all my work done..."  or  "I work until 10 pm every night"....

It's like they're bragging or playing some game of I'm Better Than You Because I Work Harder Than You.

I have close administrator friends who brag about being at work from before sun-up until long after sun-down and go in on weekends to "get caught up".

Hey, if you're a workaholic - and you love impressing folks by telling them how many hours you worked last week...good for you.  Now shut-up, will ya please?

You really want to know what I think when friends tell me over and over how hard they work and what long hours they keep?  I seriously think, "So you have no clue how to manage your time?  And you expect what?  Sympathy?"

My observation is that folks who work more than a standard work week

• Have poor time management skills; or
• They don't know how to delegate; or
• They cannot prioritize [HINT: Family comes first!]; or
• They are Wannabe Martyrs.

[OMG!, did he really just say that?]

Listen? I hear eggshells being stepped on.

Look, if you're a school administrator and you consider football games, plays, concerts, academic and athletic events to be WORK, you're in the wrong career.

Sure, I'm "on duty" while at those events, but I'm also having FUN!  I see fellow admintypes so worried and uptight about the lighting systems, sound systems, crowd control, etc. that they completely miss a 98 yard punt return for a score.  Or they don't really HEAR that subtle oboe melody played perfectly during a concert.  

Kenny sings about knowing when to hold 'em and knowing when to fold 'em.  Effective - and the most healthy - school administrators know when to be vigilant, focused, and when to let go and just enjoy the moment.  Take the informal Walk Through Observation.  I have seen colleagues so intent on working through their checklist, they completely miss the sheer joy on a kid's face who just caught on to reducing 2/4 to 1/2.  ("I get it Mr. Jones! I finally get it!")  Any administrator who witnesses such an event and doesn't walk over and give the kid a high-five is just an empty suit pretending to be an educator.

I've been asked how I will know when it's time to retire.

Easy.

When going into my office, walking the halls, visiting a classroom, spending time with great teachers and super students becomes a "job", it will be time for me to leave.  

When I look at my watch and mentally calculate how much longer I have to stay at work, it will be time for me to quit.

When I start telling everyone how hard I work, how many hours I spent at the school, and how busy I am...it will time for me to retire.

******************************************************

So you see...I haven't been blogging lately...

...and many of you have been asking why....

and while it would be sooooo easy to just say "I've been too busy.."  the truth is, I just haven't had anything to say.

Stay Tuned.

Comments

[Bicknell]

I have often wondered what those people who are there so early and or so late are actually doing? Don't get me wrong... I love what I do... but I love the little guys and the little lady more... nothing more important than them.

[Jan Borelli]

When I was a high school principal, I loved going to all the events; and it was gratifying to see the kids in another aspect of their school lives. Then, I became direly ill; and I begrudged all that time away from my kids and family.

I changed gears, and I became an elementary principal. Oh, I still work some nights here and there; but I love the work and the kids and the teachers and every part of it.

I am getting a little tired of the external things of the principalship; and I know that when I am not just tired of them but focus on them excessively... that... that is when I retire.

[Kerrie Bourland]

I was going to begin my comment with an apology for not reading this blog entry sooner than today due to poor time management and a horrendous handicap in delegating, but I changed my mind. Okay, and maybe I do appear wishy washy sometimes, but those late afternoons catching up can be a legitimate excuse for memory and mood swings. Paper stacks do fall occassionally and do hurt when they hit you right across the eyebrow. But forget all that and let me say that I applaud you for your message that many messages minor in meaning making much mush to meander through much like this.

[Kyle Pekurney]

This post is by far my favorite of your postings yet. I always enjoy reading the thoughts and opinions of the "more seasoned" administrators. It really helps me keep things in perspective.