LEAD with HOPE Series: H is for Habits

Brandi KellyBlog, Connect Better, Engage Better, Lead Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better, Self Care Better

TL;DR:

  • It is important to establish healthy habits and model them for our students.
  • Be proactive: Focus on the things in your circle of control in an effort to be the best you can be.
  • Begin with the end in mind: Set a mission, goals, and priorities.
  • Put first things first & sharpen the saw: Manage your time. Practice good self-care.
  • Seek first to understand, then be understood. Attentive listening is a skill that takes time and practice.
  • Synergize: We can benefit from working together. Interdependence has a higher value than independence.

H is for Habits

There are many articles written on habits. Healthy habits, 10 habits of successful people, 30 habits of leaders, and the list goes on and on. Everyone has habits and some are good but some are not so good. I talk to my students about establishing habits to help them be successful in school and life. We know that our thoughts become our words, our words become our actions, and our actions become our habits. It is imperative to establish healthy habits because our habits affect our character and, in turn, our futures. 

If we want our students to establish healthy habits, we know that we must model these healthy habits. Modeling is the most powerful tool for teaching our students because our students often model our behavior. Educators have an awesome responsibility for establishing and modeling healthy habits for students. Establishing healthy habits is not always an easy task. I consider myself a healthy person; however, I struggle with maintaining simple healthy habits of eating right and exercising. The struggle is definitely real! A framework for thinking about habits has been helpful for me.

This habit (#8) is all about self-awareness and reinforcing that interdependence has a higher value than independence. We need each other, and we are better together! Click To Tweet

Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits

Early in my career as a principal, I was fortunate to be able to implement Leader in Me with my fellow administrators, teachers, and staff at Ramsey School District. Leader in Me is a transformational program that teaches the 7 Habits of Happy Kids or the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. This framework, inspired by Stephen Covey’s book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,  has been one of the most effective steps I have taken to develop healthy, highly effective habits in my practice as an educator. 

The 7 habits that I attempt to follow—I say attempt because I have not mastered this process yet—are as follows:

H is for Habits – #1: Be Proactive

I choose my own attitude, mood, and actions. If something doesn’t go as planned, I don’t blame others. I take responsibility for my own actions and strive to do better in the future. This habit reminds me of my circle of control. I focus on the things within my circle of control in an effort to be the best that I can be. I control my reaction to circumstances! This is a powerful habit to live and model for students!

H is for Habits – #2: Begin with the End in Mind

This habit is all about setting a mission, goals, and priorities! Many teachers create classroom mission statements and include student voice in this process. When a classroom establishes a classroom mission, they are charting their own course and creating a roadmap to achieve their goals! 

Personally, I have started creating a vision and mission each year. I utilize Jon Gordon’s ONE WORD. My ONE WORD this year is trust. I am committed to building trust with my co-workers, staff, students, family, and friends this year. By sticking to this vision, I will lean into my mission of inspiring and empowering others to realize their full potential. Habit #2 reminds me to be intentional, set a mission and vision, and work hard to accomplish my goals.

H is for Habits – #3: Put First Things First

This habit is all about time management. I should spend most of my time working on things that are important but not urgent. Consider preparation, value, clarification, building capacity, building relationships, and self-care. 

H is for Habits – #4: Think Win-Win

This habit teaches an abundance mentality. There is plenty for everyone! It doesn’t have to be win-lose or lose-win; it can truly be a win-win if we can find a way to work together and compromise. This requires maturity, courage, and consideration for one another.

H is for Habits – #5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

Educators know full well the importance of communication! This habit is all about the art of communication. More importantly, the art of listening. Attentive listening is a skill that takes time and practice. This habit is arguably the most important of the 7 habits. 

H is for Habits – #6: Synergize

Teamwork makes the dream work! This habit is all about creative cooperation. We can benefit from working together and using the strengths of the team to find new solutions to old problems. 

H is for Habits – #7: Sharpen the Saw

This is a habit that I consistently work on. I’m not great at self-care and this habit is all about keeping a balance in four dimensions—physical, spiritual, mental, and social-emotional. I do well in all areas except physical. I find it difficult to schedule a time for workouts and self-care. This is a work in process because I realized that self-care is essential! You cannot pour from an empty cup!

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Bonus Habit

Habit #8: Finding Your Voice and Inspiring Others to Find Theirs

This habit is an addition by Covey in his 2004 follow-up book The 8th Habit, From Effectiveness to Greatness. This habit is all about self-awareness and reinforcing that interdependence has a higher value than independence. We need each other, and we are better together!

People NOT Programs

I believe that it is people, not programs, that make a difference in education. That being said, people must act on best practices! Covey’s 7 Habits create change in systems. During my time at Ramsey Grade School, I witnessed an improvement in attendance, achievement, and behavior following the implementation of the Leader in Me. These habits are truly highly effective.

I want to invite you to reflect on your current habits. The goal in education is to serve, inspire, motivate, and empower others. Are your habits helping you accomplish your goals? If not, consider implementing the 7 Habits. Could you move to a new level of leadership by implementing the 7 Habits? I dare you to give it a try!

About Brandi Kelly

Mrs. Brandi Kelly is currently a Middle School Principal in the Sangamon Valley School District. Sangamon Valley Middle School is a small middle school in Illiopolis, IL west of Decatur, IL. Brandi began her career as a school social worker in the Effingham School District. She has served as a building administrator in three districts to date: Ramsey School District, Mt. Zion School District, and Sangamon Valley School District. Brandi has been in the field of education for 20 years and has served as a building administrator for 9 years. Her goal is to build teacher and student capacity by providing tools and strategies that empower and inspire others toward greatness!

Brandi believes that everyone can learn and has the potential for greatness. Relationships are incredibly important to the learning process. It is necessary for educators to invest time in students to build relationships in an effort to maximize their influence and impact.

Brandi is a wife and mother of two children. She is passionate about learning, growing, and inspiring others to do the same. She is an inspirational educator and leader and works diligently to empower others each and every day.