By Carla Silver

Summer is finally here.  Final grades and progress reports are in the mail (or posted online) so that students can read all about how they did this year, how much they learned, and how hard they worked.  They will read comments from their teachers who are evaluating their critical thinking skills, their study habits, their effort, and their passion for the subject.  In most cases, they will be assigned a grade that reflects some or all of these criteria.  But what about you?  How did you do this year?  More specifically, how did you lead this year?

If you have just completed a year-end performance assessment with your board or your direct supervisor, you might have already evaluated your work and how you performed the specific roles of your job this year.  But here is an opportunity to reflect on your leadership.  How did you manage change, conflict, and adaptive challenges?  How did you solve problems? How did you serve your constituents? How did you grow personally and professionally? 

The following “rubric” is by no means comprehensive nor is it completely objective, but rather it is meant as a reflection tool. You might want to add to it or change it to suit some of your personal goals. But take a few minutes to answer the questions. Give yourself the letter grade you think you deserve in each category.  Go find a colleague or partner or friend with whom you can share your report card over a leisurely cup of coffee or lunch and then give that person an opportunity to share his or her grades with you.  This kind of professional development can’t be done often enough.  It is authentic and it is meaningful.
Personal History, Mission, and Vision

• Do I have a mission and a vision that guide my leadership?    
• Did I actively and consciously lead with this mission and vision in mind?
• Did I make this mission and vision public to my constituents?
• Did I use my history to learn from both my mistakes and my successes?

Grade: ________
Managing Conflict

• Did I pro-actively face conflicts this year?
• How did I approach individuals with whom I disagree or have varying view points?
• Did I use conflict to have valuable and constructive conversations and see new solutions?

Grade: ________
Managing Change

• Did I communicate the rationale and the goals for change clearly?
• Did I involve others in the change-making process?
• Did I share ownership and create buy-in for the change?
• Did I leave space for disagreement, frustration and even some sadness that comes with change?
• Did I celebrate change? 

Grade: ________
Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Did I seek counsel to talk through hard decisions?
• Did I practice creative problem solving?
• Did use the passage of time to my advantage when making a decision?
• Do I regularly reflect on past decisions and problems in order to be more effective in the future?

Grade:________
Serving Constituents and Community

• How did I enable my constituents to grow and succeed in their roles?
• Did I collaborate with my community to create or implement a shared vision?
• Did I acknowledge participation of community members?
• Did I show concern for my community members?

Grade:_______
Personal Reflection and Renewal

• Did I take time to regularly reflect on my actions and relationships this year?
• Did I make time for meaningful professional development (a workshop, conference, seminar or reading)?
• Did I engage in activities that were unrelated to work?
• Did I make time for play and laughter?
• How am I ending this year physically and mentally?

Grade: _______
What does your report card look like?  How can you lead more effectively next year and in the future?  We hope you can use your summer to set the course for a wildly successful 2010-11 school year.