True North

Another book on my summer reading list was True North by Bill George.  This has been on my list for a couple of years, but I finally made it a priority to read it this summer, and I am so glad I did!  This would be a great read for aspiring administrators, new assistant principals, new principals, and even veteran administrators.

True North is about discovering your authentic leadership style.  It affirms my long-held believe that there is no one right way of leading. You do not necessarily become a great leader by emulating other great leaders.  You become a great leader by being your authentic self, using your story – your experiences and expertise – to impact your leadership style.  Once you have discovered your authentic leadership style, you have found your “True North.” I would argue that discovering your True North takes a commitment to learning and growth.  I don’t want to imply that once you have discovered your True North, you have somehow arrived. However, being your authentic self will be your compass to leading you back to True North in times of trials as well as times of reward, the peaks and the valleys.

125 authentic leaders, all who have experienced times of great success as well as times of trial, were interviewed for this book.  While they each lead in a different way, the common thread is that they have discovered their authentic leadership, and once they embraced this, that is when they experienced fulfillment.

The author talks about developing the five areas of your compass and that when you have developed those, that is when you will discover your True North.

• Self-Awareness: What is your story? What are your strengths as well as the areas in which you are seeking to grow?
• Values: What principles guide your leadership? What are your deeply held values?
• Motivations: What motivates you both internally and externally, and how do you balance the two?
• Support Team: Who are the people in your life who you can count on to support you in both the peaks and the valleys?
• Integrated Life: How can you integrate all areas of your life and find fulfillment?

In reflecting on this personally, I know that I have been very fortunate to discover my purpose early in life as I was raised with solid values, a firm spiritual foundation, and strong family bonds.  It was affirming to me to read that many of the 125 leaders interviewed never thought of themselves as leaders but simply wanted to make a positive difference in the world.  That is my story. I never thought, “Hmmm…I want to lead. How can I get there quickly and how can I position myself to be an influential leader?” That was never a conscious thought.  However, I have always been driven by a passion to make a positive difference in the lives of others, whatever my role was in life. 

Another affirming point made by the author is on page 186, “You also need to adapt your leadership style to the capabilities of your teammates and their readiness to accept greater power and responsibility.”  As I reflect on the different leadership situations I have been placed in, I would say this is so accurate.  I have had to adjust my leadership style to meet the needs of those I served at the time. You can adjust your leadership style while your compass remains pointed to True North.

I challenge you to envision yourself at the end of your life and think about what your legacy will be.  What difference will you make? How will you make the world a better place?  What is your True North?

~Megan