Professional Development
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BEING A LEADER
This
is a message every leader should read, because your constituents/peers/members
are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say . . .
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you welcome a stranger to
our meeting, and I learned that it was important to include everyone.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you invite everyone’s
comments and suggestions, and I learned to appreciate and respect many
different points of view.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you thank someone for a
job well done, and I learned that little things can be the special things
in life.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you publicly recognize my
work on a committee, and I immediately wanted to do more.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time to
mentor others, and I learned that it was good to help people learn and
grow.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities,
even when you didn’t feel good or when there were tough problems,
and I learned to persevere.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I watched how you live your life,
and I learned through your example how to be a good and productive person.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how much you cared, and
I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to
say “thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t
looking.”
Adapted from an unattributed piece about parenting
circulated via the Internet.
Submitted by Beth Cummings, PLS and Patricia E. Infanti, PP, PLS