“You’ve removed most of the roadblocks to success when you know the difference between motion and direction.”
– Bill Copeland
Last year the leadership team in DPS109 read the Leadership Challenge as a book study; I have shared information about this book, the authors, and the leadership messages in earlier blog posts.
Last spring we leaders took the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI), a 360 degree assessment. We asked our managers/supervisors, colleagues/peers, and staff who directly report to us for honest confidential feedback. The LPI asks questions about our practices in the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leaders: Model the Way, Inspire a Shared Vision, Challenge the Process, Enable Others to Act, Encourage the Heart.
From the website: Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) Assessments: A Leader’s First Step Toward Achieving the Extraordinary
Over three million people have taken their first steps towards their personal leadership best with the Leadership Practices Inventory® (LPI®), a 360-degree assessment tool by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Based on The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® model, the 360-degree assessments and facilitator materials illuminates both the effectiveness of your leaders and the level of commitment, engagement, and satisfaction of those that follow.
This week at our leadership retreat, we started the process of reviewing the data from the LPI – we saw our self-assessment as well as the assessment results from our observers. From this, and as part of deeper study into the 5 Exemplary Practices, we began individual, group (school/department) action planning! This fall we are encouraged to publish/share our action plans.
Thankfully as part of our leadership retreat, we partnered with leaders in the field to support our work. This year we worked with the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO). As part of our “LPI Workshops” we reviewed the 5 practices and related those practices to our individual and group applications of leadership. In addition, as part of our reflective and interactive work, we identified individual strengths and areas for improvement from our 360 degree LPI. In addition, as part of our leadership work our IASBO partners helped us commit to actions based upon our strengths and areas for improvement. As part of this process we also created a plan for sharing LPI with observers and connecting about a development plan. This October, our facilitators will return to work with us on our plans and as part of our shared commitment to accountability – personal, organizational, and professional!
From our facilitators, and across all industries, not just educational leadership … the research upon which the LPI is built shows that:
“Leaders who use LPI Behaviors frequently:
create high performing teams
increased customer/stakeholder communication
foster loyalty and organizational commitment
enhance motivation and hard work
promote involvement in schools
extend the range of the service
reduce absenteeism, turnover and dropouts
influence recruitment positively”
We are serious about growing leaders! In DPS109 we Engage, Inspire, Empower each and every student and staff member each and every day!
