Leadership “Worrying” & The Healthy Leader In You

We’ve all worried before and we’re most likely going to worry about something in the next few minutes or sometime over the next few days. We’re human. Worrying is a natural emotion for all of us. But, how does worrying impact our leadership and our schools? Take a look at these familiar feelings:

• I’m worried that they won’t like me.

• I’m worried that they won’t think I’m smart [or expert at something].

• I’m worried that something bad will happen [if I do this or that].

• I’m worried that I won’t be able to solve that problem.

• I’m worried about changing [this or that].

• I’m worried that things won’t turn around for me.

• I’m worried that I’m stuck where I am.

• I’m worried that they are out to get me.

• I’m worried that I worry too much.

You get the point. See, the problem with “worrying,” in general, is that worrying about something never solved any of the above problems or mindsets. In fact, worrying only strengthens and compounds the negative connotation behind all of these situations of the mind.

It is easy to simply tell someone to “stop worrying,” but when we struggle to stop worrying, sometimes others don’t understand why we can’t just control our minds and stop worrying—like turning an on/off switch is easy. There are lots of leaders who worry all the time. Before school board meetings. Before budget votes. Before graduation ceremonies. Before student test scores are publicized.

Unhealthy leadership takes place when leaders think they can control everything and everyone around them. They lose out in the end—both to themselves (with their own col