You have a great idea.
It has been brewing around in your head for days and days, and although it is something you have never tried before, you see it as something that could be great for your students.
You decide to bring it to your boss to make sure it is okay to try.
You are crushed when they say, “I don’t think that is going to work.”
Not only did you just hear “no” now, but you probably won’t even ask in the future.
Sometimes “no” is not only a conversation killer, but it can be a relationship killer. It makes people feel that they aren’t trusted or that they are doing something wrong. When people make an effort to go above and beyond, and we stop them before their first step, it creates a reluctance to even try something different again.
Great leaders don’t necessarily always say “yes”, but they rarely say no. The best leaders I have ever had have said things like “go for it”, or “I think you have a great starting point, but have you thought about this?” They work out ideas with you, or they let you fly on your own, supporting you any way they can along the way to be successful.
A great leader will know when to get out of the way, or help you along the way. They alternate accordingly between both spaces.
In a culture that promotes “innovation”, new ideas are not only welcomed, but they are encouraged. It’s the only way as educators we will ever create something different.
