6 days in Gettysburg.
3 school district.
100 participants.
1 rain day.
Welcome to the Diamond6 summer workshops!
We're only halfway through June and we have already hosted 100 participants from three different school districts for our Gettysburg Leadership Workshops.
This is truly our favorite time of year.
Working with educators and school district staff is incredibly rewarding.
Their energy, commitment, and desire to do right by their students and communities is inspiring, to say the least.
In every group we hear lightbulb moments and insights that remind us why we do what we do.
Here is one example....
One of the big messages we try to convey is that EVERYONE is a leader, no matter their title.
At the end of the first day at Gettysburg last week a participant approached Jeff and said,
"Until now I always thought of myself as just the lunch lady.....
....but now I realize that I'm a leader, and an important part of this team."
Yes, yes, YES!
If she doesn't lead her team to successfully get lunch prepared and served, thousands of students and staff won't eat lunch.
For some kids this is their best meal of the day.
Without a midday meal teachers can't teach, and students can't learn.
The lunch lady is a leader and absolutely ESSENTIAL!
We have heard many different versions of the "I'm just a lunch lady" statement over the years.
"I'm just a second grade teacher."
"I'm just a secretary."
"I'm just a new employee."
It's time to nix "just" from our vocabulary - for ourselves and for those we lead.
The second grade teacher is a leader and role model to their students and fellow teachers.
The secretary is leading their boss and the face of the office who often carries critical historical knowledge about the organization.
The new employee leads their peers and brings a fresh perspective into the organization that can inspired important change.
Do you use JUST to describe yourself sometimes?
I challenge you to drop that word and reframe your description.
And when someone around you says, "I'm just a ......" stop them right away and tell them they are a leader and they are essential to the team!
By dropping this one little word we are reminded of our intrinsic value and the important role we play in accomplishing our organizations mission.
Let us know your "just" description and how you're going to reframe it!