By, Vicki Raney,
Search Consultant, Former Assistant Head, The Lamplighter School, Dallas
Summer is the time for heads of school and school leaders to get to the stack of books on their desk or nightstand. There are lots of great titles with excellent leadership advice. We asked our team of executive coaches, search consultants, and seasoned school leaders what’s on their summer reading lists.
“If you aren’t already a fan of Texas’ favorite author, Brené Brown, you must check out her latest book, Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience. The book serves as a reminder of the importance of telling our stories and being stewards of the stories we hear. I’m a fan of her research, philosophies, and the book, Daring Greatly.” I have heard her speak in person, and watched her documentaries. In Atlas, Brené gives language to eighty-seven emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. If you are motivated to be more courageous with your life and your work, read this book for the power of understanding, meaning, and choice.”
From David Feldman,search consultant and executive coach, executive director, Association of Independent Michigan Schools, and former head of school for The Roeper School (MI), Greta Berman Arbetter Kazoo School (MI), and The Foote School (CT):
“Bittersweet by Susan Cain is an excellent discussion of how paradoxical feelings help us be more creative, connective, and ultimately experience growth. Cain helps us see the relationship between endings and beginnings as a point of departure toward new opportunities.”
From Dave Davies, search consultant, executive coach, and veteran of a 40-plus-year career in independent school leadership including as headmaster of Deerfield-Windsor School and Interim Head of School at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal School (Silicon Valley, CA):
“The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything by Stephen M.R. Covey is one of those business-oriented books that really does transfer well to education. Administrators new to independent schools are often advised to listen and observe in the first year as opposed to swooping in and making major changes or launching new initiatives. Covey's book goes beyond that and suggests that forging relationships and developing trust is an active process that new heads and administrators can, and should, engage in immediately. Covey argues that established trust accelerates the process of getting things done in a way that sheer will or authority cannot accomplish, and that the faster that trust is established, the better. He asserts that, ‘Simply put, trust means confidence" and that "the opposite of trust - distrust - is suspicion.’ The author is the cofounder and CEO of CoveyLink and the FranklinCovey Global Trust Practice and is the son of Stephen R. Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.”
How can TEG’s Executive Coaching program help you better navigate leadership challenges? Contact Katherine Moncure Stuart, TEG President, at katherine@educationgroup.com.
At The Education Group, we are experts in guiding schools through searches for heads of school and other top positions. Our coaches and consultants are experienced, former school leaders who tailor searches, coaching, and consulting to your school’s needs and goals.