THE MASTERS SCHOOL ETHICAL LEADERSHIP PROJECT February 2018
The Importance of Self Awareness If you’ve watched the Ethical Leadership video on the Masters website you will hear both Matt and I focus a lot on building our students’ self-awareness —who they are, what they value and how to contend with the challenges to who they are as they move forward in life. There’s been a fair body of research that demonstrates that when people act in concert with their core values and personal interests, they are more effective people and have a greater sense of personal well-being. A recent research-based article in the Harvard Business Review this month (“What Self-Awareness Really Is and How to Cultivate It”) underscores this, breaking down self-awareness into two categories, Internal (how well you see/understand yourself and your impact on others) and External (how well you “read” how others see you). In general, people who are self-aware “...are more confident and creative. [They] make sounder decisions, build stronger relationships, and communicate more effectively. [They’re] less likely to lie, cheat and steal. [They] are better workers who get more promotions. And [they’re] more effective leaders with more-satisfied employees and more-profitable companies.” Of the two categories, the former, “Internal Self-Awareness,” is associated with “higher job and relationship satisfaction, personal and social control and happiness.” The latter, “External Self-Awareness,” is associated with “greater empathy and taking others’ perspectives.” Our goal in working with all students is to help them develop the core from which their decision and actions arise. We are always working to learn better ways to accomplish this and welcome all faculty to visit our classes and engage with our students in the process.
FALL UPDATES Captain’s Meetings Starting this past fall, the Ethical Leadership team has been sponsoring training for varsity team captains. The goal of this training is to help captains better understand and embrace their leadership role, to help them set realistic incremental goals for themselves and their teams, and to help them better understand the obstacles they face in meeting those goals. Team captains share their experiences, come to understand common challenges, and help each other by sharing solutions that have worked for them. In this way they develop a sense of teamwork as captains, too, and become resources for each other as the season progresses. These meetings take place on Mondays during Upper School lunch in the Herrick Room. Special thanks to Meghan MacWilliams for her help with this initiative.
Monthly Lunches for Faculty and Staff Each month, the Ethical Leadership Project invites adults in the community to come together over lunch to discuss issues related to our work with students in the classroom, dorm, advisor groups or sports teams. Sometimes teachers share a best practice that they are using in the classroom, and often we discuss an article of interest on a variety of topics, including: Autonomy Building Practices, Exploring Inner Biases, Promoting Empathy, and Restorative Practices. The goal of these lunches is to allow interested faculty and staff to engage in conversation about current topics related to Ethical Leadership and to build connections around topics of interest so that together we may continue to grow as educators. The sponsored lunches take place in the Rechtman Room in the Fonseca Center on Fridays from 12:30-1:00. Lunch is provided. All are welcome (an RSVP is requested)!
Ethical Leadership Summer Institute for Faculty Faculty who have at least one year of teaching experience at The Masters School are invited to attend the Ethical Leadership Summer Institute, a 2 1/2-day experience devoted to introducing the work of the Ethical Leadership Project and providing the opportunity for faculty to explore and deepen their work with students as teachers, coaches, advisors, dorm parents, class deans and club heads. Matt Kammrath and Lee Dieck provide an overview of specific work they engage in with students, and mentor colleagues through creative engagement with their own work. Participants in the institute develop a plan for one aspect of their work.
UPCOMING DATES Captain’s Training January 22 February 5, 26 Student Leader Training January 29 February 12 Ethical Leadership Faculty Lunches February 2 March 2
Summer Institute June 14-16