Gratifying/Frustrating Leadership

I recently interviewed three Christian school superintendents with the goal of listening to their hearts and passions for their leadership. All three interviews were conducted separately and completed within a two month period of time. I took the opportunity to probe a number of areas of ministry and organizational leadership topics, but I would like to share some brief insights into two of the broad questions I asked each superintendent: “What is the most gratifying aspect of your leadership?” and “What is the most frustrating aspect of your leadership?”

Question One: The Most Gratifying Aspects of Leadership

Leader A – I gain the greatest satisfaction in what I do when I see growth and maturity in my faculty. One of my goals as a leader is to identify the strengths of others; and I love it when I am able to place them in the right ministry. It is so gratifying to me to pause and watch people develop. To meet with a teacher and review their personal and professional growth over the school year is a great time for me. I enjoy encouraging others to stretch and grow and develop in every part of life. And when I see that growth happen, it makes my leadership worthwhile.

Leader B- I enjoy being a leader. I have found that I have a big ego. I thought I was humble, but I am so competitive and driven to do well. I like being in charge. Leading is where I really live – it is fun for me. I have often wondered about the Peter Principal. I think my experience has been rather strange. I was an OK teacher – my wife is a much better teacher than I am; I was a good principal, but I did not like a lot of the details of testing and records; but as a superintendent I am doing what I do best. I like being in charge – leading is what I do best.

Leader C - I have just recently accepted the position of superintendent. The last three years of my career have not been filled with satisfaction and passion. I saw many things that need to be done and issues that needed to be addressed but I was not empowered to bring about change. Right now my enthusiasm level is very high, but I am beginning to see some light from within the tunnel. I hold great hope that I will begin to experience increased effectiveness in this new role. I am bone weary from the past three years and yet I have a total peace that I am in the right place at the right time. I feel that I have a sense of direction and I am beginning to see some movement within the organization.

Question Two: The Most Frustrating Aspects of Leadership

Leader A - I consider myself fairly innovative and I like exploring different ways of accomplishing the educational program of the school. I can become very frustrated with the old guard who lack new ideas and motivation. My school is sponsored by a local church and working within that institution can be a source of this frustration. The church provides a great safeguard but it is often a brake toward growth. Right now we have a tremendous pastor with vision and without fear, but some church leaders do not hold the same perspective on Christian education.

Leader B - I tend to be impatient with people who haven’t thought through an issue as much as I have and yet question my position. For example, we are facing a decision regarding the purchase of some land for the school. I have done extensive research and study into this purchase and yet others, who have done almost nothing, stand in disagreement. I see it as a lack of trust in me and my research and I find it very frustrating. They want to do another survey or a different study; they want to conduct a market study and I often see it as just dragging our feet instead of moving ahead and getting into the action

Leader C - The size of the task is overwhelming. There are just too many urgent and important things to address. I want to address them all at once and find it frustrating when I am unable to do so. My school is a complex organization; an institution that must change and yet the ocean liner is not easily turned. I am leaning on all the rudders but need to be patient as the boat begins move. Since I am not greatly patient, lack of perceived movement is a great source of frustration.

All three of the superintendents interviewed are experienced leaders serving in established school systems. I found the different perspectives and the variance of insights quite interesting. Leadership is difficult to define in abstract terms and it is just as difficult to capture in pragmatic best practices.