As both the founder and leader of two organizations—Odyssey Leadership Academy and the Odyssey Center for Transformative Schooling—I am in the daily process of walking out what leadership looks like.

And here is what I am learning:

Genuine leaders are not trying to build a resume or work themselves into a better position. They are not concerned with job security or promotions.

They are not careerists, using their position as a stepping stone to something else.

Rather, they understand their work as calling, as mission, as deep purpose

Leaders spend their very lives on something that has cost them everything.

They have burned the ships. They are all in. Their blood is spilt. You can put your fingers in their wounds.

They feel the weight, the burden, the heft of their role

This is true for anyone in a leadership position

However, I am convinced:

School Leaders operate in unique ways from leaders of other organizations

The weight of leadership certainly exists for leaders of Fortune 500 organizations

But the moral weight of shaping human beings in their formative years is a different type of weight faced uniquely by the school administrator

The work of education is not the same as selling insurance, running a restaurant, or managing a mattress store.

It is not about “bottom lines” and “profits".

It is not concerned with increasing stock prices or year over year net increases

It is ultimately and always about human formation

School leaders have care over the lives, well-being, and health of human beings in their most critical and crucial form of development

Christopher Hodgkinson puts it this way:

Given the enormity of what is at stake, fostering healthy school leaders is a top priority and vital necessity

The health of the environment is directly tied to the health of its leaders

Therefore, it is vital schools support the health and well-being of its leaders so they have the stamina, energy, fuel, encouragement, and time necessary to take care of themselves in order to lead their communities well

Schools have the moral responsibility to shape children into healthy, flourishing adults…and it begins with healthy school leaders capable of fostering flourishing for everyone in their care

Here are five ways school leaders can take care of themselves

1. Choose to do so. Most leaders I know believe they have to work themselves to the bone to see the organization and vision flourish. Unfortunately, that is often where leaders exhaust themselves, or suffer health issues. Leaders who are in it for the long haul let their people know they are committed to the vision by being committed to their own refueling. They work into their daily, weekly, yearly rhythms time to recharge, refresh, and reset themselves. They hold that as high a priority as anything else on the list

2. Know their limits. Most leaders, especially those early in their calling, push themselves beyond what they can bear, believing they have no choice. The more seasoned, mature leader understands her limits, operates within her strengths, and supports others in areas where they excel beyond her. Not having to be “everything to everyone” is a skill that healthy leaders learn

3. Curate a support network. No one can go it alone. Not even the most charismatic, energetic, enthusiastic leader (in fact, these are the ones I’ve seen burn out the fastest). Healthy leaders curate an intentional network of support with those at their stage and level, and with those who are farther down the trail. They have sounding boards and clouds of witnesses they can call not just for advice but with whom they can be real and raw, vulnerable and honest. Someone they trust to keep their calm when the wolves howl.

4. Create healthy rhythms of recharge time. Healthy leaders learn at some point that it really is OK to say NO to the inbox in order to say YES to the deep things they need for themselves and the ones they care about. They operate from systems that have rest and recharging built in. They schedule daily walks in their neighborhoods, weekly date nights, monthly Saturday book reads, and yearly getaways. They take time to retreat, go for walks, sleep in, read books, enjoy a nice dinner, go camping, golf, snow ski, play catch with their kids. These become as non-negotiable as the needs of the organization, and healthy leaders make this time sacred in their lives

5. Invest in their own growth in the craft of leadership. Leadership is far more than personality and charisma; it is a craft, a skill. It is something one grows in as one grows as an athlete or musician. Healthy leaders continue to read, listen to podcasts, ask questions, seek wise counsel…all in a desire to nourish their own development as a leader. Their humility drives them to become the best leaders for their organizations they can be

Resource for School Leaders: Odyssey Center for Transformative Schooling Transformative School Leaders Cohort

My deep passion is working with school leaders who are looking to do big, bold, imaginative things for their learning community but who are also in need of a community of people at their stage and level with whom they can be honest, open, and authentic.

That is why my organization, The Odyssey Center for Transformative Schooling, is launching our “Transformative Leaders Cohort”: a year long deep dive into providing school leaders the resources, inspiration, community, encouragement, and support they need to lead their schools well.

If you would like to be part of our first cohort, let me know. We are offering a deep discount for this first round of no more than 10 leaders to launch what we believe will be a game changer (and lifesaver) for leaders to give them what they need to serve for many years to come

If you need any support, advice, encouragement…or just want to chop it up…contact me!

I love hearing from school leaders about what they are learning and doing to change education.

Dr Scott Martin

Founder Odyssey Leadership Academy

Executive Director of the Odyssey Center for Transformative Schooling

Keynote Speaker

Follow me on Twitter (X) @drscottamartin