A few months ago I read a book called “Lead Yourself First: Inspiring Leadership Through Solitude.” It changed the way I think about silence and solitude, so when “Stillness is the Key” was recommended, I immediately picked it up. Ryan Holiday writes on the idea of stillness- which is deeply personal – but I’ve found a few parts that resonated with me as a school leader.
Seek time for silence. Holiday writes that good leaders don’t just “go with their gut,” – the best leaders have the fortitude and strength to slow down and think. He cites John F. Kenndey in the Cuban Missile Crisis, who was far from passive in this conflict. He took time to think in the Oval Office, Rose Garden, and the White House swimming pool before making decisions. Thomas Carlyle even writes “There is no thought without silence.”
We also need to close the door and think. As Carlyle writes – “how can a leader think when bombarded with constant inputs?” Slowing down and thinking doesn’t mean you are a bad leader & it doesn’t mean you don’t seek action.
Sitting and thinking on complex problems allows a leader to “look deeply, and perceive what others cannot.” Holiday notes that even sitting with doubts are key. When you sit with doubts and think about them, the other side of those thoughts will always bring some sort of truth or clarity. Holiday notes that before a decision can be made, we must think about it, be fully present, clear our mind of preconceptions, weigh advice we have heard, and then decide.
It is difficult to find silence as a school leader. There is always someone who needs help, and that’s a good thing! But finding even small moments of silence is key. This is why Holiday recommends walks – walking around the building allows a leader to soak in the beauty of what happens day-to-day in a school. Even on the most difficult days, there is a lot to celebrate in a school community. Remember, silence doesn’t have to be still – it just has to be absent of other voices having input into your thoughts.
I once had a professor in ‘principal school’ say that the best decisions don’t always turn out the way you may have liked – the best decisions come from a solid decision-making process. We can find clarity in our thinking and decision making the process through stillness – then, we must act on it!
Sean D'Abreu 