In my spare time, I serve as Secretary of the Limerick Elementary School Home & School League (H&SL). Since my oldest son has been at Limerick, I have had the pleasure and privilege of co-chairing the H&SL Variety Show with two amazing women. I shall make them the topic of my next blog. This one will be about Limerick Elementary School and its staff, students and parents.
The Variety Show is an annual event that is sponsored and coordinated by the H&SL. Any student at Limerick Elementary can sign up to perform an act. The show rarely disappoints and this year was no exception. We had children play the piano, sing, dance, act out songs (think Grease!), do gymnastics and emcee the show. Throughout the show, cheers for friends can be heard echoing through the auditorium. High-fives can be witnessed as the children walk off of the stage after a job well done. There is certainly no shortage of cheers when the staff, led by their Principal, Mitch Edmunds, takes the stage. It is very clear to me that Limerick Elementary has the most talented children and staff in the whole wide world (not that I am biased or anything…)!
Year after year, I am overwhelmed with the spirit and enthusiasm of the Limerick Elementary community. The children put in so much time and effort to get their act “just right”. The sense of pride I see in the children when they walk off the stage just gives me the goose bumps. Clearly, they couldn’t do it without the help and support of their parents who dedicate a lot of time to help make sure the children are ready for the big night. It really is a labor of love in so many ways and for so many people.
Every year without fail, I get emotional at some point in the show. This usually occurs when I see a typically shy child overcome their fear of being in front of people or when I see the Limerick staff perform the Variety Show’s opening act. To me, there is so much more going on at the Variety Show than good, clean, fun entertainment. When I really thought about it during and after the show, I was taken aback by all the displays of leadership that I witnessed while being involved with the Variety Show. Not only does Limerick Elementary have the most talented children, I would argue they have a huge pool of emerging leaders as well.
So, what did I learn from an elementary school Variety Show?
LIFE’S LITTLE LEADERSHIP LESSONS
1. Leaders take risks and go outside of their comfort zone. I give these children a lot of credit for standing up in front of hundreds of people to sing, dance or perform in general. Two things can happen as a result of their performance: they will either be received well or not received well. This uncertainty in the outcome can be daunting yet the children do it anyway! Some children really have to overcome fears to be able to stand in front of a lot of people to perform. These children do it amazingly well. Over my career, I have found that personal growth occurs when I am uncomfortable because it really heightens my senses, enabling me to see and feel more in my environment and within myself. So, taking risks can be a really good thing!
2. Leaders need sponsors and must make time to sponsor others. No matter what level you are in an organization, having a sponsor is so important. A sponsor is your “cheerleader”; a person who takes you under their wing and supports you in your endeavors. In this case, parents, friends and even staff served as a source of encouragement for the performers. This encouragement goes a long way. Not only did it serve them well for the Variety Show, my guess is it will serve them well into adulthood.
3. Leaders cast a shadow on those around them. I saw two groups of individuals casting positive shadows during this Variety Show. First, the staff of Limerick Elementary always sets the tone for the show by performing an act to open the show. This helps model the behavior that performing in front of people, while scary, can be fun and rewarding. The teachers, staff and Principal inspire the children and make the children want to perform. The second group of individuals who cast a positive shadow are the children themselves. They get up on the stage, have fun and seem to not worry about being judged or how perfect their act is or is not. They are simply having fun. I love seeing that and they have inspired me to try and do the same.
APPLYING LIFE’S LITTLE LEADERSHIP LESSONS IN YOUR LIFE
- How often do you step outside of your comfort zone? How would stretching yourself into uncomfortable territory help you develop?
- Think about who your sponsors are. If you don’t have a sponsor, commit yourself to finding one. If you have a sponsor already, how do they help you? What can you do to get even more from that relationship?
- As a leader, what kind of shadows are you casting on those around you? What positive behaviors do you regularly cast? What negative behaviors do you regularly cast? What will you commit to change?
