Page 18 - The EDGE Spring 2020

Here's How to Become a Mindful Leader

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I like to compare the Mindfulness movement to the United of unique individuals with different personalities, work
Kingdom’s Investor in People accreditation a prestigious ethics, skill-sets, objectives and goals. It takes a skilled,
award that my rural elementary school received. It provided compassionate and mindful leader to bring these individuals
a continuous improvement framework and benchmark for together, to help them to understand their value and
what we established as a well-run organization, it focused on importance, to establish their role within the team and to be
the vision and purpose, and the strategy and long-term plan. successful in the overall vision and mission, strategy and
As I review the goals and objectives of both organizations it plan of the school district.
comes to mind that while worlds apart, they are not dissimilar.

Vision & Purpose We have the keys, you open “To lead successfully, I believe
doors…. (UK)
we need to show respect and
Every student every day prepared compassion.”
to shape tomorrow

Strategy & Plan The pursuit of excellence, we strive Be mindful. Be present. Be in the moment.
to provide a holistic education that
prepares our children with the tools, For those of you needing to address the LWP issue in your
skills and fervor to become shining district, start by finding a few likeminded colleagues who can
rays of light opening the door to a meet once every few weeks. Invite a few parents to join in the
brighter future for all. (UK) process and you are off to a great start. For more information on
how to get a LWP going, what it must contain and some great
Student Success – Safety & Well trainings and examples, visit www.azed.gov/hns/nslp/lwp/
Being – Community Resources –
Here's to great health and wellness!
Community Connection

The accreditation was achieved through evidence and external Linda Virgil, AASBO Director of Business Administration, is
evaluation that staff, students, parents and community were Director of Accounting, Peoria Unified School District. She
engaged, effective, and understood the role that they played can be reached at: LVirgil@pusd11.net or (623) 486-6076.
in the success of the school. It provided every individual
with a sense of worth and an understanding that their role
was valuable and important.
Mindfulness is helping me to achieve those credentials in
my current organization. We are often so very busy that
our thoughts are not in the here and now, we’re not focused
on the moment, our thoughts are on the next task, that
impending meeting or deadline. I ask myself, am I listening?
Am I engaged? It’s so important to remain connected, to
ourselves, to others, and to the larger community, always
keeping an eye on the bigger picture. It provides meaning to
our efforts and inspires our employees.
To lead successfully, I believe we need to show respect and
compassion. Our organizations have goals and objectives
and we pull together our teams to achieve them. However,
we need to understand that our teams are made up of sets

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18 THE EDGE SPRING 2020