Leadership Advice from Napoleon

03/20/2007

Leadership Advice from Napoleon

The notion of children being "kindergarten ready" is a bizarre oxymoron. It's like saying you have to know how to play the piano before you can learn how to play the piano.
Peter Campbell

At a keynote address at the 2007 CAEYC conference in San Jose, California, I opened with the above quote by Napoleon Bonaparte.

Work in a early childhood program can be stressful and frustrating for staff. Demanding parents, unruly children, low wages, and long hours can be discouraging. And, declining enrollments may make all staff anxious about the future of the program and their jobs. Throughout all these challenges it is up to the organization's leader to maintain high staff morale.

The leader needs to model an upbeat attitude. Staff take their cues from the leader, and if she can be positive and enthusiastic, this will buoy staff up.
The leader needs to keep everyone's eyes on the prize. When times are tough, it is easy to lose sight of the mission of the organization and simply go through the motions of caring for the children. At all times the leader needs to keep staff focused on the goals of the organization.

Contributed by Roger Neugebauer

For more ideas on leadership in early childhood, check out the popular Exchange book, On Being a Leader.

A New Career Helping Young Children Develop and Learn
Learn how to give a young child the very best foundation possible �" with a Bachelor of Arts Early Childhood Development at National University.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.