Farming Self-Leadership First

In social science research, ethnomethodology (Garfinkel, 1967) is widely employed as a novel approach to analyse data that are often “seen but unnoticed”. I applied this strategy to communicate with my bosom buddy who was appointed as a school manager sometime last year but took over the helm of the school only at the beginning of this year. He was seeking some candid opinions from our circle of childhood friends – who never hesitate to disclose truth even if it is venomous in content – which he thought would have some bearings on him to mutate into a virtuous leader.  

While I am neither a leadership guru nor possess any managerial familiarities, what I lack in experience, I make up for in observational acumens. Until I voluntarily bow out from teaching on 19 October 2020, I worked in 4 different schools (Community Primary School, Lower Secondary School, Middle Secondary and eventually at Higher Secondary School) during my duodenary stint as a science teacher. Within the span of those dozen years of my service, I worked under 7 school managers.  

Considering those experiences and familiarities of working under different leaders, I supplied him some of my contextual understanding of a good Bhutanese school manager – opinions that were churned out through the lens of subordinates – which are often seen yet unnoticed by many of our leaders.

I have specifically unveiled 10 points based on the events that were either experienced or associated with me or witnessed as a former school teacher.  

Photo courtesy: RIGSS

1. Practise the Farming of Self-Leadership First 

When I attended the prestigious Young Professionals Leadership Program (YPLP) in 2018 at the Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies (RIGSS) which is a premier leadership institute and think tank envisioned by His Majesty the King in 2013, the first catch of my sight was on His Majesty’s words that read: 

What we need is not a leader to lead the masses – we need leadership of the self

Very Profound and mesmerising.

 

During those 28 days of the intensive leadership program, we were consistently emphasised on changing ourselves first instead of looking for a change in others. The change of the world begins by changing ourselves first. We need to change our mentality, our habits, and our actions. These are the elements that influence the flavour of our character. What or how we cast in our mind frames the skeleton of our thought, judgement, and belief. 

Although it is easier said than done, but, if our thoughts and actions are not innovative and are rather obsolescent for the mass to consume, – even if we are at the helm of that institution – we should not hesitate to shut down the idea of manufacturing those ineffectual intentions. If we consciously control ourselves and have that mentality of leading the change in ourselves first, changing others under our control would not require any subtitles to understand. Imposing change in others using the force of our title and status will only homicide the motivation, positive mindset, and injure the health of the social bonds we share with others. 

Our social world is constructed in diversity – everyone having their own choice, mindset, and perspectives. Learn to respect others’ views and stop being judgemental even if they are young to understand, new to the work, or inexperienced, perhaps what or how they see the world may also turn accurate based on their standpoints. The attainment of such self-actualisation in oneself can be a good lever to pivot others into the direction of change. 

Leaders need to know that, by starting to lead yourself first, you are stepping on the first rung of the ladder to be a great leader. Self-leadership is all about how you lead your own life as much as you want to see yourself leading others. If we garnish our life with positivity, integrity, justice, compassion, or any other humane values, our environment is what we sow. The fertility of any leadership garden depends on how consistently one enrich with humus of values and principles. If we are a bad nutrient, the only environment we will yield is a barren land, if not, full of weeds.