I had the honor of speaking to my colleagues at a conference last week and shared a few thoughts on the best kind of professional development: experience. Sure, we’ve all earned our degrees, collected a few credentials, and sat through our share of slide decks. But let’s be honest—none of that truly prepares you for what shows up in the day-to-day of school leadership.
The real training? It comes from showing up, solving problems, and surviving the wild ride of each school year. Every challenge, curveball, and “you have got to be kidding me” moment is what builds our strength.
Of course, those you can’t make this up moments can also wear us down… unless we choose to see them for what they really are: the weird, wonderful weightlifting routine that gives us our educator superpowers.
At the conference, I met a principal who had just wrapped up her first year on the job.
I said, “It seems like everyone has a you can’t make this up moment that defines their first year in administration.”
Without missing a beat, she replied, “Well, I had to fire my father-in-law.”
Yep. That qualifies.
She told me she had to go into a closet, give herself a pep talk, and tell herself to put on her big girl pants and do what needed to be done.
Then she laughed and added, “Christmas wasn’t even awkward!”
Small favors, right?
As tough as that was, I doubt she’ll run into many personnel situations that top that one. That single experience didn’t just test her—it trained her. And it made her stronger.
That’s exactly what these you can’t make this up moments do. Just like muscles, they might leave us sore at first, but that’s how strength is built. The breakdown is part of the breakthrough.
So I’ll ask you this:
How did you build strength this past school year? And how will you train for what lies ahead?
Key Takeaways
- Leadership comes with some surreal situations. But every awkward conversation, every hard call—it’s all part of the training program. Don’t underestimate what you’ve built by living through it.
- Reflect on the tough stuff and reframe it as a form of strength training. Use it to prep for the next level of your leadership journey.
- Your degree got you in the door. Your experiences—especially the hard, awkward, or bizarre ones—are what keep you growing and getting stronger.
- Stressful situations will always come your way, but shifting your mindset to see them as strength builders—not just stressors—can turn survival mode into a growth mindset.