Presence is the Ultimate Currency
Leadership in education is exhausting, rewarding, and often messy. We talk a lot about vision, but what about the 'small stuff'? I’ve been reflecting on why being present matters more than any grand gesture. Fellow leaders, I'd love your take on this...
A quiet leadership truth that usually gets drowned out by talk of strategy and vision is that presence is the ultimate currency.
Leadership isn’t a grand gesture- it’s the choice to show up.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Influential Women and talk a little bit about my journey on leadership.
While we covered a lot of ground, one theme kept resurfacing in the different types of questions was that we often complicate what it means to lead…or what does it look like at my school?
Many times, I find myself looking for “big moments” to define my impact.
But as I’ve reflected on my path, I’ve realized that leadership is actually shaped by small, consistent choices- specifically, the choice to simply show up.
There is something in the power of proximity.
Authentic leadership isn’t just about the view from the top; it’s about being in the hallway, the cafeteria, the courtyard.
It’s about being able to listen to others, without rushing to the next “thing” you have to do.
It’s about stepping in to help when the team’s in the weeds.
It’s all about doing the little things that model the expectations we set for others.
These every day actions build a foundation of trust that words alone can’t touch.
When we show up consistently and authentically, we don’t just manage- we set a tone of service and shared purpose.
And you will find that sometimes, the most powerful move you can make isn’t a grand strategy; it’s just being there and doing the work alongside your people.
I’m curious to hear your take- especially from those of you leading teams or departments.
What are the “small things” you’ve seen make the biggest difference in our culture lately?
