As an educational leader, a significant part of your job is to motivate and encourage your teachers. Creating that kind of positive school climate not only requires time and effort, but also a deep understanding of the process.

In the previous post (The Language We Use), we explored the importance of avoiding language that seeks to impose. This concept is so vital that it deserves a deeper look. In the “Community” chapter of his online book on Conversational Leadership, David Gurteen provides additional insights on the difference between “Buy-in” and “Ownership.”

Like many educational leaders, I’ve used the term “buy-in” for years … so combined with the information in the previous post, Gurteen’s perspective served as a startling wake up call. I’m now committed to revising the language I use when talking about the importance of involving teachers in the decision-making process.

Hopefully these two posts will give you some additional food for thought, too.