Good Leadership in Action

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Recently I had a front row seat to what good leadership looks like. My 11-year-old-daughter, Miss O, is a new 6th grader at a middle school with 850 kids total for 6th, 7th and 8th grades.

She came home one day and told me that she was late to her 5th period science class. Apparently, as she leaves lunch to walk to class, she often encounters a girl who has spilled out a game to play with. Miss O stops to help her put it back in the box.

But on the day in question, the girl had spilled out 4 games so there were hundreds of cards that needed to be sorted out. Miss O stopped to help. Then the girl’s educational assistant came by, asked if Miss O would continue while she and the girl went off to class.

Right as Miss O was finishing, her 5th period class walked by on the way to picture day so Miss O joined the line.

When the school notified me that Miss O was absent from 5th period, I told them the story and clarified she was late but not absent. The attendance person wrote me back to let me know it was all taken care of.

End of story, right? The system worked as it should and all was fine.

Except Miss O came home from school the next day with the kicker. When she stopped again to help the girl at the end of lunch, the principal showed up to thank her, gave her some candy and a school pin, and walked her to 5th period so she wouldn’t be marked late.

Amazing. In a school with 850 students, the attendance person must have mentioned to the principal the story of this one girl stopping to help someone. And then he made a note of it to stop and recognize her. She had chosen to do this all on her own so it wasn’t about being noticed. But what the principal did boosted her natural inclination to help enormously. It’s one thank you that is likely to have a ripple effect through her years.

I was recently reading, Unleash Your Humanity by Yasmine Sherif. Yasmine is a human-rights lawyer that has worked within the UN system for more than 30 years. She writes about what she’s learned about leadership,

“I have learned that humanity rises less through obligation and more through willingness. Leadership is not about becoming perfect. It is about being present and showing up with awareness. Humanity can rise, not from obligation but from desire and joy. We do not need to search the light, we can be the light—not flawless, but steadfast.” – Yasmine Sherif in Unleash Your Humanity

Like the principal at my daughter’s school, showing up with awareness matters. It spreads something viral – inspiration and kindness.

P.S. I was lucky enough to interview Yasmine Sherif about her book and what she’s learned about how we can all be the light. The Life of Try podcast with Yasmine will release on Wednesday, 10/21 and Yasmine’s passion and energy are infectious! Please subscribe so you don’t miss it!

P.P.S. After hearing about what the principal had done, I emailed the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools to tell him the story. He responded about 10 minutes later and copied the principal, the principal’s boss, and the HR department. The ripples of goodness keep echoing on.

(featured photo from Pexels)

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44 thoughts on “Good Leadership in Action”

  1. This is not only a very good story but an excellent example of what real leadership is. Bravo to the school as well for how it was handled, and a visit from the principal! Bravo to you for writing the superintendant. xo

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  2. Way to go, Miss O! Not surprised by her actions and very delighted she’s now in the principal’s radar. An excellent start to middle school, Wynne. Look forward to your podcast with Yasmine!

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  3. Excellent work by the principal. A good leader not only sets a good direction and makes good decisions but sets a good example in the apparently small things. When I watch my TV I see leaders who would do well to learn that lesson.

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  5. That Miss O’s responsible compassion for others and apparently has skipped ‘childhood adulting’ is a testimony to her parenting by someone who took time to write a note acknowledging another’s small act of kindness … a beautiful ‘Pay it Forward’ story. Thanks Wynne.

    Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!

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  7. I love the story and the ripples that spread. Miss O has done a wonderful thing. But, I’m confused. Has the young girl accidentally spilled cards, or gotten lost in the moment? Is there a reason that she repeatedly cannot manage what’s there? Because, my thoughts went straight to trying to figure out how to help this girl so that she doesn’t routinely have the same problem. Like, come up with a plan or give the girl skills to help solve the problem on the front end so that she does not have to scramble every time. It might be helpful to her in the long run. I know, not the point of your message, but I couldn’t help it.

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    1. You are a problem solver, Gwen. The girl is developmentally disabled. I suspect she pours out the games in order to manage the chaos of lunch with 425 other students. With that said, usually it’s just one.

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  10. Miss O is such a sweet soul, and I’m so glad the principal made a point to acknowledge and celebrate her good deed. I love, especially, that the encounter boosted her natural inclination to help others. We need so much more of that in the world! Big Kudos to a young lady with such a Big Heart!! 💖

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    1. Funny that you say that — because Miss O heard me tell the story and I said that the principal gave her a school. pin. She piped in to correct, “CANDY and a pin.” I think the former being the more important of the two!

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  13. So much to love here…and I especially see the role you played, Wynne. Taking the time to offer an accolade. Speaking from some firsthand experience, phone calls from parents offering praise to anyone in an admin role? Such a gift. Ripples of goodness? Yes, yes, yes! 💝💝💝

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  18. Look what Miss O. started–a whole string of kind encouragement from one person to another! Thank you so much for sharing this, Wyune–proof that paying it forward can produce astounding results! Most striking of all is that Miss O never intended such a train of events to unfold. She was simply stepping in to help another child in need. Beautiful!

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  20. This absolutely warmed my heart! It’s amazing how one small act of kindness can impact an entire school community. Kudos to your sweet daughter and to you for raising such a thoughtful one. ❤️❤️❤️

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  22. You are raising some amazing humans, Wynne! I love that you emailed the Superintendent to tell the story. Both your daughter and the principal deserve the recognition.

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