As we approach the advent of a new school year, it's always good to remember that it is better to give than to receive, especially when dealing with your principal.
Before you send off that email or stroll into their office and ask for those Boomwhackers that you so desperately need, it is better to offer something.
It can be framed as a simple question, as in, “Hey, boss, is there anything I can help out with today?”
If the principal is planning opening staff meetings with a particular theme, think of ways you can musically enhance and support their vision. For instance, if the principal is doing a tropical island theme, brush up on your “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys and maybe write a new set of lyrics that contain flattering references to your school or district.
If it were me, I would be willing to wear a dollar-store grass skirt over my daily three-piece black suit and do a parody on Elton John's “Island Girl” if my principal wanted. I would also make sure that the moment was well-documented with a few jpegs of the principal standing next to me, holding a ukulele as I played guitar wearing the aforementioned grass skirt.
All of this is to solidify the idea that you are on the principal’s team. You are there to contribute and support in any way you can.
After you've done a few things like this and the pleasant aftertaste of your good works are still ruminating in your principal’s hippocampus, then and only then do you ask for something.
On every in-service day that really didn't pertain to me, I always popped my head in the principal's office and asked, “Is there anything I can help with today?” The range of answers I got was often telling.
- “No, we're in good shape. Thanks for offering.”
- “Yes! The basement really needs to be tidied up. Could you do that?”
- “Yes! Could you find some time to talk with Ms. Jones about your take on classroom control – she needs some help.”
On one such in-service day, there was nothing for me as the music teacher to participate in so I asked the question of my boss and he had me stuff some school mailers for about two hours.
Our dismissal time was 3:30. I stop by his office at 2:30 to report the mail job had been completed. I asked if I could leave 30 minutes early that day because I needed to pick up some guitar strings at a music store and after I picked them up, by the time I got home it would be 3:30.
“No problem.” And I checked out at 3:00 and headed to the music store.
On a subsequent Friday in-service day, I pop my head in at 10 a.m. and again asked my boss if there was anything I could help with.
“Don't you need those guitar strings?”, he asked.
I was confused.
“You know. the ones at the store that is far away from your house?”
I realized what he was trying to say.
He leaned in and whispered “Go home at twelve noon, take the rest of the day off. Stay off social media until 3:30. Have a great weekend.”
I don't know about you but that's what I call leadership!
Anne Frank said, “No one has ever become poor by giving.”
Always offer before you ask.
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