Leadership is a choice, not a position.
– Stephen Covey, educator, author, and speaker (1932-2012)

Contributed by Kara Ficke, Marketing Director for Exchange Press.

“Today I am choosing to pay attention to the choice of riding the energy of fear or of love.”

This is a quote from a book my mentor, Nancy Rosenow, wrote called Encouragement Every Day.

I’ve been reflecting a lot on leadership lately. What it means, how it shows up, and how the qualities and values of leaders who have inspired me and who I’ve learned a lot from, have influenced my personal leadership style.

At the end of the day, what I am continually learning is that leadership is a choice. It’s a choice to show up every day and lead from a place of love. To extend kindness and grace, provide inspiration and positivity, be a trusted friend and colleague, and to make hard or uncomfortable decisions.

It’s a choice to lift others up, to decide that it’s okay to not look back and continue to look forward, it’s a choice to watch those around you shine… and feel so proud.

As I’ve gained more experiences as a leader, it’s become more clear to me that when we choose to ride the energy of fear, feelings of exhaustion, stress, and frustration surface. It’s easier to burn out and we may wrestle with feelings of wanting to give up.

I believe in riding the energy of love – rarely, if ever, will it steer you wrong.

Each of you chooses to show up every day as a leader in our early care and learning community. Together, let’s continue to ride the energy of love and inspire the world one child, one early educator, one family, and one community at a time.

Dimensions Foundation’s Director of Professional Growth and Research, Kirsten Haugen, will be presenting at the CDA Early Educator’s Leadership Conference this week! If you are planning to attend, you are invited to join her session: “Positive Change through Heart-Centered Approaches to Living and Learning Together” on Thursday, October 17.