The leader refines and focuses his natural ability in order
to capitalize on his gifts for a higher good.
What talent do you have that holds the potential to be your greatest
legacy? Share how specifically you use
talent in your current work.
Reply to at least one other person.
Reply to at least one other person.
I think I have talents to think, to write, and to communicate. I think I also have the predisposition to see the best in others and to communicate my appreciation for their contribution. Every chance I get, I'm expressing my gratitude to others for jobs well done. This includes not only the professionals with whom we work, but the parents of students who have sent their children prepared to do well in school through good attendance, hard work, and good behavior. Nothing is better in our meetings than to hear teachers have good things to say about how hard the student has worked and how much he or she has improved. When our meetings have been a celebration of the student's growth and hard work, we all go away feeling better about ourselves, and hopefully, have created an environment in which students can thrive. In my small way, I have contributed to this success.
ReplyDeleteHearing positive statements about students during meetings is music to my ears. I think our students and our parents need to hear these positive things. I love to focus on the positive when it comes to students, teachers, and parents.
DeleteI appreciate that you advocate for you students in meetings and always have positive things to add.
DeleteAlan you rock at always being positive and encouraging!
DeleteI believe I have several "talents" that I currently use as a school psychologist. One of my "talents" would be that I am goal orientated and I do whatever it takes to reach that goal. Whether that means coming in early or staying late to finish a project. Every day I try to make a list of tasks that I have to accomplish for the day and I won't (or try not to) move tasks to the next day.
ReplyDeleteI also have the "talent" of listening and not getting upset in stressful situations. I work in a district that has a lot of tension with HPEC so a lot of times I'm the in between person which can be stressful. I've tried hard to build trusting relationships with this district in order for them to build trust and work together collaboratively.
I also have the "talent" of being a responsible collaborative team member. I try to be available to general education and special education teachers to help collaborate regarding student needs. I want my team to be able to count on me that I will have my part of the assessment and report done before the meeting so they can do their part.
I have always admired your thoughtfulness, focus and diligence to your job.
DeleteAs my mentor, you were are great role model in avoiding procrastination, making lists, and being dedicated to the job. I also admired the fact that nothing really ruffles your feathers. If it did you sure did not let on to it. I appreciate your willingness to help whenever I have question or a situation that I do not know how to approach.
DeleteOh, Catherine... You're so much more on top of things than me. Sometimes it feels like moving tasks on my To Do list from 1 day to the next is the ONLY thing I get accomplished with them, lol!!! I want to be like you when I grow up ;-)
DeleteI am so sorry that you often feel in the middle between the district and HPEC. We gots to fix this .... : )
DeleteI care!! I think this is a big part of my talents. I worry about people, teachers, kids, and everything in general. Often I have to slow down and realize I can't take care of everyone. Do what I can and try to make a difference--that's what teaching is all about and that is why we are all in this profession.
ReplyDeleteAmber and Shelly would say my talent lies with data and numbers. They are beginning to moan and groan when I bring out another spreadsheet with numbers to demonstrate where we are and where we need to be going. (I have been dubbed the spreadsheet queen around here.) I think the data helps to make informed decisions.
My other talent is gardening. If you didn't already know. I dig in the dirt, rip out weeds, carefully transplant new budding plants and nurture them along. It is my therapy. Its how I relax after a hard day or week. Most weekends in the summer I spend at least the morning outside working with plants. (I am an old farm girl.). Besides being my therapy I get tomatoes and cukes too.....
I agree Marcy that you are VERY caring. I know if I ever need anything you are always a phone call away!
DeleteMarcy you are one of the most caring people I know and I truly appreciate it. not only do you care about me as a co-worker, but personally as well and that means a great deal to me.
DeleteMarcy, being a caring person who also loves data is really a hard combination to beat. I believe you look at the data with the best interests of all concerned in mind. In my Nebraska past, I had the privilege of helping my grandfather in his garden. We would work in the garden and then eat dinner at noon where we would hear all of the family stories. Much of who I am was likely formed while using a hoe and hearing those stories.
DeleteMarcy, you are very caring. Every time I talk to you, I walk away with the feeling of man she really listened to me. Thanks for that!
DeleteMarcy-
DeleteI think your caring attitude is DEFINITELY a part of your legacy. Anyone I've ever talked with in my districts (SpEd, reg ed, and admin) always has the same general opinion of you, and it echoes what others on here have already mentioned. We know you truly care about us and are only a phone call away!
Ok so I do moan sometimes with the spreadsheets but believe me the data helps get points across without emotion. Laying data out let's us look at the numbers and then make decisions based on information - not just feelings. Love ya Marcy!
DeleteTalking, yes talking if you didn't know is one of my talents. I can talk non-stop to anyone about anything. This helps me a great deal as a school psychologist when trying to get parents and students to open up. I have had some odd conversation with students and know way too much about some of my parents, but at times they need someone to talk too. Along with talking comes listening to what people are telling you about. For example, I had an difficult parent to work with once and by the time I asked him 20 questions about him and what he did he was easier to work with.
ReplyDeleteSome other talents I have is fundraising, sewing, cooking and shopping.
Nothing wrong with talking. Too many times we get so busy we don't take the time to just sit and talk and get to know what is going on in other peoples' lives. I really adore your sense of humor too.
DeleteThanks! I think it is important to know what is going on in others lives considering how much it determines how people act at work.
DeleteWhen I think about leaving my talent as a "legacy"- that is much too deep for me today.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I would say that I have the natural abilities to find the positive in most situations, and to also be genuine. Maybe being positive isn't really a talent, but a practiced skill.(?)
I would also say that organization is a natural ability of mine - although I sure can't seem to get my thoughts organized today (or maybe they need an option to edit previous posts)!
DeleteSeriously, sometimes staying positive is a MAJOR deal. I have been around situations and people who just want to live in negativity so not being pulled in is such a task. Elizabeth this is your superpower!
DeleteLeaving a legacy behind seems a little out of reach at this moment in time. I am more focused on day-to-day survival at this point in time (or maybe it's at this point in my pregnancy where I am as big as a whale, and the temperature outside is starting to peak so my energy level is plummeting). Anyways, when I think of talents, I feel that I am open-minded. I am not quick to judge. I try to understand the entire situation before allowing judgment to creep in.
ReplyDeleteI may come across as a little rough around the edges or not approachable, but I do deeply care about students. I want to see every student succeed. I want to see every student reach his or her maximum potential. I am compassionate about my job.
I can listen to someone talk for hours. I really can. I do love to talk, but I also love to listen. I do not mind providing a shoulder for one to lean on (metaphorically speaking that is, anyone who knows me knows I am very much a touch me not). I feel that I am supportive of my teammates. When life stresses are bringing people down, I do not mind being that ear they can vent to.
Oh my gosh… A legacy??? Similar to what a couple others have mentioned, I can’t think of, realistically, what my legacy might look like. It’s definitely something I should take the time to sit down and think about though (And then make changes accordingly!)! To be honest, I really just hope no one gets up at my funeral and says “FINALLY!!! Thank goodness!”
ReplyDeleteI feel like 2 skills I possess that have been cultivated into talents throughout my educational and professional career are organization and finding the positive in things. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I can have my off days, too, and I’m sure my husband would likely refer to my “talents” as OCD and crazy, but… Tomato/tomahto, right??? :-)
I don't think anyone will be shouting "finally" at your funeral. I think we all have to be organized and care about others or we would be complete failures at this job.
DeleteI doubt this is a legacy deal but I usually try to help people keep perspective in all they do. I try to get people to laugh and not take themselves or situations too seriously. I try to find fun in most everything every day. Much harder when I am tired and crazy busy but still important to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of talents, it seems that areas of "talent" can also be my areas of undoing. I think of myself as a very organized person and think I am able to organize events, meetings, etc. effectively. This can also be an area of undoing, as often times if things don't go according to my highly structured plan I can become rather frazzled.
ReplyDeleteI think another area of talent for me is helping others work through conflict and finding an acceptable solution for all. Again, I feel this talent wanes when I am directly involved in the conflict. I tend to let my emotions speak instead of handling things in a logical manner.