When I look at success in politics, institutions, families, businesses et al, I see that leadership makes all the difference. In my world, I've seen small Christian schools with the same numbers, same stated goals, and same chances end up in opposite directions, some growing and affecting kids lives, some shrinking and sinking, some becoming powerhouses. The obvious difference is the quality of the leader. Duh. But here's my epiphany: one major weapon of a great leader is working hand in glove with effective administrators.
Administrators change the world. I learned this studying church music history, of all things. The first music ever written down was in the 7th century, thanks to an amazing man - Pope Gregory. He only reigned as pope for 13 years, but in that time he not left a legacy that formed the basis of Western music, but he also evangelized Ireland, which eventually led to all of Europe being converted to Christianity, and effected great changes in the Church. Great leader, but you know it wasn't Greg penning all that music or shipping out to Ireland. He had administrators that did that, and did it well.
Martin Luther did something similar. This man completely revolutionized the religious, cultural and political structure of Europe and the known world by challenging the authority of the Roman Catholic church. He cared about the people in the pew who not only didn't understand the Latin service, but were not allowed to sing - only the professionals could do that. Martin Luther translated the Bible into German so the people could understand it and created a whole new genre of sacred music by taking songs the people were singing in everyday life, setting German words to them that were based on the Bible, and printed the first two hymnals. Marty did not create this all that himself. He had helpers - administrators - that got those projects done and out there.
Somehow this always reminds me of my great grandmother, Elizabeth McCann. She was a remarkable worman with the most amazing set of adventures - I'd like to write about her someday. The reason I know about her escapades is that she wrote and published small tracts about her life and I am lucky enough to own a couple of them now, a hundred years later. Out on a farm in the prairies with so many children, she ran a churchand had everyone stay for dinner after service, yet she found the time and gumption to get her tracts published so that she could give her story to people she met. Now that's administration!
Now it's me playing follow the leader to Dave Shinness. He is a good leader who sees the big picture, works well with his own leaders, and eats, sleeps and breathes Christian school. One of his great strengths is that he identifies leadership and administrative qualities in the people he works with and gives them opportunity to try out their wings. That's what he did with me too, after years of teaching music - he thought I could do an admin job with special needs. It was a massive learning curve for me; more paperwork than I care to think about (which is not my strength) but I worked my way through it until I got on top of it and I like the feeling of learning something big again. I earned myself a sideways move to development and another huge learning curve.
I may not have the effect that Pope Gregory, Martin Luther, or even Elizabeth McCann have had, but I want to finish what I start and be one of my principal's secret weapons. It reminds me of that other famous couple, Pinkie and the Brain:
"What are we doing tonight, Brain? Same thing we do every night, Pinkie; try to take over the world!"
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