WHAT I LIKE ABOUT ME

This is a very difficult and quite challenging question. I find it extraordinarily hard to focus on myself in terms of “blowing my trumpet“. Nevertheless, challenges are there to be met and I’ve given this topic a lot of consideration. My response I believe is honest and not based on any camouflage, subterfuge or hiding the fact.

The attribute I most like about myself is giving credit to others for the things that they do well: To offer bouquets for outcomes and saying thank you to people for things they have done well for the benefit of others.

A long time ago I learned that within organisations it was altogether too common for people who were higher up the managerial or leadership ladder to quickly take credit for things that celebrated their organisations, whether they had anything to do or not with the credits offered. I learned that quite often teachers did good things for which the principles of schools took the credit.

From quite early on in my career as a school principal, and as a person in general life, I determined that “credit where credit is due” was important, because it helped people feel good about themselves and that exuded positive atmospherics into the school which were great for us all, students, staff and the community as a whole.

Along with that I always said thank you, often with a card or a letter of thanks to both staff and students and members of our school community.

I learned that in giving credit where it was due, that reflected upon us all within the school and that reflection included myself with the school principal; it was a very important sharing and a responsible and honest thing to do.

I have tried I think successfully to do that with all the dimensions of my life. I have rejoiced in the successes of others and that has been heartfelt.

I do like the fact that this is a habit that is possibly the best thing about me as a person.