The Human Centering of Team Leadership

Staff development that connects us at a personal level can inspire commitment far beyond basic buy-in

Approximately 30 years ago, my superintendent challenged me, a young school psychologist, to look into team building. He didn’t offer specifics about how to proceed, who to involve or why to pursue it. Nor was there an internet to quickly locate book studies or leadership-style inventories that are popular today. But it was a starting point.

My quest and resulting discovery drew from a combination of reading, observing and participating in professional development. As my role grew, I regularly took part in designing and leading team development training as well as setting up practical in-field learning experiences. These offerings proved effective within the moment and spurred ideas for refinements.