Four Characteristics of Resilient Leaders

Resiliency
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Dr. Nancy Coogan is the former superintendent of Tukwila School District in Washington State. A scholar in leadership and professional development, Dr. Nancy Coogan wrote her dissertation on the resiliency and reliability of high school principals.

Resiliency plays a significant role in the success of an educational leader. Here are a few traits and characteristics of resilient leaders:

– Commitment. Resilient leaders commit to performing to the best of their ability and addressing challenges head-on, even when the leaders are faced with surprises or unusual situations. Resilient leaders work hard to bring their organization back to normal functioning after they deal with the occurrences that caused deviation from the standard operation.

– Introspection. Resilient leaders possess the self-awareness to understand their faults and biases and take the time to develop the skills necessary for improvement. In addition, resilient leaders do not take setbacks personally and recognize that growth requires time and patience.

– Positive thinking. Negativity and pessimism have no place in the mind of resilient leaders, who focus on the positive and use unfortunate events as learning experiences. While resilient leaders may not always present their optimistic side, they do turn their attention to what they can control and consider their choices in how they can respond.

– Coping skills. The ability to cope allows resilient leaders to overcome challenges and handle stress effectively. Moreover, the ability to cope enables resilient leaders to identify their emotions and prevent their personal opinions from interfering with their professional work.

The Best Ways to Travel Through Europe

 

Travel Through Europe
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An experienced academic administrator, Dr. Nancy Coogan served as superintendent of Tukwila School District in Washington for four years. Presently, she strives to benefit patients by seeking opportunities in clinical research that bring healthcare and education together. Dr. Nancy Coogan enjoys travel in her free time and has journeyed throughout Europe.

Here are some of the best ways to travel through Europe:

1. Traveling by bus is often the most affordable way to get from one European country to the next, although this is likely the slowest. Flixbus is a German-based bus system that travels through 20 European countries. However, many choose Eurolines, an umbrella company that operates internationally with many European countries’ national bus systems.

2. Taking the train may be more comfortable and faster than traveling by bus, but is usually more expensive. Instead of buying individual tickets, travelers can opt for a Eurail pass for discounts while traveling long distances.

3. To travel the most quickly, there are a number of budget airlines that fly throughout Europe and can save tourists money when they book in advance. Fares are kept low because of competition between airlines. However, there often are many fees associated with these airlines.

Ways for Teachers to Improve Resiliency

 

Dr. Nancy Coogan

Dr. Nancy Coogan has published extensively on the usefulness of mindfulness practice in educational leadership. Dr. Nancy Coogan’s dissertation focused on resiliency as applied to the high school principalship, and much of her work has looked at how educators at all levels can benefit by developing this key skill.

Teachers must cultivate resilience or risk burnout or poor student outcomes. Those in a slump should consider changing the ways in which they approach their jobs in order to become more resilient.

Focusing on perspective and taking control of one’s schedule can both help an educator avoid burning out. Cultivating a positive awareness of the ways in which one makes a difference can help sustain a teacher through difficult classes or dealing with problem students. Likewise, scheduling activities and following through with them, whether in or out of school, can create a stronger appreciation for both work and leisure time.

Seeking support from other educators can also help build resilience. The problems one confronts as a teacher are rarely faced in isolation, and other teachers may have useful advice or emotional support to offer. Support-seeking shouldn’t be simple complaining, however, as that can discourage a person from actually solving the problem.