Steven DeMaio wrote a post over at Harvard Business where he describes some of the leadership principles he follows as a teacher. Steven doesn’t wait to be vested with authority. He simply thinks about how he might use his everyday words and actions to influence others. The leadership he describes isn’t heavy-handed, but he is intentional about his attitude and demeanor:

“In essence, the effective informal leader is inquisitive rather than watchful.”

I’ve seen a number of teachers lead with answers and proclamations and complaints. A far more effective approach might be to lead with questions. The questions I ask reveal my values and beliefs, as well as engaging others in thinking about their own values and beliefs. A conversation about values and beliefs is a leader’s conversation, rather than an administrative conversation.