When I told someone I was trying to find the right words to begin my newsletter article, they asked, "For January?".  Are you kidding me?  January?!  Do you know me?!  If it's one thing I have never been accused of it's being early, or proactive, or a great time manager.  I'm perpetually 3 weeks behind, consistently.  If it weren't for Google Calendar or phone reminders, I'd miss every meeting, conference call, training, report deadline, movie night, football game, etc.  Okay, you're right.  I'd never miss a football game.  Good call.

The point is, time flies and we seem to always be holding on like Tuff Hedeman on Bodacious.  (That's a bull riding reference, just so you know).  Our days are filled with so many to-do's and to-call's that it seems we never get caught up.  There's always something on our Today list that makes it to the top of Tomorrow's.  I don't know about you, but I keep hoping that one day I'll have a few extra hours to catch my breath, get it all done and put my feet up with a glass of wine.  And then come the holidays.

Whether you're like me and procrastinate until Christmas Eve Eve, or you jump out there and start shopping and baking even before the oven cools off after Thanksgiving, it can be a stressful time on our wallets, our watches and our bodies.  It seems I never learn the lesson from the previous year that it's time to downsize, to set a lower bar or to just focus on the grandkids.  The pressure can feel like a heavy wool blanket in July, right?

So, if I can have just one wish this Christmas, it is that you and I can find that moment when we stand still and enjoy the spirit of the season, maybe sing along with that carol and relax our minds amidst the hustle and bustle of the retail frenzy.  That we can focus on the smiles of the children who haven't lost the excited anticipation of Santa and opening presents on Christmas morning.  The magic is so very real to them....just like it was for us when we were their age.  It's my hope that we find that childlike glee in the pure and simple joys that find their way into our hectic day.  That a card from an old friend, the warmth of a crackling fire or extra whipped cream on our hot chocolate will be enough to make our days merry and bright.

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

 

Happy December!  Wow, where is this year going?  It just seems to be flying by. Coming back from a break can sometimes seem like a drag but remember by taking the time to recharge you can come back in the new year refreshed and recharged to keep your PTA engaged and energized for all the exciting things to come.  As a team we should always support and be there each other.  Teamwork makes the dream work!  Feel free to reach out to us for support whenever you need us, we are HERE FOR YOU!  Wishing you all the happiest of Holidays and looking forward to the joy the New Year will bring!  

This month's Leadership topic will be "Leaders maintain a positive attitude":

Good leaders want their entire company to succeed, including everyone involved. They take the time to understand every worker so they can help them achieve their personal goals in line with the company's.

Businesses face ups and downs. Without someone to take the reins and push forward in optimism, the company will likely be unsuccessful.

 

"A good leader can hold his or her emotions in check, especially in tough situations," said David Moore, founding partner and regional vice president of Addison Group staffing firm. "For example, maybe you lost your best client, or a deal you've been working on falls through. Regardless, it's important for leaders to guide a team through challenging times, encouraging them and remaining positive along the way. Team morale is heavily contingent upon a leader's attitude."

 

This is done without pride standing in the way. While no one likes to admit defeat, sometimes it's inevitable. Good leaders recognize that.

 

According to Darcy Eikenberg, founder of RedCapeRevolution.com, a leader should be confident enough to know when they're wrong so they can move past a mistake.

 

"Leadership is the ability to see a problem and be the solution," said Andrea Walker-Leidy, owner of Walker Publicity Consulting. "So many people are willing  to talk about problems or can even empathize, but not many can see the problem or challenge and rise to it. It takes a leader to truly see a problem as a challenge and want to drive toward it."

Projects from the Leadership Development Commission

• NPTA E-Learning Cultural Competency, please visit www.pta.org and take the E-Learning course

• Day of Service, #LETTHEMSEEUS, share your stories of your community outreach service projects and use the hashtag

• Hanging of the Hands for Children's Week: January 22-26, 2018

• Leadership Convention July 12-15, 2018 

Learning and growing,

Jen Martinez

VP of Leadership

Leadership Learning Moment #2: Be welcoming to ALL members!