Living The Leader in Me: One Habit at a Time

Being a leader does not always mean leading a crowd; sometimes it simply means leading yourself first. Inspired by The Leader in Me by Stephen R. Covey, I focus on one powerful habit in my classroom and daily life: being proactive.

Being proactive means I am responsible for my choices. In my class, I encourage students to say, “I will try again,” instead of “I cannot.” When homework is forgotten, we do not blame the bag or the clock; we plan better next time. I remind them that they control their reactions, even when things do not go their way. Yes, even when their pencil breaks during the neatest handwriting of the day.

In my own life, being proactive means choosing patience over frustration and solutions over excuses. Not every day is perfect, and not every lesson goes as planned, but I choose my response. If I stay calm, they learn calmness. If I show responsibility, they learn ownership.

My advice is simple. Lead by example. Children learn more from what we do than what we say. Take responsibility, laugh at small mistakes, and remember that leadership begins within. If you can smile during classroom chaos, you are already doing a great job. 😊