CONNECTION IS EVERYTHING!
Ensuring our leaders are never alone.
Lutheran schools and early childhood services are communities that recognise that God has intentionally created each person and that each person is uniquely gifted to live in relationship with God and others. (LEA Growing Deep Leadership and Formation Framework)
God created each of us to live in community. We were built for connection and it’s in our nature to build relationships.
Proverbs 27:17: As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
We all share the responsibility of inspiring, growing, and sustaining Lutheran learning communities, so you’ll need no convincing that ‘community’ is part of God’s plan for you.
That responsibility is central to the calling of every site leader. Further, it’s what ‘lights a flame’ in aspirant leaders considering or seeking new opportunities and possibilities for service through leadership.
The crazy thing about principalship and directorship, is that the outcome of the relentless efforts to build connections and community, ironically, can leave the leader feeling vulnerable, fragile and lonely. Chronic loneliness is strongly associated with lower self-reported physical health, mental health and quality of life. Leader or not, we’ve all experienced this from time to time.
Making and maintaining healthy connections goes beyond simply avoiding feelings of loneliness and isolation. Our relationships and the quality of our connections impact all dimensions of our wellbeing, including physical and mental health and our ability to flourish in leadership and life.
Consider for a moment your learning community leader. What were the toughest challenges and situations they faced in 2025? Can you recall obvious low points for them? What got them through? Can you identify those who provided support and care? It’s those connections that support leaders to be more self-aware and open to new ideas, perspectives and creative solutions.
LESNW is deliberate in curating experiences, networks and resources in support of leadership connection, growth and wellbeing. It’s a lifelong journey – learning to lead self, in order to best lead others.
The LESNW Principal Growth and Wellbeing Strategy resources your principal/director with the building blocks identified as critical in supporting connection, growth and wellbeing. For those considering leadership of a Lutheran learning community in the future, you are invited to wonder confidently, knowing LESNW is committed to role sustainability and support.
In whatever role you serve within your learning community, I encourage you to reflect on your own connections. Then dare to dream about what might be in 2026.
We are Better Together.
