Miss Americana and Kings Meadows High School
Good Morning parents, guardians and family members and, most importantly, Kings Meadows High School students and teachers.
It is my pleasure to be present for the 2020 Investiture Assembly.
Whether young or old, I hope to connect with you today.
However, when it was first suggested that I be with you, I asked, why?
Why would you want me to speak? What could I possibly have to offer?
Perhaps it was because I was Prefect at Riverside High School many, many years ago and, as what seems to be a common occurrence, we also lost a senior footy Grand Final to Kings Meadows at the NTCA Ground.
Maybe it was because I was a teacher and school principal and feel comfortable speaking in public and with students.
Possibly because I am a former politician and, once upon a time, people called me lots of awful names.
Or because I work in property.
Alas, it is none of the above.
Mrs Wightman simply told me, “You’re speaking because you hurt your leg and you are available”.
I then asked Mrs Wightman to, again, go back to Mr Chamberlin and ask him – “Are you really sure they want to hear from me?”
So – here I am.
Today I want to talk to you about leadership, what it means to me, and what I have learned so far.
Nonetheless, I don’t plan to stand up here and tell you about my professional story because, if you are totally bored, Google or Wikipedia details a few successes and plenty of failures and, if you are interested, a selection of unsightly photos.
Further, if it was just a talk about me, I have no doubt most of you assembled today would lose interest very, very quickly.
Therefore, I want to talk to you about Taylor Swift. That’s right – global music megastar Taylor Swift.
And I want to focus on the recently released Netflix documentary titled: Miss Americana, and why the documentary has made me think deeply about who I am as a person and a leader.
For those who may not be aware, Taylor Swift is described as, “The Music Industry”, not just a part of it.
She is 30 years old, worth more than US$360 million dollars, and has sold more than 50 million albums.
To put Swift’s popularity and song writing talents in perspective, she is the first artist to have four consecutive albums at Number One for six weeks on the billboard charts since, The Beatles who had seven.
With all that fame and fortune, you are probably wondering what this has to do with my experience of leadership.
Well, I have found myself hooked on the documentary because Swift makes several valid points about leadership including success and failure, overcoming challenges, and hardship, and heartache. And I would like to discuss them with you.
I have shaped the most important points into a list, which I will share with you today. It is called Taylor’s Top Ten Tips.
And while that may be said to be funny, I don’t want you to think that Taylor Swift or the tips raised today are, in any way, a joke. They are not.
Taylor Swift has won 10 Grammy Awards, 29 American Music Awards (most ever), 23 Billboard Music Awards (most wins by a female artist alongside Beyoncé), six Guinness World Records, 12 Country Music Association Awards, and eight Academy of Country Music Awards.
As a songwriter, she has been honoured by the Nashville Songwriters Association and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was listed on Rolling Stone's 2015 list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. In 2019, Billboard placed her on number 8 of its list of Greatest of All Time Artists; the highest for an artist that started their career in the 21st century.
In 2015, she was ranked number 6 on Fortune Magazine’s list of the World’s Greatest Leaders. Ahead of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.
Swift is a superstar. The following, in no particular order, is what I learned from watching and re-watching Miss Americana on Netflix.
1. Be respectful and reflective:
Ask yourself, why am I here today?
What is my role? What is my purpose?
Why am I a school leader?
Respect yourself.
Be a good person. You all know what is right from wrong. You don’t need to be told.
Make yourself proud.
Try not to regret, instead learn from your mistakes.
As a leader, acknowledge that you will experience nervousness and self-doubt.
Being respectful and reflective will ensure you practise and prepare in order to overcome.
2. Identify a person who you totally trust:
There will be so many people who lose your trust or never earn your trust or don’t deserve your trust.
That is why it is so important that you can identify somebody you absolutely trust; a person whom you can share your dreams and worries without judgment.
For Taylor Swift, it is her mum.
3. Leadership is far more about listening than it is speaking:
Really listen to what people have to say.
Listen to people you totally disagree with; it will assist you to lead.
4. Don’t impose your views on others:
There is nothing worse than somebody imposing their views without allowing space for others to speak.
That doesn’t mean that you remain silent or fail to speak up when you notice something is wrong. Rather, find a way to make your point that makes people listen.
We must all try to convince rather than command.
5. Work hard and educate yourself:
There is no substitute for hard work.
You won’t succeed to your full potential without commitment.
Don’t try to lead if you haven’t done the work building trust.
6. Don’t live for the approval of strangers:
I find it as hard as most to stay off social media.
Like many of you, I post and then wait for reactions.
The reactions often come from people I don’t really know that well – but it seems to matter. In all honesty, it doesn’t.
7. Find a passion or a hobby that feels effortless:
You need more than school or work to keep you centred; you also need more than Facebook.
Do something you enjoy. Just for you.
A passion, a hobby or an activity that requires your full concentration and shuts you out from your daily grind.
Push your comfort zone.
8. Kindness is key:
Kindness sets leaders apart. Kindness sets people apart.
Kindness is not soft because sometimes kindness is giving feedback that others don’t want to hear.
Be brave. Be kind.
Even if you must share the worst news possible, leaders find a way.
And be kind to yourself; take a break.
9. Identify your interests, strengths, and what’s important to you:
We can’t be good at everything. It’s impossible.
I learn a little bit more everyday about what I am good at and what is not in my skill set.
People will respect you if you say, I need your help.
People will respect you if you give your leadership power away.
Leadership is not control; it is getting the best out of your team.
The best day I have had at work is when for a just a few minutes I had nothing to do.
10. Shake It Off, Shake It Off:
Don’t give it up. Persist. Keep trying.
Work hard to overcome when you are struggling.
Don’t decide tomorrow what you have settled on today. I know what I must do or say, but I’ll leave it until Monday has one consequence - it ruins your weekend.
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laugh - a lot!
In conclusion, I would like to wish you all the very best for 2020. The tips that I have shared with you today are as much a reminder for me as they are for you because we must keep learning, no matter how old we are.
For school leaders receiving badges today in formal leadership positions, what an incredible opportunity you own to make a difference. Don’t wait a moment to begin. Don’t waste a minute.
Thank you.