‘Any doorway that leads you to a
deeper understanding of who you are,
is worthwhile.’

Rodney Yee.
Yoga Teacher. Berkeley US

The power of the in-between moments

As school leaders, we can spend our days rushing from one task to another, from one meeting to another, often from one crisis to another. We care, we feel responsible, we worry on behalf of those we lead. It’s no wonder many of us reach the end of the day ‘running on empty’.

During our day, we are frequently ‘in transition’. We move from lesson to lesson, conversation to conversation, or from parking the car to entering our place of work. These are the ‘in-between’ moments when we are moving from one action, or place, to another. They invite us - if we choose to notice them - to pause, and re-set, take a breath and ‘re-fuel’.

I had the privilege of working online with a group of community educators who were on a retreat in Santa Fe New Mexico a couple of weeks ago. We explored the power of ‘transitioning’ as we step across a threshold and through a doorway. The in-between moment when we are neither ‘here’, nor yet ‘there’ and just how powerful it can be.

We shared the importance of pausing before entering a space, be it a classroom, an office, or a student’s home and using that moment of stepping over the threshold to remind ourselves of our core purpose.

This is what we practiced:

We reflected on the various thresholds we pass through in our day. We brought to mind one of these thresholds and reflected on the following three questions.

1. What really matters to me as I prepare to cross this threshold?
This is not a question about what tasks we want to get done, but a question about what matters most to us, and how we will intentionally model our core principles and values as we move into this new space.

2. What am I going to pay attention to as I cross this threshold so I can be wholly present for these next moments in my day?
This could mean paying attention to:
- assumptions I'm making and asking instead 'what else might be true?';
- the impulse to give advice when it's not asked for and instead shift to     coaching and enquiry mode;
- my thoughts running ahead to my next meeting and instead come back to this present moment.

 3. And what will be my 'attitude' as I cross this threshold?

This might mean a deliberate mind-set shift to be:
- open to learning and reflective asking 'what am I learning about myself and others in this space?';
- curious - asking more questions than giving answers;
- balanced in what I notice, aware of what needs fixing AND what's wonderful in this space, about this  colleague, or group of children;

As Catherine Polan Orzech, the co-founder of the Montreal Centre for Mindfulness, says ‘intention and attention are ingredients for the adventure of living’. 

Surely then, they can be our ingredients for the adventure of leading?

If you would like to explore the power of ‘transitions’ a little more this article on ‘Mindful Transitions’ is worth a look.