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| Dr. Paul G. Young NAA President & CEO |
Like musicians, afterschool professionals begin their leadership journey connecting with stakeholders within their neighborhoods. But as their passion for learning and leading increases on the way to achieving success, they recognize that they must move from city to city for the newest ideas, knowledge, and expansion of their influence. Eventually, their quest for originality and continuous improvement requires movement from city and state by airplane. Ultimately, the very best expand their horizons and travel to other continents in search of what is the latest and best practice in their field.
Where are you in this continuum of travel? As the leader of your afterschool program, you must recognize the importance of building a strong base of influence in your local community. You'll go nowhere without it. But in furthering your influence, you must also recognize the benefits of listening to others and sharing your performance skills in other cities. Get involved in your state organizations. Attend their conferences. Give a presentation. Connect with others in person and via social media. Perform. You will learn and grow as a professional when you do. And while you are busy performing and building relationships, you will increase your capacity to expand and sustain your program.
But don't stop there. Our states aren't even big enough to sustain the quest for knowledge that we all must pursue. Afterschool professionals who want to absorb knowledge and participate in the shaping of a profession that is rapidly transforming must routinely travel from city to city and state to state across the nation in search of the next best thing. Restricting your observation and purview of how others in your profession are performing is certain to limit your professional growth and the eventual sustainability of your work. A professional network among a diversity of leaders with dozens of different viewpoints inspires us to learn. We are strengthened by our connections.
Where are you in this continuum of travel? As the leader of your afterschool program, you must recognize the importance of building a strong base of influence in your local community. You'll go nowhere without it. But in furthering your influence, you must also recognize the benefits of listening to others and sharing your performance skills in other cities. Get involved in your state organizations. Attend their conferences. Give a presentation. Connect with others in person and via social media. Perform. You will learn and grow as a professional when you do. And while you are busy performing and building relationships, you will increase your capacity to expand and sustain your program.
But don't stop there. Our states aren't even big enough to sustain the quest for knowledge that we all must pursue. Afterschool professionals who want to absorb knowledge and participate in the shaping of a profession that is rapidly transforming must routinely travel from city to city and state to state across the nation in search of the next best thing. Restricting your observation and purview of how others in your profession are performing is certain to limit your professional growth and the eventual sustainability of your work. A professional network among a diversity of leaders with dozens of different viewpoints inspires us to learn. We are strengthened by our connections.
The afterschool profession needs legions of leaders who are comfortable in airplanes and who are seasoned frequent fliers.
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