I would think that any involved person has experienced this on some level. When you go out and do things you will always become the target of some. It is sad, but I have found that being successful at what you do is more then some people can handle. That type of person will do all kinds of things to undermine your success.
We all know all too well that people who tend to do little to nothing are usually the biggest complainers!
It use to bother me and now it does not anymore. You just have to have tough skin and you know that people who have the best interest of the children will work with you and those who have misguided agendas will work against you.
In Nonsequiters case it was a little different as she had the principal working against her. That is a much harder pill to swallow and get over. I thank god we have wonderful principals & staff and they are never our problem and always an asset!
Sometimes too it is a matter of playing a waiting game. We suffered for 2 years under a president who was playing to her own agenda. People use to say "how can you not go ballistic on her"? The bottom line is it would have been pointless and I knew her days were numbered. The ideas we had at the time we gave to other kids organizations who used them and made very successful events.
I really think the only way to survive it is to know that you will never make everyone happy and that there will always be someone looking to knock you down or take away from you.
sticks and stones do hurt but there are band-aides for that, the power of words is so incredible. From a different spectrum it's my husband that wants me to quit. The phone calls etc, actually it's the meetings and the polical stuff that urks him the most. But it's the connection I have with the staff and involvement with the kids education that (more than a few friends) have reminded him that I'm doing a "good thing."
This morning I called the school to ask about a meeting schedualed for next week, no they changed it to TOMORROW! You bet it's little things like that that can send a person....no not me. Not yet.
After attending a meeting near the end of the year a couple years ago where someone took every opportunity to belittle and criticize EVERYTHING I had done in my tenure as President, I left in tears(tried to get out the door before anyone saw and hold it in until I could get my kids home and into bed, but the principal came after me to apologize for this person's behavior and make sure I was okay and the flood gates opened). I wondered why had even bothered to put in all the hours and hardwork and then I looked in the back seat and saw two VERY GOOD reasons. After an evening of phone calls from friends(who tried to stop her) and a week of calls, cards, gift certificates, and even flowers from wonderful parents and teachers who had witnessed or heard about the "event" I figured out that if I had done such a terrible job, these people wouldn't be doing this.(One teacher even offered to "beat her up" for me) [img]smile.gif[/img]
I did step back a little and took some less stressful things on the next year, but I'm still in there making suggestions, speaking my mind and most importantly offering my help and support whenever and wherever it's needed. It also took me some time(and some conversations with my pastor, reading a wonderful book on forgiveness and some prayer) to forgive the person and move on for my sake. I figured out you can't please everyone and you shouldn't kill yourself trying. You can only do your very best and keep reminding yourself of why you're really here-those "good reasons" that look at you from the back seat of the car.
After reading nonsequitir's post about quitting due to conflicts/nonsupportive staff, I was just curious how many of you leaders out there have been in the same boat? I know I have just back in June (that lasted three weeks). I mean if it wasn't for this forum where we all speak the same "language" and we all get to vent I wonder how many of us would still be with it. It means alot to have others know what you are going through. So let's hear it>>.have you ever thought about quitting????
"When you stop learning you stop growing."
