The Hospitality of Leadership

Last night, we hosted two other couples for dinner at our house—my absolute favorite spot to eat, particularly when surrounded by friends.

We started with palomas, guacamole, and a new charbroiled oyster recipe before heading to the table for grilled shrimp tacos and summer sides. As we were getting ready to eat, one of our friends looked around and asked, "When did you get all this done? Haven't you been sitting out here with us this whole time?"

Oh man. Talk about an ego boost. For a true hostess at heart, I'm not sure there's a better compliment. My husband, Wesley, calls it "movie magic."

I love to host, and I love to cook. But mostly, I love for people to feel like a dinner, a cocktail, or a gathering at our house is a space where they can fully relax and know they’ll have everything they need. I want people to feel like an honored guest, but also like it’s their home, too.

So, how do you make that "movie magic" happen? It really isn't magic at all. It is being well-stocked, well-planned, well-timed, and entirely flexible.

Sound familiar?

As we head into June, our small school office is gearing up for a summer of deep planning. It always gives me a little chuckle when people ask, "Do you work in the summer?"

My answer is always the same—"Yes, but it’s a different kind of work."

It’s the work of being well-stocked, well-planned, well-timed, and ultimately very flexible as we get ready to welcome our "guests" for another school year. Much like the people who gather around my dining room table, I want our students, faculty, and families to feel simultaneously taken care of, to have their needs anticipated, and to feel an immediate sense of ownership over the space.

For instance, if you're looking for a glass of water in my house, you are always welcome to ask. But I love it when a friend feels comfortable enough to just walk into the kitchen and grab it themselves—even if it takes opening a pantry door or two before they find the glasses. That comfort implies true belonging.

So while a great dinner party typically requires a solid grocery store run, keeping your favorite party gear (placements, napkins, the good wine glasses, and extra candles) nearby for easy set up, and prepping as many of the dishes ahead of time as you can, summer for a school leader isn’t terribly different. 

Summer is when we secure the underlying infrastructure of what we hope will be an amazing school experience.

We are gathering the ingredients (finalizing furniture orders and restocking the card stock for the millionth time). We are making sure we have our favorite gear, and we are prepping as much as we can ahead of time. 

This behind-the-scenes execution is the only way you get a real shot at making movie magic in the fall. When you do the heavy lifting in the quiet of June and July, you create the bandwidth to be fully present, flexible, and responsive when the doors open.

In August, when the hallways are buzzing and the energy is high, you hope they'll look around and say—now how did they get all this done?

You'll just smile, hide the prep lists, and welcome them home.