Written by Kristin Harrington
Last year, we received a truancy notice from my daughter’s school, and to my surprise, she had been late 34 times. Her school starts at 8:29 a.m., and we were rarely there by 8:30. I was shocked by the letter—though more at the school’s response than at my own behavior. I had plenty of excuses: a new baby, kids being slow in the mornings, and my work schedule. When the principal explained the letter was a state policy, I felt slightly better but still unsettled.
This year, my son’s school start time moved to 8 a.m., which felt impossible. But my husband and I devised a plan, and now, not only are both of our boys on time but so is my daughter. You might think I’m looking for a pat on the back, but the truth is, I’m ashamed of how we operated before. It took a real shift in my thinking to change our routine.
This experience reminded me of the power of vertical development in leadership. Just like in parenting, it’s easy to get stuck in patterns, making excuses for why things aren’t working. However, leadership requires us to push our thinking beyond our comfort zone, adapt when necessary, and develop new strategies when old ones no longer serve us. Sometimes, it’s only when we’re forced to confront these challenges that real growth happens.
Here’s what my brush with the truancy office taught me about shifting my thinking:
Sometimes, the wake-up call we need isn’t subtle. I realized I had fallen into a pattern of excuses, thinking our mornings were too chaotic to change. The truancy letter, unpleasant as it was, forced me to see the situation differently. It wasn’t about the school being unreasonable or our busy family life—it was about my mindset. I had to confront the reality that if something was truly important, I needed to shift my behavior to make it work.
Intentional planning is everything. My husband and I created a plan instead of relying on our usual rushed routine. By rethinking how we approached mornings, we transformed a constant source of stress into a manageable, even smooth, part of our day. Amazingly, I have time to take the 15-minute walk to school with my daughter, and we’re typically there early. The act of strategizing and aligning our priorities made all the difference. Leadership, like parenting, often requires the same approach: stepping back, assessing what’s not working, and deliberately creating a new action plan.
Real change requires accountability. Last year, there was no external pressure pushing us to change. It wasn’t until the truancy letter landed in our mailbox, coupled with the new 8 a.m. start time, that we genuinely held ourselves accountable to a higher standard. In leadership, this means seeking honest feedback, setting clear expectations, and holding yourself (and your team) accountable for meeting them. Growth only happens when we step out of our comfort zone and create new standards for ourselves.
In the end, it turns out getting my kids to school on time wasn’t a matter of rocket science—it was just a matter of adjusting our routine and losing the “it’s fine” attitude. Funny how a little truancy notice can serve as life’s alarm clock, waking you up to the fact that sometimes you’re the one hitting snooze on your progress. So, whether you’re leading a team or just trying to get out the door by 8 a.m., remember: the hardest part about change is often admitting you needed it in the first place.
