Energizing leaders instill an innate sense of worth in others and simultaneously guide those around them to success on many levels.  To accomplish these things, energizing leaders need more than just a base understanding of the area they work in to help them through.  If I am to become the leader I hope to be, than I must be competent in all areas of education.  From curricular planning to parent and community involvement, energizing leaders must have a rooted sense of theory and practical actions in each area.  This means that I must continue to engage in formal and informal studies of educational subjects.  This could be done by pursuing additional desire certifications or even following edu-blogs such as Vicki Davis’ “Cool Cat Teacher.”  However, and more importantly, I must recognize that I will never have all the answers.  Energizing leaders must lean on those they work with and collaborate with colleagues. Exchanging ideas can provide avenues for solutions, while fostering the internal motivation of those who they are working with.  I should continue to remind myself to collaborate as much as possible and reach out for co-teaching opportunities or get involved with peers across the nation via Twitter or Skype. Moreover, I must incorporate myself beyond the teaching community and into the greater community of the families I serve.  This includes serving in school-sponsored extracurriculars such as athletics, but also in town sponsored events. Yet, listening to my students and families that I work with in our daily interactions may be even more important than filling a extracurricular role; lending an open ear connects me to the concerns and happenings of my surroundings. It is through these small phone calls or conversations that the foundation is set in order for me to build the relationships that allow me to understand and hence better serve those who I work with in education. .  This extends to the larger global community as well; national and international issues effect the smaller communities we work in.  Being active and aware of all trends and feelings will help me to guide those that I work with in accomplishing the larger goals of teaching. Finally, to become an energizing leader, I must always answer the question of "Why am I doing this?"  That root analysis of an action allows a leader to tailor how they move ahead; what methods should I use to help people understand? What must they understand in order to do this?  Simon Sinek, an ethnographer and renowned author identifies understanding who we are and why we do things as one of the key components in successful individuals and groups. This video serves as a reminder and guide to be thoughtful in everything I do in education.  To inspire and lead others, I must always have insight in what makes me practice what it is so that that I can pass those strategies along in order to help others.