���� VOLUME 22 ISSUE 3 • 2020 | WWW.MONTESSORI.ORG/IMC | © MONTESSORI LEADERSHIP
������ ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������������� VOLUME UM UME M 22 IS I SUE UE S E 3 20 202 2 0 WWW WW WWMO MO .MONTE TE NTE NT T SSO SS S ORI. RI RI. R .OR ORG RG O G G/IM / I M C MO O ONTE NTE N E NTESSO SSO SS SO SSORI RI LE LEA E L A ADER DER D R DERSHI S P
Leaders are only leaders if they
have followers. In this final part of this
series on purposeful leadership, we will
focus on what followers need. In part one
of this series, we discussed the intentional
skills that leaders need. These
are skills that we can practice and
develop. In the second part, we
discussed how to be well-focused
by knowing ourselves, knowing
and living our values, and understanding
what drives us. This provides an important
impact on how we behave as leaders.
Basic Needs of Followers
Most of us, at one time or another,
have seen Maslow’s pyramid of basic
human needs. Maslow’s theory states
that humans have needs that build upon
each other. The first need is physiological,
meaning, these are basic needs of survival,
i.e., food, clothing, shelter. These needs
must be satisfied before a person will jump
to the next need level. I think, in terms
of Montessori schools and Montessori
leadership, we could say that the physiological
needs that must be met are an
appropriate income that helps provide for
these physiological needs.
Providing an appropriate income can
be a challenge for every school. What is
appropriate? We all want to pay livable
and fair wages. As leaders, this takes
an analysis of the marketplace in
which we belong and justification
for using such ideas as what the job
is, education, qualifications, certifications,
etc. Once we have done that, we then set
a wage based upon the known factors –
including revenue.
In the next level, safety, people
require personal, physical, emotional,
and financial safety. Also, this must include
health and well-being, and generally
safe from accidents, illness, and adverse
impacts. Physical safety has been highlighted
frequently over the past several years,
especially in schools. Our most recent
example is the COVID-19 virus and its
impact on schools, business, and personal
financial safety of our staff and families.
Of course, we want physical safety for our
schools, for our children, and for our staff.
f they
this
art ntense
ologi
appro
these
a
app
Selfactualization
Esteem
Love / belonging
Safety
Physiological
Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs
/IMC
