Posts by cfradmin
Listen – Just Listen
If you’ve been through one of our seminars, you’ll remember our focus on “being” a fully committed listener. Over and over again, testimonials come to us about the power of just listening. Here’s an example. A middle school principal in Texas made the decision to “just listen” when her college daughter recently returned from a…
Read MoreWhat is the Best Gift Leaders Can Give?
Listening is the most precious gift coach leaders can give to others. Key behaviors that support active listening are reflected in the following mnemonic. L—LEAN into the conversation; show that you care, that you are interested I—INVESTIGATE the purpose for the conversation. What does the person want as a result of this dialogue? What do…
Read MoreTeacher One and Teacher Two, What’s a Leader S’posed to Do?
While I served as an instructional specialist, I was asked by a principal to observe two teachers new to her campus. In my initial conversation with each teacher, I verified that they were aware that their principal had asked me to observe their instruction. I then simply asked, “Please share the process you use to…
Read MoreWhat if You Could Make One Change In The Way You Lead?
Welcome to 2014! Whether you are a person who officially makes New Year Resolutions or not, you probably have thought of a few changes that you would like to make this year – if you had the time, energy and ongoing resolve to make it happen. Let’s play with that idea. What if you were…
Read MoreTime Bomb or Time Multiplier?
Call it for your team . . . Is being on your team more like a “time bomb”? or more like a “time multiplier?” What makes the difference? You know the answer if you have experienced the “time multiplier” effect when working on a team. It’s like a dream team. Imagine this team and the…
Read More‘Twas Weeks Before Christmas, When…
‘Twas weeks before Christmas when all through the schools, Coach leaders were patiently maintaining the rules. Kid’s products were hung in the hallways with care, Pronouncing vacation days soon would be there. The teachers were planning, state goals to embed, While visions of freedom danced in their heads. As events and reports had numbered umpteen,…
Read MoreHow Do You Get Change that Makes a Real Difference?
Consider the life-changing, and lifesaving, impact of the way in which the medical profession is now working towards cures for cancer. What might we learn from that SYSTEM that might guide our way of working collaboratively in the system of education? Many conversations with leaders focus on the energy and time it takes to create…
Read MoreWhat Might We Learn From Science? A Personal Journey
In March of this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It came as a shock with lots of fear and then quickly turned into gratitude and comfort due to early detection and a great team of doctors. I really knew nothing about cancer except to fear the disease and that beloved colleagues and friends…
Read MoreThree Quick Pointers for Holding Difficult Conversations
As a volunteer for a charitable organization, I find myself working for a leader who operates like a deductive mentor; she micro manages, fault finds, and blames others. Her concept of leadership is “you do it my way or get out of the way.” Since I am a volunteer, it would be easy to simply…
Read MoreMentor and Coach – Enter the Land of Co-creation
I am intrigued when I hear leaders who have been through our coaching seminars say they are “called to mentor and coach their staff.” I think their intention is to use both roles to support and help teachers grow professionally in their instructional knowledge and skills. Do these terms mentoring and coaching represent two different…
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