Finishing Strong 2

Finishing Strong is the difference between mediocre and good, good and great, great and extraordinary. How do we support and motivate folks to finish strong without being the nagging parent? Leaders are the ultimate cheerleaders who don’t stop cheering until the game is over – and the game is not over for kids just because…

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Finishing Strong

What is it about the end of the school year that seems to drain our engines, run down our batteries, and just push thoughts of summer and beaches? We are seeing the end, we are seeing the finish line. John Maxwell is a prolific writer, author, speaker and pastor. I have always loved his books…

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Where Does Change Happen? It’s Rarely In Training

If education is always to be conceived along the same antiquated lines of a mere transmission of knowledge, there is little to be hoped from it in the bettering of man’s future. For what is the use of transmitting knowledge if the individual’s total development lags behind? Maria Montessori Recently while reading a coaching newsletter,…

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Watch Out For Emotional Triggers

Feedback seems to be as abundant as bad weather sometimes and what we are not doing well seems to stay on the “to do” list. Why does it always provoke a reaction? What is that trigger? Stone and Heen offer in their book, Thanks for the Feedback, three triggers to watch for and reflect upon.…

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What Makes Feedback So Hard?

We all know that feedback is the key to growth. It shouldn’t be so hard for us, after all humans are wired for learning. We are learning from the minute we are born and hopefully until we leave this earth. Aha…oh, yes, easy to learn but to learn about me? Now, you are getting personal!…

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Language of Leaders to Others and Self

Great leaders are great leaders because of their ability to support and influence others to achieve more than believed or thought possible. Leaders use their knowledge, skills and language to guide, scaffold, motivate and inspire. David Rock writes that every action, every decision made by a leader either supports or undermines the perceived level of…

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We Can Do This!

Earlier this month, I shared my personal story with cancer. It’s a story headed toward a happy ending. I compared the universal cancer fight with the universal fight underway in schools and communities to reach every child so that, once and for all, we eradicate the achievement gap just as teams are working diligently to…

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Standards and Expectations

Standards & Expectations – Our Focus, Our Direction – Easier than we think! By Kathryn Kee, PCC South Bend Community School Corporation has made it very clear to all employees: “Quality Learning. Every Student, Every Day.” This phrase, heard throughout the corporation from Superintendent Carole Schmidt, is a clear standard and expectation that will be…

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Witness the Struggle

Death and dying is not a comfortable topic for most.  It is often full of sadness and loss.   Its presence has been very real for me.   During the last few days, I have been with my Dad who is in his final stages.  At 99 he has lived a productive, joyful life and is very…

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Results Coaching

Recently I was visiting with a Superintendent about how he might continue to support his district leaders to achieve the ever increasing results while minimizing the frustration and over whelmed attitudes that can often be symptoms of high performing organizations.  Because we know from neuroscience that pressure and stress often produces behaviors that are not…

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