Leadership
Mindset of a Coach Leader
In their book Multipliers, Liz Wiseman and Greg McKeown write that leaders who are multipliers “…operate from a belief that talent exists everywhere and they can use it at its highest if they can simply identify the genius in people.” As I read the above sentence, it strikes me that leaders who have truly internalized…
Read MoreThe Essential “Mindset” of a Coach Leader
It’s almost inevitable. Those we lead get excited about their goals and plans and begin the work it takes to implement their ideas. Then, over time, they begin to encounter bumps and naysayers along the way. Just when they are about to achieve something remarkable, they give up, discouraged by their doubters. It has been…
Read MoreAccountability: The Two-Sided Coin of Blame and Ownership
We often associate accountability with blame, being wrong, losing face or even losing our job. We might even define accountability as “clarity about who takes the hit” when things go wrong. Too often we give people more work than they can handle effectively, hold them accountable for getting it all done, and express frustration when…
Read MoreAccountability and Change
Earlier in my career as a central office administrator, my district was undergoing a number of big changes. (A pattern for the ages, it seems.) Because many people then, as is true today, did not welcome change, one of the assistant superintendents posted signs throughout our office showing the “prohibited” sign (red circle with a…
Read MoreSCARF: Preventing Exposure to Dysfunction
Neuroscience study after study continues to reveal the emerging new knowledge that the human brain is a social organ. Its physiological and neurological reactions are directly and profoundly shaped by social interaction. The challenge this presents for leaders is that instead of the “job” being regarded as an exchange for financial compensation, we now know…
Read MoreChange – Who Wants It?
Want change? I do if it’s considered beneficial to my goals and desires. My hunch is that you do too. We all want change that leads to different and more positive ways of experiencing life –personally or professionally, in order to get stronger results. Then why are some changes so hard to accomplish? For example,…
Read MoreTRUST – TIME, ATTENTION, & TENDING
Because the work of education is fast, rapid, urgent, and constantly being diverted to the next emergency, how we handle people and the situations they are a part of create the feelings and thinking of culture. As a leader your words and actions are continuously being observed. You create the environment through your choices and…
Read MoreChange and Complexity of Thought
By: Frances Shuster, PCC I have been hearing more and more messages in today’s climate about the idea of individuals and thinking. Some say children should not be taught critical or higher order thinking because it encourages them to question the teachings of their parents. Questioning ideas we have heretofore assumed to be true requires…
Read MoreHow Are You Leading for Results?
Some high schools have begun a tradition each spring of posting in a highly visible area of the school’s lawn a straight line of simple signs with the names of colleges and universities where their graduates have been accepted for fall enrollment. So imagine for a moment driving by a school and seeing that row…
Read MoreStandards 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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