That may seem like an odd thing to say. However, because of the pandemic, a lot of us have gotten accustomed to engaging with others on the other side of a glass or plexiglass shield. This has made it challenging at times to discern the person on the other side from other objects reflected from …
Continue reading Sometimes you have to work at looking through the glass.
I’ve been curious about what motivates people for a long time. As such, I’ve spent a lot of time figuring out ways to establish the conditions by which team members are inspired. Incorporating opportunities for team members to link their purpose to their work, providing a degree of autonomy over how they work, and giving …
I’ve done some dumb things in my life. Like convincing a friend that we should swim down a local river so that we could collect all the jewelry and other precious things people had lost… …or when I challenged the same friend to kayak on Lake Michigan in March during a storm. …and I can’t …
“I love meetings.” (Said no one ever.) But I do love to learn, I like a good plan, and it feels good to accomplish something. While my opening statement implies a note of cynicism, it is actually more of a goal statement. It’s what I want to feel when headed into a meeting, whether it …
Being a school administrator is complex and multi-faceted. There are parts of the job that involve managing tasks, making day-to-day decisions, and responding to any number of emergencies or difficult situations. There are also parts of the school principalship and superintendency that require strategic thinking, being visionary, motivating others, cultivating relationships, and focusing on specific, …
Continue reading Recognizing the Value of Instructional Leadership
Most people who have led effective organizations know about the importance of leadership. It affects every aspect of an organization. It is necessary to drive improvement and adapt to change. However, far too often, what is overlooked is the importance of leadership development. That is, being deliberate and consistent about making it a priority. Most …
I’ve been thinking a lot about management and leadership lately–specifically the difference between the two, why some people in leadership positions manage and others lead, and the impact leaders who are not managing can have on the culture and effectiveness on an organization. According to the Oxford online dictionary, management is “to be in charge, …
A few weeks ago, I stopped at a fast food restaurant on the way to work and ordered a large hot tea with four creams and four sugars. Now, most people would think that was a common thing to order. However, when I pulled up to the window the cashier started to hand me an …
I’m usually a “glass half full” kind of guy. I’d much rather focus on the positive than be dragged down by the negative. That’s been helpful in keeping my blood pressure low and minimizing the stress lines on my forehead, but I am not sure it is the most effective way to lead. I learned …
My wife has been hinting that we need a place to hang towels on the porch so that we could do less laundry and properly wipe down the dogs after they’ve gone for a swim. But as it happens often, I didn’t consciously pick up what she was laying down until yesterday. For proper …
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