In April of 2011, I was caught off-guard by a silly combination of factors: Toward the end of one day, a notification popped up during a pre-dinner networking event: Everyone else is just as insecure as you are. I wished I hadn’t seen that — it would be a while before it would be possible … Read more
This is a “rerun” from last year; some events of the last month have convinced me to share it anew: We’re just a couple weeks from the Winter Solstice, the shortest darkest day of the year. A contrast to the holiday season, it can exacerbate hidden internal sadness in those around us. I love Christmas … Read more
WARNING: This post is nothing but a story, though you will find usable content at the end. Also, it’s over 700 words. If you’re a long-time loyal reader, though, it’s required reading. (If you’re new to this blog, this is really the last thing you ought to read. I suggest starting here.) As mentioned at … Read more
Leaders are committed to constant self-improvement. Why use the phrase “stretching and growing?” Because you can’t grow if you don’t stretch – And it is possible to stretch without growing. One of two things is always true: 1-I am a perfect master of all my desired skills and capabilities; I’m perfect.or2-I still have room to … Read more
Does it go without saying that leaders must have integrity? If so, sorry. Just a couple of weeks ago, a manager was telling me about having to let a seemingly great hire go. Seeing my surprise, she looked me in the eye and said “He didn’t walk the talk.” The folks at Iowa’s Character Counts … Read more
Leaders must have vision. Not just in the “creatively imagined future” way, but also in the way of “I have an accurate assessment of the way things are right now.” Leaders must (in the words of those wise men, Kouzes and Posner) “inspire a shared vision.” Without knowing what the goals are, folks are rarely … Read more
Something that occasionally presents itself in the world of leadership is that there is one person, also a leader, who doesn’t “get it.” Maybe it’s another teacher, a member of administration or your direct supervisor. They see what you are doing, they know that those you lead appreciate what you’re doing, but for one reason … Read more
Let’s make the assumption that, as a leader, you’ve taken a number of human behavior assessments (like the Leadership Practices Inventory, Everything DiSC®, Strengths Finders or Myers-Briggs), and therefore you have some sort of description (or two or five descriptions) as to what kind of leader you are. What happens to those analyses after you … Read more