Leaders are committed to constant self-improvement. Why use the phrase “stretching and growing?”
Because you can’t grow if you don’t stretch –
Stretching and Growing
Effective Leaders Stay Organized (part two)
Part two of two (read part one here)
My daily list fits into the narrow confines of the column on the left hand side of each day’s page in my planner.
But – sometimes life becomes so hectic, and the to-do list gets so long, that it’s time to switch methods.
Effective Leaders Focus on Follower Engagement
The posts on this blog have been primarily about effective behaviors of good leadership. But leaders do not exist in a vacuum, and it’s important to remember that much of the work in a high-achieving organization is accomplished by the “followers.” The readings on this site focus on things leaders do to keep those followers engaged and motivated. Let’s take a moment to look at the big picture of follower engagement. I know that sounds like a buzzword, but you can call it whatever you like; keeping people happy, firing people up, making people feel loved, keeping them on your side, maintaining loyalty, whatever.
Breath Support to the End of the Phrase is a Key Deliverable
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How is being an effective band director like running a good business?
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What if the best practices in band program administration collide with the best practices in managing and developing employees?
It is striking how the franchise prototype model outlined in “The E-Myth” coincides with an effective, student-leader-empowered, music program:
- Must provide consistent value to customers (students), employees (staff and student leaders), suppliers (parents), and lenders (school district curriculum and administration).
- Results must be attainable by people with the skill level they already have.
- Must stand out as a place of impeccable order and structure.
- All work must be defined in operations manuals. (Clear standards of “how we do things around here”)
- Events must unfold in a predictable, orderly, way.
- Must utilize a uniform color, dress, and facilities code.
Using the Words “Around Here” Can Help Create a Vibe
My first boss was fond of saying this: “Most days, we have fun around here.”
The first time I heard him say this was in my job interview. He followed it up with “…and you can’t say that about most jobs.”
It was my first job, so I took his word for it.