Address specific behaviors, rather than general assumed mindsets, like “attitude” for more effective communication. Also, some of you pointed out last week that the 90-second burn is longer than 90 seconds. It is, but the content portion is about 90 seconds. You may skip the introduction, and the silliness at the end, but you’d miss … Read more
After over 3 years, and over 125 posts, this blog will continue in a new format: the 90-second burn. To learn more about this project, please watch: Got 90 seconds per week? Of course you do! Subscribe at the right and join in the fun, starting next week. Thanks for all the support and input … Read more
Dear friend, fellow educator, and previous guest blogger Matt Pries likes to share the following model, with is derived from the Quantum Learning school of thought:
I’m not going to let my worst experience with someone define my relationship with them. Isn’t that great? Sometimes we have a bad experience with someone and think “whoa, now their true colors are finally coming out!” — and that puts us on guard in the future. Once bitten, twice shy (we think). But we … Read more
If there’s one skill that leaders must master and habitually improve, it’s communication.
If you read this blog, you’ll see that it’s a pretty popular area of concern.
So many dysfunctions, productivity concerns, drama, misunderstandings, and performance failures can be traced directly to communication mis-steps.
“Samantha, please reinstate the afternoon tea and coffee cart for the residents, starting in November.” Samantha [delivered with sarcastic tone and an eye roll] replies, “Well, sure, why not. Last time we tried it, Beth in 4C took 10 tea bags. AND when I wasn’t looking, some of the staff drained the second pot of … Read more
If the two-word definition of leadership is “Meet needs,” then you have frequent opportunities to be very explicit about that mission by taking three seconds to ask
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 or another, they don’t think it applies to them. It’s usually one of the following: they think they’re already doing it, they think their team is doing fine and they don’t have the time to “waste,” or they think their way is better.
The Olympics have a way of shining a new light on the meaning of dedication.
The opening ceremonies were comprised of one spectacular vignette after another, with thousands of performers, musicians and athletes knowing exactly where to go and what to do during every minute of their moment in the spotlight. That’s dedication.
Every commercial that runs during the Olympic Games tells the athlete’s tale of foregoing dessert, not watching TV, not skipping a single day’s workout in order to be the best. That’s dedication.
Then there was the Chinese farmer who spent the last two years traveling to London via rickshaw just to see the Olympic games. A little extreme, but yes – that’s dedication.
