Communication

Tabby and Alan on “Attitude Versus Actions”

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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

What’s next? Can you learn something in 90 seconds?

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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

Insecurity is Normal?

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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

Leaders say sorry, and mean it: The Quantum Apology Model

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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: AcknowledgeApologizeMake it RightRecommit A mnemonic to recall this AAMR model is “All About My Relationships.” And it works. Teach this to others as an antidote to those empty “sorry” … Read more

The coolest thing I’ve heard lately… (and why leaders should hear it, too)

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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

Group Dynamic Primer Chapter Four: Communication

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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. It’s tough to summarize this, but here’s an attempt: Communication … Read more

Effective Leaders Know When to Ignore the Tone

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“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

Effective Leaders Take 3 Seconds to Say…

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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 some variation of: “Is there anything I can do to help you with that?” This was referred to in a previous post as the “cherry on top” of … Read more

For those who don’t get it…

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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

The Olympics of Dedication

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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.

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