Tabby and Alan on “Attitude Versus Actions”

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?

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?

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 Know that All Solutions are a Temporary Resting Place

Jill was a jerk of a boss. Her people didn’t like her, mostly because she was bossy, passive-aggressive, and a bad communicator. This all added up to a low-trust, high-tension situation. Jill got good advice:  Be nice.  Build relationships.  Build trust.  Avoid bossiness. It worked.  For awhile.  Until the work started to fall behind.  People … Read more

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

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

Can you learn from the priorities of a self-employed multi-tasker?

This week’s post is actually a paraphrased email to someone who juggles lots of tasks, wondering how it was possible. In the interest of sharing one way of looking at it, I shared my (loosely held-to) scheme of priorities: 1) Family (with permission to ignore 9-3 on weekdays) 2) Current clients (including former clients; once … Read more

How to put ideas from a conference into action:

We’re entering a time of year when lots of people have professional development and conference opportunities. Lots of time when attending such an event, you get lots of ideas from the exhibit hall, from networking, from breakout sessions, and from keynote speakers and plenary sessions. You come home with lots of materials, then life happens, … Read more

Group Dynamic Primer Chapter Seven: Positivity

 We’ve covered six leadership traits and skills.  Now, it’s time to talk about two mindsets that must permeate our leadership behaviors. The first is positivity.  Being positive is the way others see that the hard work is worth it. Now, leaders ought not be a fake, smile-plastered, Pollyanna; positive leadership is not “soft” leadership.  It … Read more