Tag: Principals
Share This Page:
Do You Really Want To Be Sent Away?
You’re in a place in your job where you need help. But then, you’re sent away. “Check out this website. Read this book. Go to this conference.” Do you really want to be sent away? Sent away to stumble through your own answers. Do you really want to do the same for your staff? Wouldn’t…
Why Do We Do This To People?
Educators are some of the busiest people in the world. If it’s not district mandates, or community needs, or regional mandate, it’s school leaders, it’s instructional coaches, or even Pinterest – everyone is telling the teacher and principal what to do and how to do it. Why do we do this to people? What’s worse,…
A Quick Thought on Transitions
You’ve seen the videos. He’s standing with one foot on the boat and one foot on the dock. The boat starts rocking and drifting from the dock. Inevitably, we all know what happens next. We laugh and give the video a thumbs up. Transitions are just like this. Moving from one career to the next.…
Simple Additions to Make Now
There are a few additions that you could make to any week: A few more veggies and fruits A bit more exercise A ounce more of laughter A minute more with those you love And then there are additions to make now. You can’t make them always. That’s because they are doors of opportunity. When…
Dual Realities
There’s the leader’s reality, and there’s everyone else’s. The challenge of being a leader is having the self-awareness to manage the needs of your people with the goals of your organization’s. Without this management prowess, dual realities will exist – and maybe even clash.
Leading As Yourself
Work personality, work demeanor, work mindset, workwear, work friends, work, work, work. Where are you? Sure there are clear lines between personal and professional. However, where is your self? Research has shown that leaders who are vulnerable tend to relate better and lead better. Yet, it’s hard to be vulnerable, let alone be yourself, when…
Systems Thinking in the Principal’s Office
Often we refer to systems in RTI or systems for data collection and analysis, however, we don’t often hear about systems thinking in the principal’s office as a key factor in improving schools. But the overwhelming number of emails, voice messages, due dates, agendas, meetings, and office work is best managed with systems. The simpler…
How is it that 7 principals all have the same answer?
I asked seven principals the same question, “What are you currently learning?” How is it that all seven principals answered with a common theme? Listen to episode 98 (What are Principals Learning) to hear what they said. What are you learning? Leave me a message here that could air on a future podcast.
Finding Mistakes
When editing my writing, I love finding mistakes. A mistake is one step closer to excellence. The same is probably true in all aspects of life and learning. Not all mistakes need to be a stumbling experience. Finding mistakes is different than making mistakes. We can certainly learn from making mistakes, but it’s much cleaner…
Rust in the Through Hulls
Through-hulls are actually holes placed in the bottom of a boat. They serve many purposes such as water to cool engines, toilet plumbing, and a source of water to spray the boat down while at sea. When neglected, or simply after years in the water, the through-hulls can rust. This can pose major issues which…
Do You Schedule Major Resets?
A major reset is one of three ingredients in the recipe for continuous innovation. The other two are Go, No-Go Dates and A/B Testing. Without all three ingredients, change is perceived as haphazard and disruptive. With these three ingredients, change is systematic and strategic. It’s an expected part of what you do. So, again, I…
Thorns and Dams
Even the smallest thorn can stop the strongest runner. It’s a pain deep in a shoe that really can’t be ignored. The largest dams are massive structures. They are extremely successful at holding back unimaginable forces. Both are obstacles. Addressing obstacles is a central responsibility of leaders. Of course, it’s easier to address obstacles when…
When Leaders Connect
We marvel at the tight-rope walker because she’s all alone. She’s way up there with no support. She’s centimeters away from a dangerous fall. We marvel. But that’s about it. We don’t grow. Our abilities aren’t enlarged. It’s thrilling and entertaining. It’s not quality leadership. You know that school leadership can be a lonely, if…
Back to School Tasks as Vehicles
There’s so much to plan for as a school leader: master schedule, student schedules, hiring, handbooks, facility repairs, new student registration, instructional materials, and the list goes on. It’s easy to let tasks take center stage. However, what if tasks were thought of as vehicles? Yes, vehicles. What if instead of allowing the back to…
Back to School Letter 2.0
It’s almost time…you’ll be in the office soon getting ready to welcome your team back. You might even draft a back to school letter. Let’s think about the traditional back to school welcome letter. How can we use it to touch people, shape culture, and impact learning? Here’s one idea…The Welcome Back to School Letter…
August Amnesia
It’s coming to a school near you…hopefully, not yours. It’s the “what did we say we were going to do” syndrome. My gut says everyone in school leadership has experienced this, maybe even you. I know I have as a teacher and an administrator. August amnesia is another way of saying Organizational Memory Loss, which is…
Scripting Changes
A script limits the choices. A script helps actors to know exactly what to say. All they have to do is choose the actions, intonations, and expressions. Scripting changes can help limit the choices needed for change to occur. It’s not the same as scripting lessons or scripting an observation. It’s bigger than that kind…
Leadership Learning Communities (Interview, Danny Sunshine Bauer)
I sat down for an interview with Danny “Sunshine” Bauer of Better Leaders Better Schools recently to talk about Leadership Learning Communities. Here are a few highlights from that conversation: [divider style=’centered’]Leadership CommunityMF -Why is it important for school leaders to be a part of a leadership learning community? DSB The job’s too hard to do by…
Equifinality
Equifinality is the inverse of multifinality. It’s about opening the pathways to results. In this case, a quick sketch may provide more insight than a few paragraphs: In social sciences, equifinality is the idea that similar background experiences lead to similar mental and emotional conditions. For business management, equifinality is the concept that more than…
Just Because You Have a Position
There’s a tricky little balancing act between position, power, promise, and people. They are not all the same (obviously), but they each have a play in our identities. They each play a game in shaping our perceptions and self-efficacy. More importantly, they can impact your leadership, followership, or dictatorship. There’s a lot to unpack in that…
What Do You See?
The trees vs. forest metaphor can’t fully capture the spectrum of what is seen on your campus. The school is a hub of so many spokes. Each spoke can be viewed from a different angle, from a different distance, and using a different lens. Often we refer to this as perception. Or expectations. Or vision.…
Framing in the School
According to Wikipedia, framing is the fitting together of pieces to give a structure support and shape during the process of construction. In school leadership, framing is just as critical. You are a builder, not merely a principal, director, or district administrator. You are shaping, molding, and creating. Framing is the leadership practice and process…
Mafost Mashup Episode 1: Not So Grand Opening
Yesterday, the Mafost Mashup podcast started, and I’m thrilled it wasn’t a grand opening. Episode 1 is titled Not So Grand Opening for a reason… Think about how many times someone told you that you need to get buy-in for your new ideas. This advice is one way you might be tempted to seek out…
This Time Next Week
On Tuesday, May 1st, you’re invited to listen to Episode 1 of the new Mafost Mashup podcast – insanely innovative ideas for school leaders. The first episode is ironically called No Grand Opening. This first (of hopefully many episodes) tackles two sides of the same coin: The pitfalls of initiative hype, and The starting spots…
Time to Stop, Time to Start
It’s time. Time to stop viewing resources with limitations. Time to stop leading from email and communicating via the telephone game. Time to stop treating your staff as if they are in the way of learning. Time to stop treating yourself as if you’re on a treadmill that’s designed to chase brush fires. Time to…