We all can have single sentences that describe us, even if our contributions are not as deep and lasting as the aforementioned presidents. Whether they say something about us as individuals, as leaders or as community contributors, having the ability to construct a single sentence that captures our essence can serve as a great guidepost and motivator.
Read MoreIf you are like most people, you will take some time on New Year’s Day to reflect on the outgoing year and set some resolutions for the year ahead.
Maybe you’ll decide to make a lifestyle change, such as eating healthier and exercising more.
Perhaps you’ll determine that it is time for more work-life balance or to travel more often.
You may set some business-related goals, such as making more sales calls or taking other action steps that will improve your bottom line.
These, or any other constructive goals, are the first step in living a better, more fulfilled life.
Read MoreAt the heart of great leadership is influence, as in the ability to influence others to do what needs to get done.
In a piece written for Forbes, Kevin Kruse defines leadership as “a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.” I like his approach because it factors in some important primary leadership elements: (social) influence, others, effort optimization and goals.
Leadership is about influencing others, rather than demanding and coercing. It speaks to the ability to win people over to a new way of thinking and practice, through idea sharing, collaboration and role modeling. It emphasizes persuasion and motivation over coercion.
Influence occurs primarily through emotional connections, such as when we share triumphant or challenging times together. It also develops when leaders routinely demonstrate feelings of appreciation, care, concern, and empathy.
Read MoreFor leaders, the letter “I” represents three key elements in their ultimate success. These elements build from the inside out, starting with one’s core identity and purpose and extending far beyond self. They remind us of what we can do and become when we solidify our core and make others’ success our focus.
They are: (1) integrity, (2) influence and (3) impact.
Integrity helps us become the best versions of ourselves and communicates what we stand for.
Influence allows us to direct and augment the work of others.
Impact is all about results. We create impact when we achieve our goals.
These three do not exist in a vacuum. In fact, they lead one into the next.
When we’re in integrity (A), we become more influential (B). This, in turn, drives results, magnifying our impact (C).
Read MoreA critical, “non-academic” area that teachers must master is their ability to teach and support students’ social-emotional needs and development, while growing their mindset and confidence to succeed. Let’s focus on the latter, our mindsets and the role they play in our success.
In her bestselling book Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success, Stanford Professor Carol Dweck talks about people’s mindsets with regards to their ability to perform new tasks. She describes people who stay squarely in their comfort zones and others that venture well beyond them. Dweck labeled these mindsets as “fixed” and “growth,” respectively.
Read MoreOne of the big questions facing school leaders right now is what things will look like when the new school year begins. No one fully knows whether teachers and students will be able to fully or partially return to their classrooms and, even for those who can enjoy “business as usual,” the atmosphere at school is likely to be filled with uncertainty, unease, and lots of distancing.
While it can be difficult to build and maintain a learning atmosphere under such conditions, it may be even more challenging for teachers to develop the nurturing relationships that are so critical to student development, particularly after having endured so much uncertainty already in the previous half year. To expect teachers to connect with their charges and be able to support them during the formative first weeks may be too tall an order for many and could set students up for an even more challenging year.
Read MoreYesterday, as I was getting my skis 🎿 on, an instructor tells me "TGIF!"
But he didn't mean THAT #tgif.
He was telling me, "Toes Go In First." 💡
But that wasn't what I heard.
And for a Sunday, his #fridaytalk sounded strange.
Read MoreIf you are like most people, you will take some time on New Year’s Day to reflect on the outgoing year and set some resolutions for the year ahead.
Maybe you’ll decide to make a lifestyle change, such as eating healthier and exercising more.
Perhaps you’ll determine that it is time for more work-life balance or to travel more often.
You may set some business-related goals, such as making more sales calls or taking other action steps that will improve your bottom line.
These, or any other constructive goals, are the first step in living a better, more fulfilled life.
Read MoreWhen you speak with clients, customers, or prospects, do you focus more on empathy or efficiency?
Empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Efficiency: the ability to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort.
When you focus on empathy, you can’t be as efficient.
When you seek efficiency, empathy must be kept to a minimum.
