School Leadership Reimagined: Recent Episodes
Robyn Jackson
Tired of school change efforts that stall, or worse, never get off the ground? If you’re a principal, assistant principal, or instructional coach who is ready have a transformative impact on the teachers you serve then School Leadership Reimagined is for you. Each week, Robyn Jackson will share counterintuitive strategies to help you dramatically improve instruction. You’ll discover how to motivate your teachers, help them be accountable, overcome toxic cultures, and transform your school. No more pulling teeth with resistant teachers. No more constantly fighting fires. No more running out of steam mid-year. Regain your time, Reignite your passion, and Rethink what’s possible. Stop settling for status quo. It’s time to reimagine school leadership. Visit SchoolLeadershipReimagined.com to download the free resources that come with each episode
If every staff disagreement eventually lands in your office, you may not have a staff-conflict problem. You may have a home-base problem.
In this episode, Robyn Jackson explains why trying to get everyone to agree makes the principal personally responsible for holding the entire faculty together. Drawing on patterns from the Staff Alignment Bootcamp and findings from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, she examines how growing social divisions are already showing up in schools—and why harmony is not the same as alignment.
You'll discover:
- Why the principal becomes home base when the school's purpose is not
- How principals were trained to mistake agreement and visible harmony for a healthy culture
- Why resistant teachers often gain concessions but never experience real power
- How a 100% Vision, mission, and core values help a faculty navigate disagreement
- How to return a divided staff to home base without forcing consensus or manufacturing compliance
Your staff does not have to share the same politics, personalities, experiences, or preferred strategies. They need a purpose strong enough to hold their disagreements—and a way to align their behavior with what they have collectively promised students.
Get one practical Buildership idea you can take straight into Monday. Subscribe free to The 100% Principal Weekly: https://100percentprincipal.com
This week on The 100% Principal Podcast, Robyn Jackson unpacks a pattern she caught in three separate conversations this week: school leaders quietly shrinking their vision because they've stopped believing their staff can rise to it. If you're a K12 principal or school leader heading into back-to-school planning, this episode names the hidden ceiling on your own vision — and the one sentence that can break it.
Get the newsletter every Friday: 100percentprincipal.com
A principal built a vision with her staff at Bootcamp. A year later, they could still recite it word for word — but nothing else about the school had changed. In this episode, I break down why the excitement you build in August isn't the same as the systems that carry a school through the whole year, and the three questions that tell you whether you're launching or building.
Want a new episode like this every Friday? Subscribe to the newsletter at 100percentprincipal.com
Your accountability problem probably isn't your staff. It's every process you've built without asking one question: what is this actually teaching people?
In this episode, I break down why tightening your systems doesn't fix accountability, the real reason your staff was gung-ho in August and checked out by October, and the one question you can run against any policy on your desk in fifteen minutes.
Plus, what the Buildership model (Purpose, People, Process) actually requires, and how it connects to the Staff Alignment Bootcamp.
Get the newsletter every Friday: 100percentprincipal.com
Join the Staff Alignment Bootcamp: BuildershipUniversity.com/bootcamp
Do you have a vision for your school but secretly doubt your teachers will get there with you? You're not alone — and you're not wrong to feel it. But the doubt isn't about your teachers. It's about a belief nobody has ever directly addressed.
In this episode, I share the realization that stopped me cold this spring: I've spent twenty years trying to convince principals to believe in 100% student success. And I've been arguing the wrong thing the entire time. Every principal I've ever worked with already believes every kid deserves to succeed. What they don't believe is that their staff can get there with them. And that one belief is costing them everything.
If you've ever settled for compliance because alignment felt impossible, this episode is for you.
Are you beating yourself up because you just don't have enough time, bandwidth, or follow-through to finally get your staff aligned? What if the problem was never you?
In this episode, I'm breaking down why every staff alignment tool you've been given — the culture retreats, the PLC protocols, the buy-in campaigns, the accountability conversations — was designed to produce compliance, not alignment. And compliance is not alignment's cheaper version. It's alignment's wrong destination.
You've been using the tools correctly. You've been getting exactly what they were designed to give. The problem isn't your execution. The problem is that no compliance tool was ever built to get you to 100% staff alignment — and no amount of additional time, energy, or focus on your part will change that.
By the end of this video you'll know:
— Why your staff alignment problems keep coming back every August
— Why the tools you've been given were designed for symptom relief, not a cure
— What it actually takes to build real, lasting staff alignment in your school
This is Issue #012 of the 100% Principal Newsletter. Every week I take one thing every principal is wrestling with, show you why it's so hard, and give you the 100% approach that will actually move your school forward.
📩 Get the full newsletter every Friday: https://100percentprincipal.com
🏗️ Ready to stop treating the symptoms and start building real staff alignment?
The Staff Alignment Bootcamp is where that work happens:
https://buildershipuniversity.com/bootcamp
A principal recently told me she'd "almost gotten rid of her duds." Just a few more underperforming teachers out, she said, and her school would really take off.
I knew different.
In this episode of The 100% Principal Podcast, I break down why removing underperforming teachers won't save your school — and what's underneath every staff problem you've been fighting all year.
If you've ever told yourself "if I could just get this one teacher out…" or "once we hire the right person…" or "once these last few resisters retire…" — this episode is for you.
▸ IN THIS EPISODE
- What I keep hearing on coaching calls (and why it always ends the same way)
- The difference between compliance and alignment — and why mistaking them keeps you stuck
- The six default staff alignment strategies most principals run without realizing it
- The diagnostic question that reveals whether your school is running on alignment or on you
- Why 100% staff alignment is the only path to 100% student success
▸ GET THE 100% PRINCIPAL NEWSLETTER
Every Friday I take one thing every principal struggles with, show you why it's so hard, and give you the 100% approach that will move your school forward. Join 26,000 principals who read it every week:
→ https://100percentprincipal.com
▸ ABOUT ROBYN
Dr. Robyn R. Jackson is the founder of Buildership University and the creator of the Buildership framework. She's the bestselling author of 13 books including Never Work Harder Than Your Students, and she's spent over 20 years coaching principals across the US, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, and Asia to break through the Leadership Ceiling and build schools where 100% student success is an operating reality.
▸ CONNECT
Newsletter: https://100percentprincipal.com
Buildership University: https://buildershipuniversity.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robyn-jackson-mindsteps/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100percentprincipal/
Every principal I know is starting to play around with AI, using it to write faster, produce more, get more off their plate.
And most of them are walking away disappointed.
In this episode I'm talking about why AI keeps falling flat for principals — and what the actual line is between what AI should handle and what it should never touch.
We tried to teacher-proof teaching for decades. Smart boards. Scripted curricula. Packaged observation frameworks. Every single one ended up in a supply closet.
Now we're reaching for AI with the same hope. And it's failing for the exact same reason.
If you've ever felt like AI was creating more work instead of less, or like something important got outsourced that wasn't supposed to, this episode is for you.
In this episode:
- Why principals in both the "barely using it" and "all in" camps are struggling the same way
- The graveyard of tools that were going to change everything (and what AI has in common with all of them)
- The one question to ask before you open any AI tool
- What a 100% Principal never outsources to AI (and why)
🎯 Want to go deeper? Join me for the 100% AI Playbook Masterclass on June 23rd, 7pm ET. Five tools. Built together. Deployed immediately. Get your ticket: https://buildershipuniversity.com/masterclass
📩 Get the full newsletter every Friday: 100percentprincipal.com
Every year I step completely outside education and bring back five books that have nothing to do with schools — and everything to do with building one. This is my 2026 Summer Reading List, and it's the hardest one I've ever put together.
None of these books are education books. But every single one has something real to say about the culture you're trying to build — and the kind of principal you're becoming while you build it.
The 5 books on this year's list:
- Leading with Dignity by Donna Hicks
- Originals by Adam Grant
- One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton & Jimmy Page
- Strong Ground by Brené Brown
- The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader by Melissa Murray
After you watch, I'm curious. Tell me what books you're reading right now in the comments. I'll be reading every one and who knows? Your suggestion might just end up on next year's list.
You already have a vision for your school.
You have probably had it for years.
The problem is not that you cannot see it. The problem is that you have been waiting for someone else to tell you that you are allowed to believe in it.
In this episode of The 100% Principal, I am talking about the permission gap — why the vision problem most principals face is not a skill gap or a knowledge gap, but a permission gap. And why the only person who can close it is you.
We cover:
— Why the end of the year feels like this (and what the sneaking "I want more" feeling is really telling you) — How vision committees are designed to produce consensus — and why that is the exact opposite of what you need — The difference between a vision statement and a 100% Vision — What it actually costs to keep shrinking your vision to fit what you think others can handle — The one question to ask before you write another plan this summer
This episode is for the principal who already knows what they want and has not yet given themselves permission to say it out loud.
📩 Get The 100% Principal Newsletter every Friday: https://100percentprincipal.com
🏃 The 100% Vision Sprint — enrollment closes June 8: https://buildershipuniversity.com/sprint/
If you've ever stood in front of your staff in August full of hope and found yourself rationalizing data in May — this episode is for you.
In this episode, I'm breaking down why the leadership playbook is keeping you and your teachers stuck in the same loop every single year — and why the only thing that actually breaks it isn't a new program, a new framework, or a new acronym. It's a 100% Vision. I'll show you exactly what that means, why it changes the math for your entire school, and how principals like Trina, Francina, Kevin, and Ashley used it to get results most people said weren't possible.
You have a School Improvement Plan. You might not have a vision. And that difference explains everything about why your year keeps ending up in the same place.
Most principals think the gap between the year they planned and the year they got is a follow-through problem. A staff problem. A prioritization problem. It isn't. It's a clarity gap — and your SIP, no matter how well-written, can't close it.
In this episode I walk you through exactly what separates a school improvement plan from a 100% vision, why that distinction matters more than any strategy you'll set this fall, and the three questions that will tell you immediately whether your vision is clear enough to actually run your building.
If your staff works hard but the initiatives still stall, if you're the only one who can see what's possible, if October keeps breaking your momentum — this episode is for you.
📩 Get the full newsletter every Friday: 100percentprincipal.com
Resources mentioned:
Learn more about the upcoming free one-hour session on May 28th at 7pm ET called the 100% Vision Session: https://buildershipuniversity.com/visionlab/
Subscribe to The 100% Principal Newsletter — one thing every Friday you can take straight into Monday: 100percentprincipal.com
This episode comes from The 100 Percent Principal Weekly—my newsletter where every Friday I share one thing you can take straight into Monday to move the needle toward 100%.
You're listening to The 100 Percent Principal Podcast, where those ideas come to life.
Subscribe at https://100percentprincipal.com/
You've given the feedback. Done the modeling. Sent them to PD. And some of your teachers are still making the same mistakes they were making in September.
Before you write that final evaluation, I want you to consider something: are you judging their decisions — or are you examining their choices?
There's a difference. And it changes everything about how you develop teachers.
What you'll learn:
In this episode of The 100% Principal, I'm sharing Issue #005 of the newsletter — and it starts with something Michael Beasley said in an interview that made me put down my crochet hook mid-stitch. One sentence that named something I've been trying to articulate for years about the way we treat the people we lead.
We'll talk about:
- Why the reflective questions we were trained to ask in post-observation conferences are failing your teachers
- The difference between a will problem and a skill problem (and why it still comes down to choices)
- A simple four-level framework for matching your support to where your teachers actually are
- What it costs you when you don't make this shift
This is one of those episodes that's going to make you rethink something you've been doing all year.
Resources mentioned:
📖 Never Underestimate Your Teachers — https://mindsteps-inc.myshopify.com/products/never-underestimate-your-teachers
📬 Subscribe to The 100% Principal Newsletter — https://100percentprincipal.com
🏫 Learn more about Buildership University — https://buildershipuniversity.com
Subscribe to The 100% Principal Newsletter — one thing every Friday you can take straight into Monday: 100percentprincipal.com
This episode comes from The 100 Percent Principal Weekly—my newsletter where every Friday I share one thing you can take straight into Monday to move the needle toward 100%.
You're listening to The 100 Percent Principal Podcast, where those ideas come to life.
Subscribe at https://100percentprincipal.com/
You've spent real time on your vision. You can articulate it. Your staff has heard it. You believe it.
And your master schedule is quietly working against every word of it.
Why? Because nobody taught you to look at the schedule the right way: as a mirror for your vision, not a logistics problem to survive.
And once you see it that way, some problems you've been fighting for years turn out to have a twenty-minute solution.
In this episode I'm going to show you how to read your master schedule the way I read it, and what to do when what you find doesn't match what you say you believe.
In this episode I break down:
- Why your master schedule is the most honest document in your building
- The one question that changes everything about how the scheduling process starts
- The scheduling decision that made teachers start recommending students for honor without anyone asking them to
- What "change your core values or change your schedule" actually means, and the principal whose teachers changed the schedule themselves once they saw the misalignment
- The specific 15-minute move you can do this week to find the gap between your vision and your schedule
What you'll learn:
In this episode I'm going to show you how to read your master schedule the way I read it, and what to do when what you find doesn't match what you say you believe.
I break down: — Why your master schedule is the most honest document in your building — more honest than your vision statement — The one question that changes everything about how the scheduling process starts — The scheduling decision that made teachers start recommending students for honors — without anyone asking them to — What "change your core values or change your schedule" actually means — and the principal whose teachers changed the schedule themselves once they saw the misalignment — The specific 15-minute move you can do this week to find the gap between your vision and your schedule
🤔 QUESTION OF THE DAY: Pick one thing from your vision. Now ask yourself: does it have protected time in your master schedule?
Resources mentioned:
Subscribe to The 100% Principal Newsletter — one thing every Friday you can take straight into Monday: 100percentprincipal.com
Get your copy of the Master Scheduling Playbook here
This episode comes from The 100 Percent Principal Weekly—my newsletter where every Friday I share one thing you can take straight into Monday to move the needle toward 100%.
Subscribe at https://100percentprincipal.com/
Most principals walk out of a hiring interview with a feeling. A 100% Principal walks out with evidence. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three-stage hiring system that changes who applies, who you interview, and who actually shows up in your building every day.
What you'll learn:
- Why your job posting is filtering for the wrong people (and how to fix it in under 5 minutes)
- The one question that reveals what a candidate actually believes — versus what they know to say
- Why a sample lesson in the second interview is the least useful thing you can ask for — and what to do instead
- The real cost of a will-based misalignment hire and why it almost never shows up in year one
Resources mentioned:
How to Hire Your Next Master Teacher Playbook — https://mindsteps-inc.myshopify.com/products/how-to-hire-your-next-master-teacher-playbook
The 100% Collective — https://buildershipuniversity.com/collective
Subscribe to The 100% Principal Newsletter — one thing every Friday you can take straight into Monday: 100percentprincipal.com
Your last culture-building moment of the year is already underway — and most principals are about to waste it.
It's April. The energy has gone flat. Your teachers are still showing up but everyone is running on fumes. And somewhere in the back of your mind is a thought you haven't said out loud: I'm not sure this year went the way I wanted it to.
I've watched principals turn around brutal years in the last six weeks of school. I've also watched great years fall apart in a bad June. Both are possible right now — in your building. What you do in the next six weeks doesn't just close out the year. It writes the story your staff and students carry into September.
In this episode I break down:
- Why the end of the year shapes how people remember everything that came before it —
- The Meaning → Moment → Memory framework that turns a forgettable June into the most powerful culture-building opportunity you have left
- Two specific moves you can make this week — one for your students, one for your staff — that change how they walk back through your doors in September
🤔 QUESTION OF THE DAY: What does the end of this year need to prove about your school? What's the one thing you want your staff to believe about themselves when they walk out that door at the end of the year?
This episode came from this week's 100% Principal Newsletter where every Friday I send you one thing you can take straight into Monday that will actually move the needle toward 100%. Join me at https://100percentprincipal.com.
Every morning you walk into school with a plan. And by 9am it's gone.
You're constantly interrupted, constantly pulled into decisions that aren't yours to make, constantly the person everyone is waiting on before they can move. You probably think you have a boundaries problem. You don't. You have a systems problem. And those two problems have completely different solutions.
I was on a podcast recently where the hosts threw every crisis scenario at me they had — low morale, declining scores, surface-level compliance, staff resistance. And every single time I kept arriving at the same answer. Not because I was being stubborn. Because it's the only answer that actually works. In this episode I'm going to show you exactly what's happening when a Builder slips back into leadership under pressure — and what you have to build right now so your school stops running on you.
In this episode I break down: — Why good principals lose their 100% vision under pressure — one reasonable decision at a time — The real reason your staff keeps pulling you into every meeting and waiting for your green light — What the difference between a time problem and a systems problem actually means for your school — The specific move you can make this week to start fixing it — not next semester, this week
🤔 QUESTION OF THE DAY: Where is your school running on you right now instead of on what you built?
This episode came from this week's 100% Principal Newsletter — where every Friday I send you one thing you can take straight into Monday that will actually move the needle toward 100%. Join me at https://100percentprincipal.com.
After eight years, this podcast has a new name, a new format, and one very specific focus: principals who have decided that 100Percent student success isn't an aspiration. It's something they're going to build. In this first episode, I'm telling you exactly what The 100Percent Principal Podcast is, who it's for, and what you can expect every week when you show up. Whether you're a sitting principal, an aspiring one, or a district leader who supports them, there's something here for you. Subscribe to the newsletter at 100percentprincipal.com and I'll see you April 15th.
For the last four weeks I've been naming something you already knew but couldn't say out loud — what's happening with your students, your teachers, your communities, and why everything you were trained to do feels like it's working less than it used to. Today is the final episode of this series. And I have two things for you: the answer you've been waiting for, and an announcement I've been sitting on for a long time. I'll give you the answer first. The announcement comes at the end — and no, before you say anything, I know what day it is. This is not a joke.
The teacher you were trained to lead and the teacher standing in your building right now are not the same person, and nobody told you that. That's why in this episode, I'm going to show you exactly who the New Teacher is, why the tactics that used to work have stopped working, and what it actually takes to reach a teacher who evaluates authority, interrogates truth, and is no longer defined by the profession the way teachers used to be. It's not you. It's not them. It's that the old playbooks no longer work. So you can stop blaming yourself, stop blaming your staff, and start building a school worth committing to #LikeABuilder.
I've spent eight years watching brilliant, dedicated principals do everything right — and still hit the same invisible ceiling. More effort. More initiatives. More of themselves poured into the work. And yet the results plateau, the staff drifts back, and in the quiet moments nobody else sees, the principal starts asking the most dangerous question in education: if I'm doing everything I was trained to do… why isn't it working? In this episode, I'm giving that ceiling a name — the Leadership Ceiling — and I'm going to show you exactly what it looks like in your building, why it has nothing to do with your ability or your effort, and why the principals who finally break through it don't do it by becoming better leaders. They do it by deciding to build #LikeABuilder.
Are you doing everything you were trained to do and still feeling stuck? The problem might not be you. It might be the playbook. In this episode, I'm naming the three forces that have converged to make school leadership harder than it's ever been: widening academic gaps that didn't go away when the headlines did, community instability that walks through your front door every morning with your kids, and financial resources that are shrinking just when you need them most. Then I'm going to show you why the traditional leadership playbook, even when you execute it beautifully, was never designed for a moment like this one. If you've ever wondered why working harder isn't moving the needle, this episode will help you see the real problem—and start thinking about your work differently #LikeaBuilder.
This month marks eight years of this podcast — and instead of celebrating with a highlight reel, I want to do something more honest: tell you what these eight years have actually changed in me. I started convinced that the biggest problem in schools was a failure of imagination. What I've learned since is harder, more uncomfortable, and more useful than that. So, tune in for a very real examination of what I've learned, what has surprised me, and where we need to take the work next #LikeABuilder.
Are you really sure your staff believes in your 100% vision — or are they just saying what sounds right in the staff meeting? In this episode, I'm sharing a simple but powerful diagnostic I call the Struggling Student Test: four things you can observe this week that will reveal more about your school's true beliefs than any survey or walkthrough ever could. Once you know what you're really dealing with, I'll show you why the answer isn't more motivation — it's smarter systems, so you can make sure every struggling student gets what they need no matter how any individual teacher feels on any given day #LikeABuilder.
Right now, schools everywhere are ramping up test prep, adding review sessions, and trying to make sure nothing slips through the cracks before testing begins. In this episode, I'm breaking down the three biggest mistakes I see schools make right before testing season and show you how these mistakes quietly undermine results even when everyone is working hard. Plus, I'll show you exactly what to do instead so your efforts actually pay off. You'll hear a smarter, more strategic way to approach these final weeks so you and your students can go into this years' tests with clarity and confidence because you've directed your team's energy where it matters most #LikeABuilder.
By this point in the school year, I see the same pattern play out over and over again: a system isn't working, so we compensate. We work around the gaps, carry the weight ourselves, and tell ourselves it's just what this season requires. But over time, that compensation drains our capacity, and eventually, it drains something even more dangerous: our belief that a better solution is possible. In this episode, I talk about that "compensation cycle," how broken systems train us to survive instead of replace, and why awareness alone doesn't lead to action. If you've ever known something needed to change but felt too depleted to even imagine a different way, this episode will help you step out of the compensation cycle and start building real success #LikeABuilder.
We all love a good redemption story in schools—the students who struggle for years and finally turn things around. Those stories make us feel good. They also let us avoid a harder question: why did success take so long in the first place? During Coaching Week, that question kept coming up for me, and it forced me to look at how deeply we've normalized struggle and delayed success in the systems we call "good." In this episode, I challenge the idea that suffering is a necessary part of learning, examine what our favorite stories reveal about our expectations, and explore what changes when we stop centering heroics and start interrogating design, #LikeABuilder.
I see this pattern over and over again: capable principals implementing solid ideas, working hard, and still feeling like progress won't hold. When that happens, we usually assume the problem is us—our clarity, our follow-through, our leadership—or we blame the moment we're in. In this episode, I unpack a harder truth that explains why so much good work fades, even when the strategies are sound. If you've ever wondered why effort keeps increasing but results don't, this conversation will help you see your school (and your role) differently, #LikeABuilder.
I know I sound obsessed with vision, but in this episode, I'll explain why I can't stop talking about it. You see, everyone says you need a vision—but very few people can explain why it actually matters once the real work starts. In this episode, I unpack what a vision really does when things get messy: when district priorities shift, when parents push, when politics creep in, and when you're genuinely unsure what move to make next. Plus, I'm sharing the 4 reasons vision matters more than you think. Two will surprise you. One is about what YOU get out of this, not just your school. So if you think vision is a luxury that can wait until you've got everything else figured out, think again. Tune in to discover what happens when administrators finally get a true 100% vision #LikeABuilder.
If you've ever felt like you're working incredibly hard but not actually building toward anything meaningful, you're not crazy, and you're not alone. You might be operating with a borrowed vision without even realizing it. In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the four types of borrowed visions: vision by compliance, vision by comparison, vision by inheritance, and vision by avoidance. By the end of this episode, you'll know whether your vision is borrowed, and more importantly, you'll understand why that matters. None of these feel wrong in the moment but that's what makes them so dangerous. Because once you see the difference between borrowed and owned, you can't unsee it and you can finally start building what you truly believe in #LikeABuilder.
Last week I shared my big lesson going into 2025—be boring, stop chasing shiny objects, double down on what works—and this week I'm back with the honest truth: I failed. Or did I? The year I hoped would be calm and predictable turned into a scramble to survive as the world shifted under our feet. But something unexpected happened along the way. I'd just misunderstood what boring actually means. If you're feeling the stress of a world that won't stop changing, if things that used to work aren't working anymore, if you're pivoting and doubting yourself and wondering if you're doing it all wrong I want to encourage you that you can still be boring #LikeABuilder.
As we close out 2025, I'm pressing rewind and revisiting the episode where I named the single biggest lesson I wanted to carry into the new year. Consider this a time capsule from the end of 2024—a look at what I believed mattered most and the mindset I was determined to adopt. This week, you'll hear that original episode. Next week, I'll return with a frank reflection on how it played out, what surprised me, and the insights you can use as you prepare for your own year ahead.
During winter break, most principals fall into one of two camps: total disconnection or total overdrive. Either they collapse and avoid thinking about school until January, or they turn the break into a frantic catch-up sprint to "earn" a fresh start. But there is a third option and in this episode you'll discover why both panic-planning and panic-resting feel productive in the moment, but ultimately create more anxiety and more backlog down the road. Discover how Builders spend their break differently -- resting with intention, anchoring in purpose, and creating systems that prevent future overwhelm—so you return to January clear, focused, and ready to act instead of react #LikeABuilder.
Most principals hit this point in December with the same uneasy mix of exhaustion and pressure. What makes it even worse is that everywhere you're being told that 2026 is being built right now, that you should be planning your best year yet, and that winter break is a chance to catch up. This episode challenges that narrative and explains why you don't need a new plan or a fresh start. Tune in to find out how you can let go of guilt, resist the urge to start over, and end the year grounded, clear, and focused #LikeABuilder
Most leadership team meetings are stuck in a loop—polite updates, recycled problems, and a slow drain of energy that leaves everyone wondering why nothing ever truly moves. In this episode, I unpack why that pain exists, why the usual fixes never fix it, and what becomes possible when you redesign your meetings around purpose instead of compliance. In this episode, I unpack the deeper reason why those meetings feel so draining: they're built on an operating system that rewards activity instead of alignment. Then I offer a radically different lens: a leadership team meeting has one job—to surface and solve threats to your vision. When you shift the purpose, the entire meeting changes. If your team gatherings feel heavy, repetitive, or disconnected from the work that actually matters, this episode will show you what's possible when you run your meetings #LikeABuilder
Ask yourself a question: Are you playing defense or are you playing offense? Is most of your day spent reacting to things that come up, or are you spending the majority of your time proactively pursuing your vision? Most of the training we've received has taught us to focus on defense and so we create policies, systems, and routines that focus on solving existing challenges rather than preventing them in the first place. Playing defense leaves us exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Playing offense leaves us energized, encouraged, and most important making steady progress towards our goals no matter what the circumstances. So tune into today's episode and discover how to switch from playing defense to playing offense #LikeABuilder.
The most effective principals don't start meetings with data, problems, or updates. They start with a simple two-minute ritual that immediately reshapes the entire conversation. It cuts through the usual tension, sharpens the team's focus, and turns even the most routine meeting into a place where people think more clearly and collaborate with more purpose. In this episode, you'll learn why this tiny habit is harder than it looks, why Builders rely on it, and how it can make your team meetings more grounded, more productive, and far more effective #LikeABuilder.
Tier 1 may be the hot topic right now, but here's the twist: Tier 1 isn't actually the problem—or the goal. In this episode, discover the one shift Builders make that instantly changes how Tier 1 feels, functions, and flows in their schools. We'll peel back the layers on why Tier 1 becomes overwhelming, why strategies alone never fix it, and how reconnecting instruction to your 100% Vision transforms everything. If you've been trying to strengthen Tier 1 and still not seeing the consistency you want, this episode gives you the clarity you've been missing. It's time to stop wrestling with Tier 1 and start shaping it #LikeABuilder.
If you've ever felt like you're playing academic whack-a-mole—chasing one struggling student after another—you're not alone. Most teachers are trying hard, but their support is reactive. In this episode, we're talking about how to flip that script with a Student SUCCESS Plan that helps you spot problems early, act fast, and keep Tier 1 running smoothly. I'll walk you through the simple process we shared in the Supporting Struggling Students Masterclass that's already helping schools make support proactive instead of exhausting. You'll learn how to build a system that prevents failure before it happens—so your teachers stay focused, your students stay on track, and you finally get your time back #LikeABuilder.
I've spent years watching principals pour time, energy, and training into Tier 1 instruction—only to walk into classrooms and see the same inconsistencies. In this episode, I'm unpacking why that happens. Teachers understand Tier 1 in theory, but they struggle to translate it into their own classrooms, anticipate where students will stumble, and respond to the real-time data happening right in front of them. When you fix those three things, Tier 1 finally becomes doable, sustainable, and effective #LikeABuilder.
What if your school's "feedback problem" isn't really about feedback at all? In this special episode, you'll listen in on a real coaching conversation from inside the 100% Collective with member Bill Weitman. Bill came to the session looking for help giving teachers better feedback, but as we talked, we uncovered a deeper root cause that was quietly shaping his entire approach. You'll hear how to spot what's really driving resistance or inconsistency in your staff, and how a single mindset shift can transform your next feedback conversation. So tune in to discover how to uncover the real problem hiding behind "feedback issues" #LikeABuilder.
You've built the systems. You've set the routines. You've done everything "right."
So why aren't you seeing results? In this episode, we unpack the surprising reason why so many principals work hard, stay organized, and still feel like their schools aren't moving forward. Predictability and consistency sound like the markers of success—but when your systems aren't grounded in your vision, mission, and core values, they create motion without momentum. You'll discover the difference between being predictable, consistent, and stable, understand which one actually builds trust and results, and get a quick three-question test to see where your school stands right now. By the end, you'll know how to turn all that effort into results you can count on #LikeABuilder.
In an age where every message is a text, email, or Slack ping, we've mistaken constant communication for real connection. This week's episode explores what our profession seems to have forgotten—the value of sitting down face-to-face. Years ago, we hid in our offices and rarely engaged. Now, we're visible, available, and endlessly talking, but not always listening. We've seem to have forgotten that the most transformative conversations still happen face-to-face. So this episode unpacks why your physical presence is still one of the most powerful tools for building trust, care, and alignment, and why sometimes the best way to solve a problem isn't another email, but a quiet five-minute conversation down the hall #LikeABuilder.
This isn’t a typical episode about frameworks or strategies. Instead, I’m stepping back to talk honestly about what I see happening in our profession right now—and why it has me concerned. There are quiet forces at work, shaping how we think, how we create, and even what we believe is possible. In this episode, I share the patterns I’ve been noticing, why they matter, and what we can do to resist slipping into survival mode and protect the space for possibility, creativity, and a belief in 100% #LikeABuilder.
Every school drifts, but drift isn’t random—it’s a hidden pattern that quietly reroutes your plans, scatters your staff’s energy, and erodes your influence if you don’t catch it in time. In this episode, I break down the Drift Pattern and show you how to spot it before it takes over, so you can reset your clarity, realign your team, and reclaim the year you meant to build. The difference between reacting to drift and breaking it comes down to whether you choose to lead by default or Build on purpose #LikeABuilder.
If you’re like most school administrators, this is the time of year that we, without even realizing it, are already starting to drift ever so slightly from the resolutions and plans we made at the beginning of the school year. We’re not off track exactly, but things have started to slip a little. And, we’re not too worried yet, because after all, it’s only October.
Which is exactly why October is such a dangerous month. It’s early enough in the school year where we still feel like we have time to meet our goals so we’re often lulled into a false sense of complacency. But what we don’t realize is that it is the work we do now that determines whether we will actually meet our goals this school year.
So on today’s episode, I’m going to share with you 5 simple shifts you need to make now to keep you from drifting away from your plans and goals and finding yourself off course in January. Take these simple steps and you can get refocused, make real progress before the holidays, and set yourself up for true success this school year #LikeABuilder.
What if your school has been giving you feedback all along and you just haven’t been listening in the right way? In this episode, we’ll look beyond surveys and suggestion boxes and explore the real feedback loops at play: what people say, what they do, and the results they produce. You’ll learn how to read these signals like a Builder, diagnose where your systems are breaking down, and turn every interaction (even non-implementation) into useful data that moves your school closer to 100% success #LikeABuilder.
We’ve all been handed the same tired feedback advice: “Start with a compliment.” “Ask a reflective question.” “Get into 10 classrooms a week.” It sounds good on paper, but in practice, it’s leaving school leaders frustrated and teachers unchanged. In this episode, I’m calling out the most common feedback myths we’ve been told, unpacking why they don’t work, and showing you how to break free from them. If you’ve ever felt like your feedback was landing flat—or worse, backfiring—this episode will help you see why, and what to do instead. Let’s bust some myths and start giving feedback that actually makes a difference #LikeABuilder.
You give teachers feedback because it’s your job, but deep down, you’re not sure it’s making a difference. Maybe they nod politely. Maybe they push back. Or maybe they just… do nothing. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why some teachers ignore your feedback even when you’re right. We’ll unpack the three hidden reasons your feedback doesn’t land, why it’s not your fault, and what has to shift if you want your feedback to spark real change. If your feedback conversations feel more like a checklist than a catalyst for real change, then it’s time to stop wasting words and start making feedback matter #LikeABuilder.
This week, I’m tackling one of the biggest challenges principals face at the start of the school year: how to align a fractured staff. Whether you’re dealing with a wave of new hires, lingering resistance, or a team that just doesn’t feel cohesive yet, I’ll show you how to quickly get everyone moving in the same direction—not through team-building gimmicks or compliance measures, but by anchoring your team in a shared vision, mission, and core values. If you want practical, powerful ways to turn fragmentation into focus and confusion into clarity, this episode will help you start the year #LikeABuilder.
Every August, we make “school year resolutions”—we’re going to give better feedback, protect our time, stop doing so much. But most of those resolutions fall apart by September, not because we’re undisciplined, but because we made them in a vacuum. In this episode, discover why even good principals find themselves slipping back into old habits, and how one shift makes resolutions unnecessary. If you want this year’s goals to actually stick, don’t make another resolution. Build a 100% Vision #LikeABuilder.
The secret to a successful school year is to F.O.C.U.S. - Follow One Course Until Successful. And while that may ring true, HOW do you determine which course to follow? And, how can you stay the course in the midst of so many demands on your time, energy, and attention. We’ll tackle these questions today on this episode and I’ll share a really simple ONE plan you can use to identify the right things on which to focus, and drown out the other distractions #LikeABuilder.
If you’ve been doing everything they told you to do—giving feedback, supporting teachers, holding people accountable, working on culture—and still not seeing real change in your school, I made this episode for you. I’m breaking down why it feels like you’re doing all the right things and nothing’s moving and showing you the hidden trap that’s keeping you stuck. So, if you’ve been feeling tired, discouraged, or like nothing’s moving no matter how hard you work, this episode will help you see what’s really going on and how to shift. You don’t need to do more. You need to do it differently. It’s time to stop doing leadership chores and start doing the work that actually moves your school #LikeABuilder.
In this episode, I’m talking about the double isolation that so many principals silently carry: First, the weight of being the only one in their building who can’t show weakness, who’s expected to solve everything, and who rarely gets support in return. And second, the loneliness of being a Builder in a district full of status-quo thinking where no one else seems to believe that 100% student success is even possible. If you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one who wants more for your school, this episode is for you. I’ll share what’s really behind that isolation, why it’s not your fault, and what can happen when you stop trying to do this work on your own.
It’s go-time. The halls are getting decorated, the PD agendas are set, and you’re knee-deep in first-day prep. But here’s the hard truth: all that effort? It won’t build alignment. And if you’re not intentionally building alignment from Day 1, the best you can hope for is short-term compliance—and even that fades by fall.
In this episode, I’ll unpack:
- Why alignment feels impossible during the back-to-school scramble (and why it’s not your fault)
- The hidden trap even good principals fall into this time of year
- 3 simple shifts that can turn your staff from compliant to committed—even before school starts
If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder than ever and still not getting the traction you want, this episode will show you what to do instead #LikeABuilder.
Preservice week comes with a lot of pressure. You’re expected to set the tone, cast the vision, get everyone excited—and somehow make it all stick. But if you’ve ever walked into the year full of energy only to feel it unravel by October, this episode will show you why.
I’m breaking down the three subtle mistakes that quietly sabotage alignment before the school year even begins, and how to avoid them. These aren’t about working harder or delivering the perfect motivational message. They’re about making small but powerful shifts that take the weight off your shoulders and set your staff up to stay aligned long after the first week hype fades.
If you want to start the year with more clarity and less pressure, this episode will help you prepare like a Builder.
For years, I believed that staff buy-in was the key to real school transformation. I thought that if I could just get everyone excited, inspired, and on board, the work would take care of itself.
But I was wrong.
In this episode, I’m breaking down why buy-in isn’t just ineffective, it’s actually a trap. Because if someone can buy in, they can also sell out. And that’s exactly what’s happening in schools everywhere. One minute your team’s nodding along, and the next they’re doing the opposite of what you agreed to.
You’re not crazy. You’re not doing it wrong. You’ve just been chasing the wrong goal.
I’ll show you what to aim for instead and why it’s the only path to a staff that moves with you, not against you.
If you’re tired of begging people to care and ready to lead with clarity, this episode will show you how.
Let’s stop selling the vision and start building it #LikeABuilder
We tend to treat people problems as if they are all different and require different solutions for each situation. But in today's episode, I’m going to make the case that every people problem you face -- whether it’s a resistant teacher, a toxic culture, or a broken relationship with your team -- are all different versions of the exact same problem: A lack of Alignment. And, I’m also going to show you how the solutions we’ve been taught to apply -- writing people up, having tough conversations, working on the relationship, etc. -- won’t solve these problems.
However, there is a solution and I’m going to break it down in today's episode.
By the time you’re done listening, you’ll know how to stop wasting time dealing with these type of challenges one-by-one and apply the ONE solution that will solve them all #LikeABuilder.
At their best, PLCs are a space where teachers solve real instructional problems, grow together, and make a measurable difference for students. But for too many schools, PLCs have become rigid, compliance-driven meetings that leave teachers disengaged and frustrated. In this episode, we unpack why most PLCs have lost their way—and what it takes to bring them back to life. You’ll discover the one thing every successful PLC does differently, the hidden reason your teams may be going through the motions, and a smarter way to reboot your PLCs so they actually improve instruction. If your teams are stuck in checklist mode or you’re tired of pretending your PLCs are working when they’re not, this episode is your wake-up call. If your PLCs feel like busywork instead of a powerful engine for student success, this episode will challenge you to see them in a whole new way—#LikeABuilder.
It’s here! Our annual Summer Reading List episode, and it’s one of our most popular for a reason. This year, I’m sharing five non-education books every educator should read -- smart, practical, thought-provoking titles that weren’t written for school administrators but offer powerful insights every Builder can use. From rethinking professional development to designing systems that actually work, this year’s picks will help you design smarter systems, and create the kind of school culture where success becomes predictable. If you’re ready for fresh ideas, bold thinking, and a few game-changing “aha” moments, you’ll want to grab these titles and then put them into action #LikeABuilder
You’ve got the vision. You’ve listened to the podcast. You’ve even started trying some Buildership moves in your school. But if you’re still piecing things together without a real plan or support, you’re not building—you’re borrowing. And borrowing might be the very thing holding you back. In this episode, we’re getting honest about what it really takes to go from “inspired” to in motion—and why dabbling in Buildership can’t deliver 100% success. This isn’t about pressure. It’s about possibility. Let’s talk about what shifts when you stop collecting strategies and start owning the work #LikeABuilder.
If you’re always the one carrying the plan—chasing the deadlines, keeping the vision alive, and pushing things forward while your team drifts—this episode is for you. In this episode, I’m sharing the moment I realized traditional summer planning was setting school leaders up to fail. I’ll tell you the story that changed everything for me, why most SIPs fall apart by October, and how you can shift from compliance-based plans to ones your team actually owns. If you’re already thinking about next year, this is the episode you need before you start planning so you can plan this summer #LikeABuilder.
You’re probably wrapping up the school year and already planning for next year, believing better plans mean better results. But what if that belief is fundamentally flawed? In this episode, discover why even your best plans fall apart without a compelling vision. Learn why Builders spend their summers differently—crafting visions that truly align and energize their teams. Stop wasting time on tactics that won't stick and make this the summer you build something truly transformative #LikeABuilder.
You’ve written your 100% Vision, embraced the language of Buildership, and maybe even started using some of the tools, but if you’re still making decisions, managing your team, and approaching your work like a leader, you’re going to stay stuck. In this episode, we’re unpacking the subtle ways leadership habits sneak back in, even when you believe in the vision, and why you can’t build a 100% school using the same strategies you used when you were chasing 5% gains. It’s not about working harder. It’s about working differently #LikeABuilder
Everyone focuses on getting teachers to stay. Almost no one asks what we can learn when they leave. That’s why this week, we’re doing a replay of one of our most talked-about episodes. You’ll discover a deceptively simple but deeply powerful strategy that most school leaders overlook, and why skipping it could be costing you insight, trust, and long-term alignment. Even if you’ve heard it before, listen again with fresh ears. There’s a good chance what you missed last year is exactly what you need to hear now to build a stronger school culture this year #LikeABuilder.
It’s that time of year when everyone’s quietly tapping out. Teachers, students, even your best systems seem to be running on fumes. But what if the real problem isn’t burnout… it’s cultural drift? In this episode, we're digging into why the usual end-of-year leadership advice falls flat and what Builders do differently to keep staff meaningfully engaged in May. If you’re ready to finish the year with purpose and set the stage for a stronger year next year, this episode will show you how to do it #LikeABuilder.
Next week, schools everywhere are celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week. But, what if we’re celebrating the wrong things? In this episode, we explore how appreciation can unintentionally reinforce exhaustion, compliance, or martyrdom, and how Builders do it differently. You’ll learn how to use Teacher Appreciation Week as a strategic moment to reinforce your school’s vision, elevate your culture, and align your team for what comes next. From the Builder’s Appreciation Formula to powerful WOW moments like the Block of Impact and the Builder Tunnel, this episode will help you celebrate with clarity and purpose so what gets celebrated now becomes what gets repeated all year long #LikeABuilder.
What if one 15-minute conversation could give you more insight than a walkthrough, a post-observation conference, or a data meeting ever could? In this episode, I’m sharing how quarterly one-on-ones helped me build deeper alignment, spark authentic reflection, and finally understand what was really happening in classrooms. You’ll hear how I used them, what shifted, and why they’re the most powerful system most school administrators aren’t using (yet). If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing accountability, clarity, or follow-through…this might be the missing piece.
When everything feels like it’s falling apart—mandates shift, morale dips, and chaos creeps into the day-to-day—most principals scramble to hold things together. But Builders do something different. Instead of reacting, they anchor. In this episode, Discover how the Buildership Model isn’t something you abandon in hard times—it’s what carries you through them. In fact, when time's get tough, Builders double down on purpose, people, and process because doing so isn’t idealistic, it’s strategic. If you’re tempted to hustle harder or power through, this episode is your reminder: there’s a better way. Stay grounded in your purpose, lean on your people, and trust your processes (even when the pressure’s on) #LikeABuilder.
Ever had a boss shut down your work—not because it wasn’t working, but because it wasn’t their idea? In this episode, I’m talking about how to manage up like a Builder, especially when your boss is still stuck in traditional leadership thinking. I’ll share five practical strategies to help you protect your vision, navigate resistance, and keep building—even when your supervisor doesn’t see the value yet. Plus, I’ll show you how to turn that pushback into a powerful tool that actually advances your vision. If you’ve ever had your hand slapped or felt like you had to fight for every inch of progress because someone above you didn’t get it, then discover how to manage your boss #LikeABuilder.
Most principals treat the master schedule like a logistical puzzle—but what if the real problem isn’t the puzzle pieces, but the picture you're trying to build? In this episode, I unpack why master scheduling feels so frustrating, what fear is really driving all those revisions and pushbacks, and what it would look like to create a schedule that truly reflects your school’s vision. If you’re tired of last-minute chaos, endless tweaks, and staff confusion, this episode will change the way you see scheduling forever. It’s time to stop surviving the schedule and start using it to advance your 100% vision #LikeABuilder.
This week’s episode is more personal than most. I just learned that one of my longtime mentors is dying, and it’s made me pause and reflect on the profound impact mentorship has had on my journey. In this episode, I share what it really means to have a mentor, not just someone who gives advice, but someone who sees who you’re becoming and helps you grow into that vision. I also explore how the right mentor can change your trajectory, and why being in the right rooms with the right people matters more than we often realize. It’s a reminder of how we grow, how we build, and how we show up for others #LikeABuilder.
Testing season is here, bringing intense pressure that can derail instruction, school culture, and teacher morale. With district mandates looming and high-stakes assessments weighing on students and staff, it’s easy for schools to shift into panic mode. But Builders take a different approach—one that prioritizes real learning while still achieving strong results. In this episode, discover how to navigate testing season without letting it consume your school, refocus on what truly moves the needle, and equip students with the confidence and skills they need to show what they know #LikeABuilder.
Every spring, schools hit a slump—teachers check out, students lose focus, and principals feel like they’re the only ones holding everything together. The typical response? Push harder, pile on accountability, and try to ‘motivate’ people back into action. But Builders know better. In this episode, we’ll unpack why the Spring Slump isn’t a motivation problem—it’s a misalignment problem. Instead of fighting to sustain momentum, you’ll learn how to realign your school so that teachers and students stay engaged naturally. If you’re tired of pushing, it’s time to shift the way you work—#LikeABuilder.
Who you listen to matters more than you think. As a Builder, you’re not just leading—you’re transforming schools in ways that most people around you don’t understand. But if the loudest voices in your ear are supervisors focused on compliance, colleagues who don’t share your vision, or skeptics who think you’re aiming too high, their doubts can start shaping your decisions without you even realizing it. In this episode, we’ll unpack how the wrong influences can slowly pull you back into the status quo, how to evaluate who’s really supporting your growth, and how to surround yourself with the right people who will challenge, inspire, and push you forward #LikeABuilder.
In this episode, I break down the 5 In/5 Out Process—a simple but powerful strategy every principal should implement before the school year ends. You’ll learn how this method helps eliminate learning gaps, reduces teacher overwhelm, and creates a seamless path for student success. Plus, I’ll share an unexpected benefit: how it can strengthen your school culture and foster shared accountability. So tune in to this episode to discover how you can give your teachers clarity and set your students up for success #LikeABuilder.
We’re hitting rewind on this episode because it couldn’t be more relevant right now. With so many changes happening and looming, this is the perfect time to look at how to deal with district demands. If you’ve ever felt like district demands keep you from pursuing your 100% vision then today’s episode is for you. Discover how to secure the support of your district for your 100% vision, and how to keep district demands from derailing your progress. If you are currently struggling to move forward or you feel bogged down by district demands, you’ll walk away with practical insight on how to comply with your district without sacrificing your 100% vision #LikeABuilder.
Is your staff truly aligned, or are you constantly chasing, checking, and correcting just to keep things moving? Hidden misalignment is one of the biggest reasons schools struggle to sustain momentum and most principals don’t recognize it until it’s too late. In this episode, we’ll explore the three biggest ways misalignment is slowing you down, how to tell if your school has surface-level vs. true alignment, and what the most effective principals do differently to make alignment automatic. If you’ve ever thought, “Things are mostly fine, so why does it feel like I’m pushing so hard?” then this episode is for you. Tune in now to learn how to build a school where alignment happens naturally #LikeABuilder.
If you’re constantly chasing, checking, and correcting your staff, you don’t have an unmotivated teacher problem—you have an alignment problem. The real reason teachers aren’t fully committed isn’t because they don’t care, it’s because they don’t have the feedback, support, culture, and accountability needed to take full ownership of their work. In this episode, we’re breaking down the 4 Staff Alignment Levers—Feedback, Support, Culture, and Accountability—and how they help teachers do the right work, the right way, for the right reasons, even when you’re not looking. Plus, I’ll share what to do if you’ve missed the Staff Alignment Challenge and how you can get your personalized Staff Alignment Roadmap in Monday’s live Masterclass. So tune in today to discover how you can get your entire staff aligned #LikeABuilder.
Are you tired of putting in endless hours chasing small wins that never seem to add up? In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on why small wins and incremental growth are keeping your school stuck—and how Builders achieve transformational, exponential results instead. Discover why your current approach to school improvement might actually be working against you, the hidden cost of fragmented efforts, and the one mindset shift that can align your staff and energize your entire school. If you’re tired of chasing small wins and feeling like you’re on a constant treadmill, today’s episode will help you break free from the grind and create exponential success #LikeABuilder
Feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty? You're not alone—but Builders have a secret for turning chaos into clarity. In this episode of School Leadership Reimagined, we’re diving into the simple yet powerful steps Builders use to transform even the most overwhelming challenges into manageable, solvable tasks. I’ll walk you through the exact process Builders rely on (and yes, I even pulled out my iPad to sketch it all out—catch the video version on YouTube!). By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to stop stressing over uncertainty and start tackling any challenge you face with confidence and control. So, don’t just manage uncertainty—BU the heck out of it. #LikeABuilder.
Ever feel like you’re spinning your wheels trying to get your staff on the same page? In this week’s podcast, I’m breaking down what “staff alignment” really means—and why so many traditional leadership strategies fail to achieve it. We’ll explore why compliance isn’t enough, the four key actions that actually drive alignment, and how small shifts in feedback, support, accountability, and culture can transform your team. If you’re ready to stop wasting time on ineffective strategies and start building true alignment around your vision, this episode is for you. Listen now and learn how to align your staff #LikeABuilder.
I’m pulling back the curtain on how to transform walkthroughs from a dreaded chore into a powerful leadership tool that builds trust, empowers teachers, and drives school-wide success. I’ll share my personal journey of reimagining the walkthrough process—turning it into a meaningful practice that delivers actionable insights, strengthens relationships, and creates a culture of collaboration. Whether walkthroughs feel like just another hoop to jump through or you’re ready to make them truly impactful, this episode will show you how to conduct walkthroughs #LikeABuilder
Happy New Year! This week, I’m sharing the biggest lessons of 2024 that I am taking with me into 2025. I say “lessons” but it’s really just one big lesson I had to learn over and over again. I’m hoping to save you the trouble by breaking down the lesson here so that you can learn from my mistakes and walk into 2025 more successful #LikeABuilder.
Today is Christmas and I am spending time with my family but I didn't want to leave you hanging. So here's one of my favorite episodes from last year. Do you feel like you’ve only got this ONE school year to make a difference? If so, you're probably chasing the quick wins, putting an enormous amount of pressure on yourself and your teachers, and staying on the school improvement hamster wheel. Builders don’t operate under that kind of pressure. Instead, Builders play the long game. They think in 3-year time horizons and as a result, accomplish more with significantly less stress. It’s time to get off the hamster wheel. Discover how you too can play the long game #LikeABuilder
This week, we’re wrapping up our series on Questions Worth Asking with the hardest one yet: Do you REALLY believe in your 100% vision? It seems like a simple question on the surface. You might even be thinking “of course I do!” but let me ask you this: If you truly believed in your vision, would you be doing what you’re doing in your school right now? You see, it’s one thing to believe that your 100% vision is admirable or even desirable. It’s another thing to be convicted that your vision is possible for you. And without that conviction, you may be acting in ways that subtly undermine your vision. So this week’s podcast is a real gut check, one that I had to go through myself. But, I believe it’s one of the most important questions you can ask yourself if you’re going to reach your vision #LikeABuilder.
Do you know your 80/20? In other words, do you know what work you do that is primarily responsible for the success you’ve gained? And more important, are you investing most of your time and energy in the 20% or are you wasting time on work that is giving you little in return. That’s the question we’re examining as we continue our series on Questions that are worth asking. If you want to see more results for your efforts, it’s critical that you understand your 80/20. So tune in to today’s podcast so that you can discover your 80/20 #LikeABuilder.
Do you know the impact that every position in your school has on your ability to achieve your 100% vision? It’s a question most administrators never ask themselves even though your ability to achieve your vision relies on the answer to this question. In today’s episode, I’ll talk about why this question is so important and walk you through some examples to help you answer this question for yourself #LikeABuilder.
What rules are you following that no longer apply? That’s the question we’re considering this week and it’s important because too many of us are being held hostage by rules that no longer apply. But, because Builders question everything, you don’t have to stay trapped by outdated rules. Tune into today’s episode to discover how you can free yourself of the weight of old rules #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever felt trapped, like your options are limited and you really don’t like any of the options available? Usually, we feel like our only recourse is to hold our noses and choose the least offensive option. But, that’s not what Builders do. You see, if you are a Builder and you don’t like your options, instead of settling for what’s in front of you, you change the game by asking different questions. That’s why this week, we’re starting a brand new series about a few questions that help you change the game and give yourself more and better options. If you’re feeling like you don’t have a lot of options right now and you don’t like the options you do have, tune into this week’s podcast to discover how you can build new options for yourself #LikeABuilder.
So many leaders complain that they feel constantly overwhelmed. But, when you become a Builder, you realize that it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to live in a state of overwhelm. On today’s episode, I’m sharing how Builders escape feeling overwhelmed. Once you know and live this secret, you’ll know how to eliminate overwhelm from your work. And the more you practice it, the less you’ll be able to remember or relate to the feeling of overwhelm so many administrators experience because you know how to eliminate overwhelm #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever thought about your job and wondered, “Is this really all there is?”If so, then today’s episode is for you. You see, the reason we can sometimes feel that way has to do with a myth we were all taught to believe about leadership. Today, I’m going to expose that myth and show you how Builders find deep fulfillment in their work. Even if you are completely happy in your role, this episode will protect you from falling into the trap of excellence and help you remain happy and fulfilled in your work. So whether you are currently fulfilled or if you secretly wonder whether this is all there is, today’s episode will help you anchor in the heart of the work #LikeABuilder.
One of the more misguided pieces of leadership advice out there is that you need to set boundaries with people. I understand the thinking behind the advice, but in practice, boundaries are more designed to keep people out than invite them to partner with you towards a common goal. Plus, the requirement that you “enforce” your boundaries puts all the onus on you. Builders are less concerned about boundaries and more focused on creating shared agreements. That way, both parties are responsible and both parties work together to achieve the desired goals. On today’s episode, I’m breaking down how you can build powerful agreements #LikeABuilder.
There are a lot of principals who say they want 100%, but in reality, they have gotten pretty comfortable where they are. They’re not the worst school in the district they reason, and they are at least making some tiny incremental gains. So although they would LOVE to do better, things could be worse. Frankly, the system is set up to make us comfortable with “good enough.” But it’s all a trap. On today’s episode, I want to challenge this idea of good enough and shake us all out of our comfort zone. And, if you’ve gotten a little too comfortable lately, my goal is to give you the boost you need to stick to your goals #LikeABuilder.
There are few things in our jobs more frustrating than having a teacher completely ignore our feedback, especially when we know that things need to improve in their classrooms. The problem isn’t you, it’s the way we were trained. In fact, there are 3 things we were trained to do when giving teachers feedback that actually make our feedback EASY to ignore. On today’s podcast, I’m breaking down those 3 things and show you how to fix them so that you can give teachers feedback that they will embrace and implement #LikeABuilder.
This is part 2 of a 2-part series on how to build true accountability with teachers. In this episode, discover the 3-step process Builders use to handle it when someone breaks an agreement. Find out how to quickly repair the break and get back on track, how to handle a pattern of agreement breaking without destroying your school culture, and how to use even a tough situation to keep building #LikeABuilder.
This is part 1 of a 2-part series on how to build true accountability with teachers where you’ll discover the powerful tool Builders use to build true accountability with their staff. Find out the specific 6 steps you need to take to create an accountable agreement and learn why we were trained to “hold teachers accountable” is a trap. By the time you’re done, you’ll know exactly how to set teachers up to do the right work the right way even when you’re not looking #LikeABuilder.
If you’re looking for a solution to a BIG problem or challenge in your school, discover the simple question I use time and time again to help me solve my most persistent student, teacher, and school issues Then find out how you can use this same question to stopIt working so hard trying to tweak your way to your goals and and instead find the ONE thing that creates tangible and dramatic growth for your school #LikeABuilder.
Most of us were trained that our job as administrators is to be a problem solver. So we dutifully go into work and spend all our time trying to solve problems. Except, that means… * We spend all our time trying to get teachers to implement our solutions “with fidelity.” * Everyone comes to us to solve their problems and no one is taking ownership. * We feel pressure to always have the answers. * The work seems never-ending.
Builders know that being a problem solver is a trap. That’s why Builders don’t worry about solving problems. Instead, Builders focus on finding the right problems to solve and then work with our staff and students to help them solve their own problems. So check out today’s podcast where you’ll discover how to get out of the problem-solving trap and empower others to solve their own problems #LikeABuilder.
We hear a lot about how principals should take time for self care, but in this week’s episode, we explore what true self care looks like. While spa appointments, massages, and lattes are great, they don’t solve the issues of an overcrowded schedule, intense pressure, and demands on your time -- they merely medicate them. So, on today’s episode, we’re breaking down 2 secrets Builders use to ensure that no matter how packed their schedules are, they don’t end the day depleted. In fact, if you do these 2 things, you can ensure that you end every day feeling accomplished. Then, when you go to the spa or engage in some other form of self care, you can truly enjoy your experience because you aren’t stressed all the way out. So, if you feel like you need a little self care, today’s episode will show you how to truly care for yourself and protect your energy #LikeABuilder.
The school year has just begun and already, principals are worried about staff morale. Sure, everyone was excited by the first days of school hype, but now that things have died down a little, the complaints are already starting. On today’s podcast, we’ll look at why every year it seems people are getting more and more burned out, and more importantly, the ONE thing you can do that can turn things around immediately.Instead of going through the same cycle of excitement, reality setting in, complaints, burn out again this year, this episode will show you how you can sustain momentum and generate lasting excitement about the work #LikeABuilder.
Now that most of us are back in school, we're all pretty busy with all the tasks that inevitably demand our attention at the beginning of the year. And while those tasks are often important, there are 4 things you may not realize you should be doing in the next month in order to create momentum for the year. In this episode, we'll dive into what those 4 things are, why they're important, and the specific impact they will have on your effectiveness throughout the year. Do these 4 things now to set yourself up for an amazing school year #LikeABuilder.
I don’t know anyone who LOVES a meeting. That’s because most meetings feel like a waste of time. On today’s episode, you’ll discover 5 meetings that should be on every principal’s calendar each week and NONE of these meetings will waste your time. In fact, these meetings will make you more productive, make your team more accountable, and create real momentum in your work so much so, that you really can’t afford NOT to have these meetings. So tune in today to find out how you can use 5 simple meetings to remove overwhelm, increase your own productivity, and ultimately move your vision forward consistently #LikeABuilder.
We’ve all heard the advice that we need to “inspect what we expect.” But, the way that our training has weaponized this advice in schools is pretty awful. We see the word “inspect” and are told it means that if we want good instruction to happen in our schools, we need to show up with a clipboard and a walkthrough instrument in at least 3 classrooms per day or our entire instructional program will collapse. Builders do walkthrough feedback differently. Discover how to give walkthrough feedback that teachers will welcome and implement #LikeABuilder.
In this final episode of the Summer Success Secrets Series you’ll discover the difference between the duties of administration and the work of true Buildership. You see, we were told that the duties of administration were all that we needed to be good principals. But while the duties are necessary to maintain our schools, they aren’t enough to make lasting change. So in this episode I delineate the difference between the chores of our jobs and the true work. This one concept, if you understood it, would make the difference between feeling frustrated, burned out, and tired by October and feeling energized, focused, and successful by June. It all comes down to whether you spend your time doing the chores of administration like a leader or doing the work of administration #LikeABuilder.#LikeABuilder.
In this penultimate episode of the Summer Success Secrets Series we’re going to take a deep dive into the Theory of Diffusion of Innovation to discover a secret Builders know about how to get their entire staff to embrace their vision. We’ll leverage what science tells us about how people deal with change to meet people where they are and help each one of them to not only take ownership of our vision, but to build their capacity to successfully achieve our vision #LikeABuilder.
What would you do if you had an extra half day per week to work on the things you never get to work on during the school year? I’m not talking about emptying your email inbox, returning calls, or catching up on all those post-observation write ups. I’m talking about 4 hours per week to think, plan, strategize, reflect, and do the deep work of being a principal. If that seems too good to be true, then you’ll want to listen to today’s episode where I’m going to break down exactly how you can get a half day per week to work ON your school. This is not about time management tricks, hacks, or magical schedules. In fact, you’ll probably be shocked by just how simple it is to find 4 hours per week to work ON your school not just in your school #LikeABuilder.
What do you do when someone tries to attack your vision? They say it’s too big, or too much too fast. Or, they act as if they support your vision but they raise questions that shake your confidence or try to delay your vision until later. Or, sometimes they just ignore your vision altogether. Today’s installment in the Summer Success Series will show you how to fend off attacks on your vision and help you fight for your vision #LikeABuilder.
For years we’ve been taught that if we just believed in our people enough, they would rise to the level of our expectations. So why is it that when we set high expectations of our staff, we are often accused of wanting too much, pushing too hard, and being unreasonable? It all has to do with how we were trained. On today’s episode, we’ll unpack some of the myths around high expectations that create friction in our schools and you’ll discover how to set and uphold high expectations without making people feel pressured or paralyzed because you’ve set high expectations #LikeABuilder.
You've probably heard the advice before to be proactive rather than reactive. It's really a no brainer. It's much easier to prepare than to repair. And yet, it's easier said than done. "Emergencies," crop up (that could be prevented), people hijack your time (and keep you from the work you want to focus on), and then there's your own personal challenges to stay organized and focused (sometimes we're our own worst enemies smh). So in on today's episode, I'm going to walk you through the hidden reasons why being proactive is so hard, and give you some practical strategies you can use to be proactive and set yourself up for success this school year #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever felt stuck? Not only is it frustrating, but it can be downright demoralizing, especially if you are doing everything you know to get unstuck and still feel trapped. In this next installment of the summer of success series, discover my secret to getting myself unstuck. By using this simple 3 part paradigm, you can uncover the root reason you feel stuck and discover the very steps you need to get (and stay!) unstuck for good #LikeABuilder.
We're starting our Summer Success Series, but before we do, there's one thing we need to get out of the way up front -- It's the one thing that can prevent you from being successful as a Builder this year. Find out what it is in this episode, and discover how you can keep it from keeping you from success this year #LikeABuilder.
It's the end of the school year and now is the perfect time to reflect before you get caught up in planning for the summer. Doing so will prevent you from repeating the same mistakes and experiencing the same frustrations next school year. Discover the exact process Builders use to glean the lessons from the school year, take those lessons into the summer, and use them to plan a better year next year #LikeABuilder.
We’re back for our annual summer reading list - 5 books outside of education that you should be reading this summer. This year’s crop of books cover everything from how to produce greater value in your work, to how to build strong teams, to how to develop a no-bull**** strategy for your school. Each book offers a different perspective on some of our most pressing challenges in education right now. Tune in to discover 5 books you may not have considered and then choose one to read over the summer so that you can approach old problems with a new lens #LikeABuilder.
I recently completed a training for the members of BU and it was so good, that I decided to give it to you too. If you have an Assistant Principal, then you’ll definitely want to tune in as I walk you step-by-step through the process of attracting, screening, and on-boarding your AP’s so that you not only find the right person for the position, but you set them up to be immediately successful in the role. So, if you’re looking for a new AP, or you’re hiring for ANY position in your school, this episode will help you build a hiring process that ensure you get the right person for the position #LikeABuilder.
We’re rewinding to one of our most popular episodes ever -- The definitive episode on how to conduct student focus groups. Student focus groups are a great way to connect with your students and collect their feedback on how you are doing as a school. In this episode, learn step-by-step how to select students for a focus group, what questions to ask, how to analyze the data, and how to use the data to improve your school. By the time you're done, you'll be able to conduct your own student focus group #LikeABuilder.
Did you know that there are certain things you can do that will absolutely guarantee that you will fail? On today’s episode, discover the 5 things that will guarantee failure so that you can avoid them and focus on what behaviors will guarantee success #LikeABuilder.
It's interview season and in this Rewind episode, I'm sharing my 4 BEST interview questions to help you hire the best teachers for your school. This episode is for you if you have ever interviewed someone, hired them, only to find out too late that they weren’t a good fit for your school culture. There’s a way to avoid that. It has to do with the kinds of questions you use to interview. On today’s episode, discover 4 Battle-Tested Interview questions you can use to find out very quickly if a candidate is going to be a good fit for your school culture.
Today, we’re talking about a seriously under used and undervalued tool you can use to collect meaningful feedback from teachers, improve your teacher retention rate, and build a stronger school culture: The Exit Interview. Tune in to one of my favortie episodes where you'll discover why you should be conducting Exit Interviews, how to set up Exit Interviews, and the Exit Interview questions you should be asking. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll know how to conduct Exit Interviews with your staff #LikeABuilder
Are you feeling overwhelmed right now? You’re not alone. It seems like everyone is feeling that way. But, once you understand the root of all overwhelm, then you realize there is a solution and it’s simpler than you think. If you’re feeling overwhelmed right now, you don’t have to feel that way. Discover root cause of overwhelm, specific ways you can feel more confident and focused, and how you can overcome overwhelm once and for all #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever offered teachers support only to have them complain about it later? If so, then today’s episode is for you. Find out the reason teachers often resist our support (and it’s NOT because they’re resistant to change) and how the way we were trained to offer support actually creates resentment on both sides. Then, discover the simple phrase Builders use to enlist teachers as partners in their own support and how you can offer teachers the exact support they need every time #LikeABuilder
The reason we offer PD to our teachers is that we are hoping to provide with support and resources so that they are more effective in the classroom. So why is it that most PD is so ineffective? In this very practical episode discover the 4 steps you must take to make your PD more useful to teachers and more impactful for students. It's time to stop working really hard and seeing very little results from our PD efforts and start offering teachers meaningful PD #LikeABuilder.
Someone asked me recently how you could tell if someone was truly a Builder. Anyone can SAY that they have a 100% vision, but how can you really know if they mean it? It’s a great question and on today’s episode, I’ll give you 3 ways to tell if someone is truly a Builder or if they are just talking the talk. Once you understand these 3 things, you’ll not only be able to tell if someone else is a Builder, you’ll also be able to check yourself to make sure that you are truly approaching your work #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever launched a new initiative hoping it would solve a big problem, and been disappointed by the results? We all have. But the difference between those who ultimately succeed and those who continue to struggle isn’t so much the plan they use, but how well they stick to their plans. On today’s episode, we’ll talk about the power of consistency and how you can leverage it to go farther faster #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever gone to a conference, or read a book, or listened to a podcast and thought “I need to do that” only to realize months later that you haven’t done a thing? Do you have notebooks full of ideas and a camera roll full of snaps of slides from presentations you’ve long forgotten? We’ve all done it. And we think that if we were just more organized or more focused, we’d be better at implementing. But the truth is, implementing on what you learn is a skill, and on today’s episode, I’m breaking down that skill step by step so that you can stop hoarding information and start implementing #LikeABuilder.
This episode is next in a series of practical episodes about how to focus on the right work and stop wasting time on things that don’t matter. Today, we’re looking at the difference between the way that we were trained to do quarterly planning and the way that Builders do quarterly planning. I’ll take you step-by-step through the simple process Builders use and show you how this process can help you eliminate your biggest challenges on-by-one #LikeABuilder.
This episode is next in a series of practical episodes about how to focus on the right work and stop wasting time on things that don’t matter. Today, we’re looking at a powerful process we use in BU to help us design systems that set our schools up for success. I’m taking you step-by-step through the process (warning: this is gonna hurt) to help you examine your current systems and upgrade them so that they serve both your students and your adults. That way, you can build sustainable systems that help you achieve your vision #LikeABuilder.
This episode is the first in a series of practical episodes about how to focus on the right work and stop wasting time on things that don’t matter. Today, we’re looking at the exact steps Builders use to prune away the things that are sucking away your attention, time, and energy so that you can focus only on the things that will help you achieve your 100% vision. You’ll discover the exact steps you need to take to ruthlessly get rid of anything that doesn’t move you towards your vision so that you can focus with discipline on the work that matters most #LikeABuilder.
Is there a decision you know you need to make but, for whatever reason, you’ve been putting it off? If so, today’s episode is for you. We’ll take a look at the hidden reasons that are keeping you from making a decision, the emotional consequences of unmade decisions, and specific things you can do to overcome decision paralysis and confidently make good decisions #LikeABuilder.
What do you do about a teacher who refuses to do things the way that we ask them to? Well, if you’re a builder, it depends. You see, Builders rarely struggle with this problem for two reasons. First, they have a vision, mission, and core values in place that create true alignment and second, before jumping to a solution, Builders always ask themselves a simple question and this question helps them make wise decisions and handle tough situation with clarity and calm. Discover the key question all Builder’s ask before jumping to a solution so that you can handle tough situations with teachers #LikeABuilder.
Recently a woman asked me a question that I get asked from time-to-time. “Have you been a principal?” On today’s episode, I address the question (and the questions behind the question) in order to remove any barrier keeping you from choosing to help every student achieve 100% success #LikeABuilder.
Who would have thought that the idea of “staff alignment” would be so triggering to some educators? And yet, when some educators hear the term, they immediately think that alignment equals conformity and control. Some are even adamant that true alignment isn’t necessary or even possible. So, in today’s episode, we’re going to tackle some of the biggest “yes,buts…” people raise about staff alignment with 2 goals in mind. One, you may be feeling some of these “yes, buts…” as well and if you are, then we’ll assuage your doubts so that you can start building true staff alignment in your own school. Or two, you may be facing some of these “yes, buts…” with your supervisors or members of your admin team. If so, you’ll have the right language to be able to skillfully and confidently address their objections and secure their support #LikeABuilder.
In order to build true staff alignment, you need 4 things -- ownership, empowerment, alignment, and engagement. On the last episode (243) we discussed how to build true teacher ownership so that teachers take responsibility for the results in their classrooms and how you can build true empowerment so that you set teachers up to be successful in their classrooms. On this episode, you'll discover how to ensure that every single teacher's work is in alignment with your vision, mission, and core values so that teachers are truly accountable for their work and student results. You'll also discover how to keep your staff meaningfully engaged in the work over time by building a healthy school culture. By the time you've finished this episode, you'll understand how to build all 4 Staff Alignment Levers #LikeABuilder.
In order to build true staff alignment, you need 4 things -- ownership, empowerment, alignment, and engagement. On this episode, you’ll discover how to build true teacher ownership so that teachers take responsibility for the results in their classrooms and how you can build true empowerment so that you set teachers up to be successful in their classrooms #LikeABuilder.
This is the first part of a new series we’re doing on how to build a strong team where everyone is focused on doing the right work the right way. Today, we’re unpacking one of the biggest leadership traps that keeps you from moving your school forward and along the way, you’ll discover 4 critical elements that keep you from being the bottleneck in your school. That way, you can empower your team to take more ownership over the work and see more significant gains in your school #LikeABuilder.
We're looking back at 2023 and extracting the 5 biggest lessons learned that we believe will set you up for a strong 2024. Tune in to hear 5 valuable lessons that will help you succeed in 2024 #LikeABuilder.
Today, we’re breaking down the last 4 principles of effective instruction so that you can help every teacher in your building become a master teacher. (Did you miss the first 3 principles? You can catch them here). Once you understand these principles and help your teachers consistently apply them in the classroom, you can help every teacher help every child in their classroom be successful #LikeABuilder.
You probably know this already, but it bears repeating -- tactics don’t transform instruction. You can give teachers all the tactics you want, but if they don’t understand how to help all students learn, your tactics will fail them. That’s why on this episode we’re breaking down the principles of effective instruction so that you can help every teacher in your building become a master teacher. This episode breaks down the first 3 principles of effective instruction and shows you how implementing them on a regular basis can significantly change the instructional quality of your entire school. The next episode will tackle the other 4 principles. By the time you’re finished with this series, you’ll understand exactly what it takes to achieve 100% student success in the classroom #LikeABuilder.
In order to achieve 100% success, you only need 2 things -- You need to believe you can achieve it and you need to understand the specific steps you need to take. Unfortunately, most of us have never seen or experienced 100% success before, so it’s not only hard to believe, it’s hard to conceive of what it will really take to achieve it. On today’s episode, we’re starting a new series that will break down the exact steps you need to take to build belief in your 100% vision and to help every teacher you serve grow instructionally so that they can achieve 100% success for every student they serve#LikeABuilder.
Have you ever thought you solved a problem but it crops up again later on kinda like a zombie you can never kill? If so, then today’s episode is for you. I’m breaking down the 3-part framework Builders use when they are solving problems so that they eliminate their problems once and for all. By the time you’re finished listening to this episode, you’ll have the exact steps you can take today to make sure that your problems don’t come back from the dead tomorrow because you solved your problems #LikeABuilder.
When you really think about it, your motivation for the work you do determines how you approach your work and what a “win” will look like for you. That’s why on today’s episode, we’re examining the difference between wanting to look good, do good, or be good and the implications for how successful you’ll be as a principal of your school. Understanding the difference will mean the difference between doing your work like a boss or leader and making a lasting difference #LikeABuilder.
Even though the school year follows a predictable rhythm most years, many school leaders wait for the typical challenges to crop up and then react to them. Builders are different. Builders anticipate upcoming challenges and then take steps to mitigate or eliminate them entirely. That’s why on today’s episode, we’re taking a look at what Builders should be doing now in order to set themselves up for a successful second half of the school year. Tune in to discover what you should be thinking about now to start the new year strong #LikeABuilder.
Everyone has those days where you just don’t have the energy and the mental bandwidth you normally have. The way we were trained as leaders teaches us that we need to gut it through during those days. But as Builders, we know that we need to show ourselves grace. Today, I’m sharing 4 ways I get through those tough “Blah” days and still accomplish the most important work #LikeABuilder.
One of the questions I get asked the most is, “I want to become a Builder but where do I start?” So, in today's very practical episode, I am breaking down the exact steps you need to take to become a Builder and see dramatic results in your school. I’ll also explain why each step is necessary and all the wins and benefits you’ll experience along the way. By the time you’re done, you’ll know exactly how you can become a Builder #LikeABuilder.
Did you know that there are only 3 reasons why we fail? And, if you understood those 3 reasons you could quickly recover from failure or prevent it all together? On today’s podcast, discover the only 3 reasons your plans can fail and find out how to leverage these 3 reasons to turn any failure into a success#LikeABuilder.
If you’ve ever felt like district demands keep you from pursuing your 100% vision then today’s episode is for you. Discover how to secure the support of your district for your 100% vision, and how to keep district demands from derailing your progress. If you are currently struggling to move forward or you feel bogged down by district demands, you’ll walk away with practical insight on how to comply with your district without sacrificing your 100% vision #LikeABuilder.
If you’re like most school administrators, this is the time of year that we, without even realizing it, are already starting to drift ever so slightly from the resolutions and plans we made at the beginning of the school year. We’re not off track exactly, but things have started to slip a little. And, we’re not too worried yet, because after all, it’s only October. Which is exactly why October is such a dangerous month. It’s early enough in the school year where we still feel like we have time to meet our goals so we’re often lulled into a false sense of complacency. But what we don’t realize is that it is the work we do now that determines whether we will actually meet our goals this school year. So on today’s episode, I’m going to share with you 5 simple shifts you need to make now to keep you from drifting away from your plans and goals and finding yourself off course in January. Take these simple steps and you can get refocused, make real progress before the holidays, and set yourself up for true success this school year #LikeABuilder.
Everyone loves a quick win. They make us feel good, but in most cases those quick wins don’t really solve our challenges. At best, they are a bandaid that makes us feel like we are making progress when all we’re really doing is kicking the can down the road. Discover some of the hidden dangers of quick wins and learn what you can do instead to create sustained success#LikeABuilder.
We were taught that sometimes you have to stay late at work, or take work home, or work weekends in order to do the job of being a principal. But Builders realize that there are just some problems you can’t outwork. No matter how much extra time you throw at them, it won’t make a difference. All is not lost, however. You may not be able to outwork every problem, but the good news is that you don’t have to. In today's episode, I’m breaking down the 3 things Builders do to deal with all the problems that crop up each year and NONE of them require that you stay late, take work home, or work weekends. Instead of trying to outwork your problems, you’ll know how to handle them once and for all #LikeABuilder.
We’ve all been told that we need to have high expectations of our teachers, but on today’s episode, you’ll discover why high expectations are not enough. There’s something else you need to put in place in you want all your teachers to be successful. Tune in to discover what that missing element is and the exact steps you need to take so that you can help your teachers rise to the level of your expectations #LikeABuilder.
One of the most important things you can do to keep you and your team focused on doing the right work and solving challenges before those challenges become big problems is to have a regular meeting rhythm. And, one of the most powerful meetings you can have is the weekly team meeting. That's why this week, we're rewinding all the way back to episode 19 where I break down our team meeting agenda step by step. That way, you can start using this meeting format right away to have more meaningful meetings where you actually get work done (rather than waste everyone's time) #LikeABuilder.
Every school year, we find ourselves trying something new. A new program. A new schedule. A new team configuration. A new system. A new guru. In fact, we’re told that if we are not constantly innovating, we are stagnating. So, we feel pressure to be “innovative” so we can maintain our street cred out here in these leadership streets. But, we’re so busy chasing new stuff, that we ignore all the things that we are already doing that are working. Or WORSE, we get rid of what is already working to make space for the new stuff. Doing so keeps us trapped in mediocrity because when we’re always chasing the new, we never give ourselves time to get good at anything. Builders do things differently. Builders find what’s already working, do MORE of that until they get really good at it, and THEN they try something new. As a result, Builders create more momentum, more progress, and ultimately more results for students. On today’s episode, discover how a simple mantra can help you stop chasing every shiny object and create real results #LikeABuilder.
Every new school year, the pressure is on. You feel like you’ve only got this ONE school year to make a difference. So you chase the quick wins, put an enormous amount of pressure on yourself and your teachers, and stay on the school improvement hamster wheel. Builders don’t operate under that kind of pressure. Instead, Builders play the long game. They think in 3-year time horizons and as a result, accomplish more with significantly less stress. It’s time to get off the hamster wheel. Discover how you too can play the long game #LikeABuilder.
All of a sudden, 90-day planning is now sexy. Schools across the country are claiming that they are shifting to a 90-day planning cycle. Problem is, they are creating 90-day plans that look a LOT like their yearly plans. Too many goals. An over-focus on data without taking time to make sense of the data first. And, using the 90-day plans to add MORE work on their already overloaded plates. They are giving 90-day planning a bad name. Builders create 90-day plans with an eye towards long-term results. By focusing on removing obstacles, they solve their biggest challenges once and for all so that they can focus on the work that really matters. Every time they remove another obstacle, they create more momentum, more progress, and they can sustain that momentum and progress over the long term. So before you jump on the 90-day planning bandwagon, make sure that you are not just substituting one ineffective planning process for another one. If you really want to see a difference this year, make sure that you are approaching 90-day planning #LikeABuilder.
It’s that time of year again when everyone is participating in “ice-breakers” and “team building.” And, while these activities can be fun (or unfortunately in many cases, NOT fun), they don’t go far enough to build a team that can withstand whatever this year has in store for us. That’s why Builders approach team building differently. On today’s podcast, discover how to build a team that can face tough challenges, stick together, and ultimately achieve your 100% vision for students #LikeABuilder.
In this last of the success secrets series, we discuss one of the biggest Success Secrets all Builders know: Builders don't leave success to chance. Instead, Builders deliberately engineer success. Tune in to discover exactly how Builders ensure success for their schools so that you too can make success inevitable #LikeABuilder.
In this final installment of our Summer of Success Series, we’re talking about how Builders approach their work. Instead of having a miles-long to do list, Builders have a one-item to-do list. Instead of dividing their time, energy, and attention among a million tasks, Builders focus on what matters most and ignore the rest. Discover how Builders stay focused on what matters and how you can accomplish so much more by doing so much less #LikeABuilder.
Ready for some straight talk? On today’s episode we’re unpacking one of the biggest Success Secrets of Builders -- Builders don’t talk about it. Builders choose to BE about it. Instead of consuming more and more information, talking aspirationally about “all kids,” waiting for permission or support, and putting off the work until they feel ready, Builders start building. So tune in to uncover the 3 sneaky reasons that keep us from getting started and discover how to overcome them so that you can stop talking about it and be about it #LikeABuilder.
In these last few weeks of school, are you scrambling looking for cool back-to-school activities, cute swag to give to teachers, or an inspiring video to show teachers to get them motivated for the new school year? If so, then you’re going to want to listen to today’s episode before you go too far. You see, while all those things are nice to have, if you don’t do this ONE thing, then all your other back-to-school efforts will be in vain. So, before you hit “buy” on those school-branded pen and pad sets, listen to this episode first so that you can be sure that your back-to-school planning sets teachers up for true success #LikeABuilder.
In this week’s installment of our Summer of Success Series we’re uncovering why Builders are so innovative. You’ll discover the simple secret that Builders use to make sure that the work they and their teams do is meaningful. No more busywork just because that’s the way it’s always been done. It’s time to question everything #LikeABuilder.
We’re continuing the Summer of Success Series this week by examining a little-known success secret that separates Builders from everyone else-- Builders choose the right hard. You see, we’re all working really hard, but not all of us are seeing the results that equal our efforts. Builders know how to choose the right hard work to focus on and as a result, they see huge victories each and every year. So, if you feel like you’re working really hard and not seeing results and you want to avoid burn-out, frustration, and exhaustion, discover how to choose the right hard #LikeABuilder.
If you’re like most administrators I know, at this point in the summer, you have a plan that is a mile long. Summer tends to do that to us. We get really excited that THIS year is going to be the best year so we start planning on doing ALL the things. But, trying to solve every problem, correct every mistake from last year, or take advantage of every new program and opportunity you have is a big mistake that will lead to burn out, frustration, and exhaustion. Builders have a specific way of vetting every idea or opportunity and then rigorously saying NO to the ones that will not move the needle, so that they can say YES to the ones that will. That’s how Builders accomplish more by doing less. On today’s episode, I’m breaking down that process step-by-step so that you can significantly cut down on the busy work this fall and focus on what matters most #LikeABuilder.
We’re continuing the Summer of Success Series this week by sharing some of our best secrets around how to build a high-performing team. First, we’ll cover some of the biggest mistakes leaders make with their teams that keep their teams under-performing and keep the leader pre-occupied with managing their team instead of moving the work forward. Next, we’ll spill 3 specific secrets (along with step-by-step examples) that will help you empower your team to be more efficient, effective, and motivated this coming school year. By the time you’re finished listening, you’ll know exactly how to build a high-performing team #LikeABuilder.
We’re kicking off our Summer of Success series by talking about what “success” means to a Builder -- and trust me, it isn’t at all what we were taught to see as success. Instead, you’ll discover a simple framework you can use to understand what success means for you, identify the metrics that really matter, and make sure that you are seeking the right kind of success instead of chasing the numbers other people told you were important. My hope is that after you listen to this episode, you will bravely begin to define what success looks like for YOU, YOUR staff, and YOUR school. It’s time to break free of what other people define as success and start seeking success on YOUR terms #LikeABuilder.
It’s that time of year again. Time for our annual Summer Reading List! Each year we compile a list of the best NON education books out there that will help you build a better school for your staff and students and help YOU become a better Builder. This year, we decided to revisit the last 5 years of our summer reading list to identify the books that have stood the test of time and are worth a REread. This really is the BEST of the best list. So, tune in today to discover what books you should be rereading this summer to help you continue to expand your practice #LikeABuilder.
Many schools say that they are “just like family” but is this the healthiest way to build a culture? The answer may surprise you. While building a family culture may seem like a good idea, it’s actually a trap that can create more dysfunction, more dependence, and more division in your school staff. Discover the dangers of building a school culture that feels like family and find out how you can build something far better #LikeABuilder.
No matter what you do, there will be times when your teachers disagree with you. When that happens, you have a choice. You can be a boss and use your positional power to steamroll over any disagreement (and create toxicity, stifle everyone’s voice, and drive true innovation underground). You can use leadership strategies and try to negotiate (which unintentionally creates resentment, further pushback, and passive/aggressive resistance). Or you can use a very simple framework Builders use to resolve conflict and ensure that everyone walks away satisfied and more deeply committed to the work. Tune in to discover the exact framework (including the specific words to say) to help you resolve any disagreement #LikeABuilder.
Everyone tells you that the key to building trust is transparency, but no one ever tells you how to achieve that transparency. So, we either try to be "strategically transparent" sharing some thing while withholding others (which often leads to more distrust) or we feel that we have to strop ourselves naked and share everything. Well the good news is, there is a better way. On today's episode, discover how you can be truly transparent and build real trust and still be able to keep confidential things confidential #LikeABuilder.
Are you focused on control, conformity, or alignment? Your answer will likely determine whether you have a toxic culture, a good enough culture, or a 100% culture. Tune in today to discover why trying to stay in control of your school will lead to burn out, toxicity, and failure, why conformity is a trap that keeps your school locked in “good enough,” and how to build true alignment that not only unleashes creativity and innovation, fosters true accountability, and frees you and your team to be your best selves #LikeABuilder.
The difference between a toxic, good enough, and 100% culture can usually be boiled down to how each culture pursues its work. Toxic cultures are reactionary and pursue their work from a sense of panic. Good Enough cultures pursue their work to alleviate the tension between where they are and where they need to be, often settling for whatever will relieve the tension regardless of whether it is right for students. But Builders know that in order to sustain true urgency around the work, they need to keep a laser focused on the most important work. On today’s episode, discover how you can foster a true sense of urgency in your school #LikeABuilder.
One of the biggest traps leaders face is that they have been trained to focus on making their staff comfortable instead of safe. The challenge is that once you start focusing on your team’s comfort, you end up making people comfortable where they are instead of challenging them to pursue something better. On today’s episode, discover the steps you need to take to transition your school culture from a culture of comfort to a culture of safety so that your teachers feel empowered to take risks, pursue bigger goals, and ultimately achieve your vision for 100% of your students #LikeABuilder.
This week, we have a real treat in store. We're sharing one of the most popular segments of the live recording we did of the Culture Cure Course! This segment outlines the 4 core stories every school tells and challenges you to determine what story your school is currently telling. So listen in on this segment of the Culture Cure Course and then identify the story your school is telling. Because, once you understand the story your school is currently telling, you can transform that story into a success story #LikeABuilder.
Do you feel like you are the only person in your school who truly believes that success for 100% of your students is really possible? Does it feel like you have to drag your school towards your goals? Are people openly or passively resisting your 100% vision. If so, this episode is for you. Discover the 3 steps you need to take to get your entire culture on board and building success for every student #LikeABuilder.
Ready for some straight talk? Many of us are doing the “right” work for the wrong reasons. So in this episode, we’re having the hard conversations about what really drives our work. Discover how to remove one of the biggest barriers that prevents you from being effective and exponentially multiply the impact you can have on the lives of those you serve #LikeABuilder.
Last time (episode 200) we looked at the 5 types of cultures typical of schools. Unfortunately, if you want to achieve success for EVERY student you serve, you need something MORE than the typical school culture. You need a 100% School Culture. So on today’s episode, we’ll look at the 4 characteristics of a 100% School Culture and how you can begin to build one in your school #LikeABuilder.
Normally when we think about school cultures, we think that a culture is either healthy or toxic. But, did you know that there are actually five different types of school cultures? In today's episode, I’m breaking down the characteristics of each of the 5 types of school cultures. But here’s the thing. No matter what kind of school culture you have, there are challenges and pitfalls. So tune in today to discover what type of school culture you have and how you can avoid the challenges that come with each type of school culture #LikeABuilder.
Years ago, someone gave me a piece of advice that I have turned to time and time again and today's episode, I'm not only sharing that advice with you, but I'm going to show you how to apply that advice to your Buildership journey to get more results and to feel more calm and confident #LikeABuilder.
If you’re fairly new to Buildership or even if you’ve been on your own Buildership journey for a while, there is a real temptation to try to do ALLLLL the things right away. Afterall, once you see the power of Buildership, you realize how much of what you’ve always been taught to do isn’t serving you or your students. So, while you may want to rush to implement Buildership in your school, don’t. Buildership takes time in order to do it right. That’s why in today’s episode, you’ll discover why implementing Buildership properly takes about 3 years. We’ll break down the entire Buildership journey (including all the wins you’ll experience along the way), the Buildership timeline, and the very real dangers of trying to do too much too fast. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll hopefully stop putting pressure on yourself and give yourself permission to take your time#LikeABuilder.
What do you do when staff morale begins to slip? Well, if you are a leader, you look for an inspirational video to play at your next staff meeting, a PD activity you can quickly put together (trust falls anyone?), or a cool gift you can leave in teachers’ mail boxes (“Oh look! It’s an ice scraper with our school logo! I’ve always wanted one of those.”). But we all know that those things don’t work. For one, they can come off as manipulative and disingenuous. For another, they offer a bandaid at best for a much deeper and more nuanced problem. That’s why Builders approach morale problems differently and in today's episode, I’m going to break down the exact steps Builders use to solve morale issues once and for allEven if you aren’t experiencing morale issues right now, this episode is great to help you prevent them from ever cropping up. So, whether you are currently immersed in morale issues or you just want to understand how to avoid them altogether, this episode will help you raise the morale in your building #LikeABuilder.
Do you know your Builder Type? There are 4 Types of Builders. Knowing these 4 Builder types not only helps you understand where you are as a Builder, it helps you overcome your biggest block right now so that you can be an even better Builder tomorrow. On today’s episode, we’ll use that framework to discover which of the 4 Types of Builders you are and find out what you need to do next (based on your Builder Type) in order to level up #LikeABuilder.
Do you ever feel like you keep solving the same problems over and over again? Why not put systems in place to quickly resolve those common challenges when they crop up? That way, instead of being caught off guard, you can quickly recover from your most pressing challenges by digging the well BEFORE you’re thirsty #LikeABuilder.
I debated about whether or not to air this episode because I take abuse very seriously but the more I heard from administrators about their situations, the more I realized that many administrators are in abusive relationships with their supervisors. So, we need to talk about it which is why in today’s episode, we’re going to explore 10 warning signs that you are in an abusive relationship with your supervisor and what you can realistically handle it #LikeABuilder.
There are some sneaky beliefs that many of us were trained to adopt that actually keep us from making a bigger difference in our school. Not only do they lead to frustration and feeling stuck, these false beliefs prevent us from having a bigger impact and rob us of our confidence. But what really makes them so dangerous is that we are often taught to think this way in our leadership development programs. On today’s episode, we tackle these 3 false beliefs and show you the simple mind shifts (we call them “mindsteps) you can take to overcome these false beliefs and see the true possibilities ahead. #LikeABuilder.
We tend to treat people problems as if they are all different and require different solutions for each situation. But in today's episode, I’m going to make the case that every people problem you face -- whether it’s a resistant teacher, a toxic culture, or a broken relationship with your team -- are all different versions of the exact same problem: A lack of Alignment. And, I’m also going to show you how the solutions we’ve been taught to apply -- writing people up, having tough conversations, working on the relationship, etc. -- won’t solve these problems. However, there is a solution and I’m going to break it down in today's episode. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll know how to stop wasting time dealing with these type of challenges one-by-one and apply the ONE solution that will solve them all #LikeABuilder.
We tend to treat people problems as if they are all different and require different solutions for each situation. But in today's episode, I’m going to make the case that every people problem you face -- whether it’s a resistant teacher, a toxic culture, or a broken relationship with your team -- are all different versions of the exact same problem: A lack of Alignment. And, I’m also going to show you how the solutions we’ve been taught to apply -- writing people up, having tough conversations, working on the relationship, etc. -- won’t solve these problems. However, there is a solution and I’m going to break it down in today's episode. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll know how to stop wasting time dealing with these type of challenges one-by-one and apply the ONE solution that will solve them all #LikeABuilder.
I’ve long touted the value of having a great mentor and I have personally benefited from several great mentors over the years. That’s why on today’s episode, I am sharing how you can find and develop a relationship with a great mentor. I’m sharing how to find the right mentor (and avoid the WRONG mentor), what mistakes to avoid when developing a relationship with a mentor, and ways to get the most out of a mentorship #LikeABuilder.
It’s the new year and if you’re like most administrators, you’ve returned to school with a new energy and focus on achieving your school goals for the year. So, it can be very frustrating to meet with staff resistance, especially when you have a true sense of urgency to do what’s right for students. But, there is a reason for this resistance and if you don’t understand it, you cannot address it. On today’s episode, discover the secret to overcoming staff resistance and getting everyone on the same page on same page #LikeABuilder.
As we close 2022, I want to take some time to share some of my biggest lessons I learned this year. These lessons have given me more freedom, more focus, and more wins this year than I’ve had in a long time. My hope is that they will do the same for you! #LikeABuilder.
One of the things we rarely discuss is the inherent power dynamics that come with being an administrator. We don’t like to admit that with the position of being an administrator comes a certain degree of power. But ignoring the power dynamics won’t make them go away. That’s why on today’s episode, we’re going to take a frank look at how the power dynamics work, how they affect your relationships with staff, and ways that you can use your power for the good #LikeABuilder.
While your vision is the sexy part of your school purpose, your school mission is what gives your mission meaning. It modifies your vision and helps you achieve your vision in a way that has lasting impact. So, it makes sense to check in from time to time to determine whether the work you are doing is “on mission.” On today’s episode, discover what it means to be “on mission,” how Builders determine whether their work is “on mission,” and why it is so important to regularly monitor whether you are “on mission” if you want the work you do to have true impact. By the time you’ve finished this episode, you’ll have the exact framework you need to determine whether your work is on or off mission #LikeABuilder.
We all face nasty criticism from time to time. But, mean-spirited criticism can feel especially hurtful when it comes from someone on your team. And yet, the moment you declare your 100% vision, you will invite criticism. Sometimes, that criticism can be nasty. So, how do you handle tough criticism from your staff? On today’s episode, we’ll explore the ways that Builders take vitriolic criticism without absorbing it or shrinking their vision. And, you’ll discover how you can take even your worst critics and turn their criticism into fuel for your vision #LikeABuilder.
Even though the school year follows a predictable rhythm most years, many school leaders wait for the typical challenges to crop up and then react to them. Builders are different. Builders anticipate upcoming challenges and then take steps to mitigate or eliminate them entirely. That’s why on today’s episode, we’re taking a look at what Builders should be doing now in order to set themselves up for a successful second half of the school year. Tune in to discover what you should be thinking about now to start the new year strong #LikeABuilder.
We spend a lot of time focused on our challenges (and understandably so) but if you only focus on what’s wrong with your school, you miss a HUGE opportunity fo find solutions that might otherwise go unnoticed. That’s why on today’s episode, we’re going to take a look at a little-used but powerful strategy for finding the hidden opportunities that already exist in your school. Tune in today to discover how to use “brightspotting” #LikeABuilder.
If you’re feeling like you’re juggling as fast as you can and it’s still not enough to keep all the balls in the air, then today’s episode offers you some very simple advice: Stop Juggling. Instead, take a step back and determine what is truly important and what work you can stop immediately without any harm to your school (and in many cases, without anyone even noticing!). We’ll walk through the simple process Builders use to take things off their plates so that they can focus on what matters. So tune in to today’s episode where you’ll discover how you can stop juggling without dropping any important balls #LikeABuilder.
One of my favorite sayings is "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." If you've got a toxic culture, it really doesn't matter what your strategic plan or vision is. Your culture always trumps your strategy. That's why this week, we're re-sharing this powerful episode on protecting your culture from toxicity. You see, Builders protect their culture by spotting and getting rid of toxicity before it has a chance to spread. So, it's important to recognize the early warning signs that your culture is turning toxic. If you can nip these in the bud before they have a chance to infect your entire culture and ruin any initiatives you are trying to launch, you can clear the way to achieve your school-wide vision and get everyone on board #LikeABuilder.
The national narrative around schools is pretty dismal right now. With test scores in decline, cultures turning toxic, and a rise in discipline issues it can seem as if we are headed for doom. Except… while the rest of the world is preoccupied with the narrative that “schools are in decline” there are Builders who are quietly defying the odds and creating GAINS in test scores, HEALING toxic cultures, and Eliminating persistent discipline issues. Today hear how some Builders are defying the odds and how you can too. You don’t have to buy into the prevailing narrative of doom and gloom in education. You can change the narrative#LikeABuilder.
The national narrative around schools is pretty dismal right now. With test scores in decline, cultures turning toxic, and a rise in discipline issues it can seem as if we are headed for doom. Except… while the rest of the world is preoccupied with the narrative that “schools are in decline” there are Builders who are quietly defying the odds and creating GAINS in test scores, HEALING toxic cultures, and Eliminating persistent discipline issues. Today hear how some Builders are defying the odds and how you can too. You don’t have to buy into the prevailing narrative of doom and gloom in education. You can change the narrative#LikeABuilder.
Who doesn’t love being the hero? It’s glamorous, it feels great, and it helps others -- or does it? We have always been taught that the leader is akin to the hero rescuing failing schools from utter disaster. But, if you are the only thing holding your school together, have you really made a difference? And, if the success of your school depends on you, what happens when you leave. On today’s episode, we’re going to examine why Builders avoid playing the hero and instead build systems and schools that empower their staff, students, and families to be the heroes. That way, their school is not only better, it continues to be better long after the Builder leaves. Tune in to discover how to build a true legacy #LikeABuilder.
Who doesn’t love being the hero? It’s glamorous, it feels great, and it helps others -- or does it? We have always been taught that the leader is akin to the hero rescuing failing schools from utter disaster. But, if you are the only thing holding your school together, have you really made a difference? And, if the success of your school depends on you, what happens when you leave. On today’s episode, we’re going to examine why Builders avoid playing the hero and instead build systems and schools that empower their staff, students, and families to be the heroes. That way, their school is not only better, it continues to be better long after the Builder leaves. Tune in to discover how to build a true legacy #LikeABuilder.
I know I can sound like a broken record when it comes to talking about Vision statements, but the reason is very clear -- The right vision changes everything. The wrong vision changes nothing. So, how can you ensure you have the right vision for your school? On today’s episode, we’re covering some of the most common pitfalls leaders make when it comes to crafting their school vision statement and I share some counterintuitive advice on how you can be sure you create a vision that actually changes everything #LikeABuilder.
We use the word "improvement" a lot in education. We write school improvement plans, we work hard at student improvement, and we focus on improving our own skills every year through PD. But, on today's episode, we're going to talk about why focusing on "improvement" may be actually holding you back from achieving your goals for students and for yourself. If you feel like you aren't making the progress you really want to make in your school, maybe you need to stop focusing on "improvement" and focus on something bigger than improvement #LikeABuilder.
It’s October and the back-to-school honeymoon is over. Now is the time that many leaders begin to feel overwhelmed as they look at the enormity of the work before them. That’s why on today’s episode, we’re going to tackle how to decide what is the right work to be working on right now. You’ll discover how to use micro-slicing to week through the noise and distractions and focus on what really matters most #LikeABuilder
As educators, we spend a lot of time trying to avoid failure. But failure is inevitable and the irony is, the more you try to avoid it, the worse failure feels when it happens. Builders know this which is why instead of avoiding failure, Builders learn how to fail fast. Discover why failing fast actually turns your failures into victories, and specific ways you can begin to fail fast this school year. No one likes to fail. But, you can turn your failures into huge successes when you learn to fail #LikeABuilder
They say that you are the sum of the 5 people around which you spend the most of your time. While that’s not totally true, there is some truth to the fact that who you listen to has a huge influence on what you believe. That’s why today’s episode is a bit of a warning: Your vision isn’t safe with everyone. There are those who don’t believe that success is possible for 100% of your students and will try to convince you to abandon your vision. I’ll say it again. Your vision isn’t safe with everyone. So tune in today to discover how you can protect your vision #LikeABuilder
No one likes making mistakes, and yet we ALL make them. Mistakes are inevitable so it really doesn’t matter if you make a mistake (you will). What matters is how you recover from your mistakes. So on this week’s episode, we’re going to examine how Builders recover from their mistakes in a way that actually turns their biggest mistakes into some of their biggest victories. If you find yourself afraid to make mistakes, or you spend your time beating yourself up for the mistakes you’ve made, it’s time to stop. Tune in today to discover how to recover from your mistakes #LikeABuilder
Have you ever felt that you couldn’t be your authentic self at school? Do you find yourself squeezing yourself into your district’s notion of what a “good leader” looks like? Do you feel pressure to conform to what your district wants in order to succeed? We all face the temptation to conform, but on today’s podcast, I want to challenge the notion that you need to become some cookie cutter version of a “leader” in order to get the job, be promoted, or achieve professional success. Tune in to discover how you can be your authentic self and still reach your goals #LikeABuilder
Now that most of us are back in school, we're all pretty busy with all the tasks that inevitably demand our attention at the beginning of the year. And while those tasks are often important, there are 4 things you may not realize you should be doing in the next month in order to create momentum for the year. In this episode, we'll dive into what those 4 things are, why they're important, and the specific impact they will have on your effectiveness throughout the year. Do these 4 things now to set yourself up for an amazing school year #LikeABuilder.
The secret to a successful school year is to F.O.C.U.S. - Follow One Course Until Successful. And while that may ring true, HOW do you determine which course to follow? And, how can you stay the course in the midst of so many demands on your time, energy, and attention. We’ll tackle these questions today on this episode and I’ll share a really simple ONE plan you can use to identify the right things on which to focus, and drown out the other distractions #LikeABuilder.
As leaders, we were taught to constantly tweak what we are doing so that we can get better. But as Builders, you know that you cannot tweak your way to success. And yet, so many of us waste so much time and energy on tweaks rather than focusing on true transformation. So this week, we’re rewinding to episode 139 which examines the difference between tweaking and transforming our schools. It’s time to stop wasting time and energy on tiny, incremental gains and start seeing real transformation #LikeABuilder.
One of the questions I get asked the most comes from assistant principals. Is it possible to be a Builder as an AP? They love the idea of Buildership but worry that they can't be a Builder in their current roles. So, on today's episode, we’re going to revisit Episode 106 where I tackle that question and offer some suggestions for how you can still be a Builder even if you work for a boss, or a leader. So tune in today to discover how AP's can approach their work #LikeABuilder
This week, we’re rewinding back to Episode 103 where we looked at the distinct difference between the way that bosses, leaders, and Builders look at their challenges. Bosses tend to avoid problems altogether. Leaders tend to look for solutions, often without really understanding the problem. But Builders know that in most cases, the solution lies within the problem itself. So, tune in today to discover how to find the solution INSIDE of your problems and solve your most pressing problems once and for all #LikeABuilder
By now, we've all heard the expression "Start with why." Unfortunately, many leaders have taken that to mean they should start with THEIR why. But, nobody really cares about YOUR why; they care about THEIR why. This is why so many teachers are burned out and overwhelmed despite your best efforts to support them. And, it's why so many teachers seem less than enthusiastic about your plans. The good news is that there is a simple fix. That’s why this week, we’re revisiting episode 81 where you’ll discover how you start with WHY #LikeABuilder.
By now, we've all heard the expression "Start with why." Unfortunately, many leaders have taken that to mean they should start with THEIR why. But, nobody really cares about YOUR why; they care about THEIR why. This is why so many teachers are burned out and overwhelmed despite your best efforts to support them. And, it's why so many teachers seem less than enthusiastic about your plans. The good news is that there is a simple fix. That’s why this week, we’re revisiting episode 81 where you’ll discover how you start with WHY #LikeABuilder.
One of the things Builders know is that it is just as hard to pursue a big goal as a little one. So, why is it that we work so hard for so little progress in our schools? In this week’s Summer Rewind, we revisit Episode 130 where we challenge the notion that smaller goals are more “doable” than big goals. Plus, we’ll tackle the question “What happens if we miss our big target?” (the answer may surprise you), and we end with a challenge to consider whether your goals are selling you and your students short. So tune in today to discover how to stop thinking so small and start thinking bigger #LikeABuilder.
How often have you written a beautiful School Improvement Plan, submitted it to your district, and then never referenced it again (at least until it's time to submit your end of the year progress report). Or, how often have you created a SIP plan with the best of intentions only to find that you failed to execute it because life got in the way. That’s why this week, we’re rewinding back to Episode 76 because if your School Improvement Planning process is not serving you, maybe it's time you had a different process. Discover how Builder's approach planning in a way that helps them reach their goals predictably and go from one success to the next. Once you're done, you'll know how to go beyond school improvement planning to actually improving your school #LikeABuilder.
Do you ever feel like you make all these plans and they never turn out the way you wanted? It may be because you are planning like a Boss or a Leader. You see, the way that most of us were taught to create plans keeps us on the School Improvement Hamster Wheel, planning and working hard, but seeing little results. On today's episode, discover how the get off the School Improvement Hamster Wheel once and for all and achieve your vision in 3 years or less #LikeABuilder.
Why are we so afraid to set an ambitious vision for our schools? Whenever I am working with school administrators about setting ambitious visions for their schools-- the kind of vision that includes 100% of their students -- I always meet resistance. Usually, that resistance takes 3 forms: Some say, "I can't say all my students because there's no way every student can reach that goal." Others say, "What if I don't reach the goal?" And still others worry that they won't be able to reach that goal with the teachers and resources (or district) they currently have. That’s why this week, we’re revisiting Episode 42 where we’ll address the fears that may be holding you back and settle those fears once and for all #LikeABuilder.
Summer is a time for making plans but should you really be doing everything you're thinking about doing? Before you answer, you need to listen to this summer rewind episode. I'm often asked what the secret is to success. Is it some new program? Some secret strategy? Some new technique? Unfortunately, my answer disappoints many people looking for the latest and greatest next new thing. Success, it turns out, is pretty boring. So if you find yourself chasing the latest new thing and you're constantly on the school improvement hamster wheel, then tune in to today's episode to learn the secret of true success. In other words, discover how to be boring #LikeABuilder
We're all familiar with the term YOLO (You only live once). It's often used as an excuse to indulge ourselves in something decadent because after all, we only have one life, we might as well make the best of it. But what happens when you shift the term from YOLO to TOLO - They only live once? On todays episode, we're going to explore how having a TOLO perspective can help you make a real difference in the lives of your students (even in the messiest of circumstances) #LikeABuilder
It’s our annual Summer Reading list! Every year in June, we highlight 5 non-education books we think speak to some of the challenges we face in education right now and give us another perspective that we can use to build towards our vision, mission, and core values. This year’s list is a particularly strong one with books to help you accomplish more by doing less, make better decisions even when you don’t have all the information you need, create psychological safety in your school, make hard calls with compassion and grace, and become (and help others to become) a life-long learner. So tune in to hear what books made this year’s list and then check out those books this summer so that you can uplevel your thinking #LikeABuilder.
In an increasingly vitriolic environment, how can you deal with people who attack you, say nasty things about you, or post mean comments on your social media profiles? In today's episode, we look at how Builders can handle being attacked without losing sight of your goals or worse, allowing those attacks to damage your heart. Whenever you are Building something new, something that will change the world for the better, you will be attacked. But, because you are a Builder you can take every brick thrown at you and use it to keep building. In today's episode, we'll talk about how. It's time to deal with all your haters #LikeABuilder.
We've all heard the saying, "The ends justify the means," but in education, I think we've gotten that backwards. For so many of us who were trained as leaders, we tend to overly focus on the means as if they WERE the ends. That's why in this episode, we're going to tease out the distinction and look at ways that we often get distracted by our tactics and totally miss the point of the work we do. Then, we'll spend some time discussing how you can keep from getting so caught up in your tactics that you lose sight of your vision and how you can get yourself back on track #LikeABuilder.
I’ve noticed a disturbing trend lately. People who were once passionate about their visions have started to let them slip a little. Maybe it’s the fatigue of an especially grueling school year, or perhaps they’re caught up in the demands that the end of the school year brings, but they are starting to set their visions aside to work on “later” when things calm down. This is a dangerous mistake and in today’s episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the dire consequences that come when you start losing sight of your vision. And, to keep you from letting your vision slip, I’m sharing 6 early warning signs you should be paying attention to so that you can refocus on your vision before it is too late. And, if you detect any of these early warning signs in your own practice, I’ll show you a simple thing you can do right now to get yourself back on track and refocused on your vision #LikeABuilder.
We all know that we should be reflective at the end of the school year and many of us try to find time to think about the past year and look for lessons we can take into the coming year. And yet, if we just reflect without taking action, then all we’ve really done is daydream. That’s why this week, we’re concluding our series on practical things you can do now to end the year strong by examining how to turn your reflections into action. You’ll discover 5 Questions you should be asking yourself and your team right now to help you take stock of the current school year and give you specific things you’ll need to address in the coming year. Not only will these questions turn your end-of-the-year reflections into tangible actions you can take, but they’ll help you create an incredible amount of momentum for going into the summer planning season #LikeABuilder.
Most of us do some sort of climate survey with our staff at the end of the year, but unfortunately, the way that most climate surveys are structured doesn’t give us real insight into how teachers are truly doing or where our culture may be really vulnerable. That’s why this week as we continue our series on how to end the year strong, we’re discussing an alternative to climate surveys. Discover how Builders use this alternative to get to the root of any issues in their climate before those issues have the chance to destroy their culture. And, find out the specific questions you can ask to help you get true insight into your climate. By the time you’re done, you’ll not only know how to sleuth out what your teachers really think, but you’ll know how to use this process to reinforce your school core values and set teachers up for an even healthier culture in the fall #LikeABuilder.
This week, we’re continuing our series on steps you can take now to end the year strong by talking about a topic I originally discussed waaaay back in episode #17 -- How to create WOW moments for your staff. This time, we’re revisiting WOW moments and looking at how you can specifically engineer WOW moments into the end of the school year. You’ll discover the 4 elements that turn an ordinary moment into a WOW moment, and specific examples you can use to take the end of the year activities in your school and turn them into WOW moments for your teachers #LikeABuilder.
This week, we’re starting a new series around practical things you can do now to finish the school year strong and set your school up for an even better start next school year. Today, we’re talking about a seriously under used and undervalued tool you can use to collect meaningful feedback from teachers, improve your teacher retention rate, and build a stronger school culture: The Exit Interview. Tune in to discover why you should be conducting Exit Interviews, how to set up Exit Interviews, and the Exit Interview questions you should be asking. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll know how to conduct Exit Interviews with your staff #LikeABuilder.
I’m going to give it to you straight. Most of what you were taught to do as a leader does not solve your problems. It simply teaches you how to tolerate them. That’s why most leadership “strategy” isn’t strategic at all. It’s little more than a series of coping mechanisms designed to help you tolerate the intolerable. But, here’s the good news. When you become a Builder, you stop relying on coping mechanisms and start putting systems in place that will not only eliminate your problems, but will help you build a school where those problems will NEVER return. So tune into today’s episode where you’ll discover how to stop relying on leadership coping mechanisms and start removing challenges and building a school you, your teachers, and your students deserve #LikeABuilder.
Over the last few episodes, you’ve been hearing about how the School Hierarchy of Needs helps you solve any challenge you face. Perhaps you’re starting to wonder, “Will the School Hierarchy of Needs work in MY situation?” If so, then on today’s episode, we’re going to look at 4 real-life challenges that most administrators face and examine how you can use the School Hierarchy of Needs to solve those challenges once and for all. By the time you’re done, you’ll feel confident that you too can solve any challenge you face #LikeABuilder.
We're continuing our series on the School Hierarchy of Needs this week by grappling with a huge dilemma -- We all say that we believe that ALL students deserve to be successful in school. But, do you really believe that's possible? If we're really being honest, many of us have given up on the idea that every child will be successful in our schools and we secretly feel guilty about it. If that's you, know that it's not your fault. It's the way we were trained. Leadership teaches us to settle for tiny incremental gains and call that success. But Builders see success differently. In this episode, you'll discover how you can build a school where EVERY child is successful. Not only that, but you'll learn how you can do it right now, with the people and resources you already have. So tune in today to discover how you can achieve success for every child you serve #LikeABuilder
Nothing is more frustrating than working really hard at something but having little to show for your hard work in the end. And yet, so many schools spend tons of time and energy working really hard and not seeing the results they want from their hard work. There's a reason for that. You see, if you are working really hard at the WRONG things, you will never get the results you seek. That's why Builders spend time charting the right Pathway first, before they get to work. That way, they don't waste time doing work that won't matter, and can see HUGE results quickly because they are doing the right work, at the right time. If you're tired of working hard and seeing few results, then today's episode will help you identify the right work for your school #LikeABuilder.
Ever wonder why some people don’t seem to ever get stressed or crack under pressure? There’s a secret to their calm and confidence and this week, we’re going to break down that secret. It’s the third level of the School Hierarchy of Needs - The Pathway Level. In this week’s episode you’ll discover how Builders are able to eliminate overwhelm by prioritizing their work, quickly get to the root cause of any issue so that they don’t waste time solving the wrong problems, and confidently make the right decision every single time. So tune in today to discover how to ensure that your school is focused on the right work, in the right way, at the right time #LikeABuilder.
This week, we're continuing our discussion about the The School Hierarchy of Needs by talking about the People component. In most cases, what leaders see as a "people problem," Builders recognize as a Process Problem. Thus, instead of trying to "fix" people, Builders put systems in place to ensure that no matter what anyone does, it will not derail their vision, take them off mission, or violate their core values. That way, they can treat their staff like people always without getting caught up in the drama some people may bring. So tune into today's episode where you'll discover how to handle your "people problems" #LikeABuilder.
If you really want to get to the root cause of your challenges, you need to understand the School Hierarchy of Needs. In this week's episode, we explore the Purpose portion of the hierarchy and discuss how every challenge you are facing in your school right now has its root in either your vision, mission, or core values. If you don't get these right, nothing else you do will be fully effective. Just as you would never build a house without first establishing the foundation, it is no use building a school without first establishing a strong foundation. So tune in today to discover how to get your foundation right #LikeABuilder.
On this episode, we begin a new series that introduces something we've been working on for a while -- The School Hierarchy of Needs. This is a way to use the Buildership® Model to get to the root cause of any challenge you are facing right now and solve them once and for all. Tune in today to get the overview and then follow the rest of the series for an in-depth break down of each stage. By the time you're finished, you'll be able to tackle any challenge you face #LikeABuilder.
This week, we offer you another snippet from the Buildership Bootcamp where I debut a new way of using the Buildership model to diagnose any challenge your school is facing and solve it once and for all by using something we're calling the "School Hierarchy of Needs." So tune in today to discover a new framework that helps you handle any challenge you face #LikeABuilder.
We just wrapped up Builder's Lab and our Builder's Bootcamp for members of Buildership University and I thought it would be fun to share with you an excerpt. During Builder's Bootcamp, we talked about some of the most persistent myths around leadership and how Buildership® turns those myths on their heads and opens up new opportunities that others miss. So, tune in today to discover how you can overcome the constraints of leadership #LikeABuilder.
The temptation is real. With so many challenges coming at you each day, it's easy to fall into the trap of looking for a quick fix, even if you know it's temporary. But here's the challenge with short-term thinking. Even if you "fix" the challenge for now, you haven't solved the problem. That's why on today's episode, we're going to take a look at how Builder's solve challenges, and to be honest, it isn't always pretty. But, if you can withstand the temporary discomfort and focus on building a long-term solution, you can eliminate your challenges once and for all #LikeABuilder.
One of the main things that separate Builders from leaders is that Builders rely on principles, never methods. So, instead of asking "what's the newest strategy?" or even "what's the coolest research?" Builders sift everything through a few simple principles. On today's episode, you'll discover 3 why Builders choose principles over methods and how doing so can be the difference between succeeding and failing in your work. So tune in to find out how you can use principles to make better decisions, choose better strategies, and tackle anything life throws your way #LikeABuilder.
As leaders, we were taught to constantly tweak what we are doing so that we can get better. But as Builders, you know that you cannot tweak your way to success. And yet, so many of us waste so much time and energy on tweaks rather than focusing on true transformation. So in this episode, we’re going to examine the difference between tweaking and transforming our schools. It’s time to stop wasting time and energy on tiny, incremental gains and start seeing real transformation #LikeABuilder.
If you’re like most principals, right now you may be feeling a little overwhelmed. Every day, you are battling a new challenge and over time, those challenges begin to pile up until they feel almost insurmountable. That’s when the self-doubt starts to creep in and we feel that the only way to vanquish that self-doubt is to put our heads down and start solving or at least mitigating our challenges. But more often than not, it’s a recipe for disaster. There is a better way. Builders see their challenges differently. They don’t immediately jump in and start “solving” problems. Instead, they look for the hidden opportunities inside their challenges first. That way, they can tackle any challenge they face confident that they will resolve that challenge once and for all. On today’s episode, discover how find the opportunities inside of your challenges #LikeABuilder.
Happy New Year! In this episode, I'm looking back at the top 5 lessons I learned in 2021 that I am taking with me into 2022. There are some real gems here so settle in and let's dig deep into the 5 biggest lessons we learned in 2021. That way we can walk into 2022 #LikeABuilder.
With so many important and urgent decisions needing to be made, it can be hard not to feel immense pressure as everyone looks to you for answers. But it doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to succumb to everyone else's demands. On today's episode, find out the difference between the way that bosses, leaders, and builders handle pressure and discover the secret to dealing with pressure #LikeABuilder
Have you ever given teachers a new resource only to have them complain or reject it all together? Well, it may not be that your teachers are resistant. The REAL reason many teachers don't welcome your resources could be the resource itself. A resource that is meant to help can actually hurt teachers' effectiveness. That's why in this week's "Versus" episode, we're sharing 3 questions you should ask yourself before giving teachers any new resource. Once you get into the habit of examining your resources this way, you'll be able to give teachers resources they'll actually welcome #LikeABuilder.
This week in our versus series, we’re looking at the difference between working IN your school, working ON your school, and working BEYOND your school. Most of us get stuck in the day-to-day demands of our schools and never feel like we have the time to think strategically. When we do get that time, we often spend it working ON our schools by tweaking systems or looking for new strategies and tactics, but tweaking keeps us stuck in the weeds. It isn’t until you take time to work BEYOND the school you currently have and start building a better school that you actually see change happen for your school. So this week, discover how to get out of the weeds and work BEYOND your school #LikeABuilder.
We're continuing our versus series by looking at the activities you do today. How much of what you do each day is actually adding value, and how much of your day is really waste? Unfortunately, for most of us, we spend more time on wasteful activities than on work that really adds value and it's making us feel more and more overwhelmed, frustrated, and stuck. So, on today's episode, I'm sharing a tool that helps you identify where the waste is in your day, and more importantly, shows you how to remove that waste and focus on what really matters #LikeABuilder.
Ask yourself a question: Are you playing defense or are you playing offense? Is most of your day spent reacting to things that come up, or are you spending the majority of your time proactively pursuing your vision? Most of the training we’ve received has taught us to focus on defense and so we create policies, systems, and routines that focus on solving existing challenges rather than preventing them in the first place. Playing defense leaves us exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Playing offense leaves us energized, encouraged, and most important making steady progress towards our goals no matter what the circumstances. So tune into today’s episode and discover how to switch from playing defense to playing offense #LikeABuilder.
You are facing an enormous amount of pressure right now and sometimes it can feel as if you’re being squeezed from every side. But, just by deciding that you are going to step out of leadership and into Buildership, you have already and immediately opened up new possibilities for your school and for that, you deserve to be applauded. That’s why on this week’s episode, we’re taking time to celebrate YOU! It can be so hard to celebrate your accomplishments when you’re bogged down with all the work in front of you. But this week, we want to take a moment to acknowledge your work and encourage you as you continue to pursue your goals #LikeABuilder.
We're continuing our VERSUS Series this week by contrasting the small goals we were taught to set versus the BIG goals that Builders set for their schools. We start by considering the idea that it is just as hard to pursue a big goal as a little one. So, why is it that we work so hard for so little progress in our schools? Then we look at some of the reasons we often feel more comfortable setting small goals and the biggest reason of all is fear. We tackle the question “What happens if we miss our big target?” (the answer may surprise you), and we end with a challenge to consider whether your goals are selling you and your students short. So tune in today to discover how to stop thinking so small and start thinking bigger #LikeABuilder.
We're starting a new series this week called the VERSUS Series where we we contrast something we were taught to do versus something that actually works. This week, we're dealing with the way that most of us were trained to deal with challenges. When we meet a challenge , we were taught to do everything we can to overcome the challenge -- and work ourselves and our staffs to death in the process. But, what if working harder wasn't the answer? In fact, what if what we are doing to overcome the challenge is actually creating MORE resistance? In today's episode, discover why pouring more fuel on a challenge can actually create MORE resistance and why you should be focused on removing friction instead. By the time you're done, you'll be solving challenges more effectively (and without killing yourself and your staff in the process) #LikeABuilder.
As educators, we often think that the "right" way is always the hardest way. It means that we pile on more and more responsibilities making our jobs harder and harder but justifying the extra work because it feels as if we are doing the right thing. But on today's episode, we are going to challenge this belief that the right way has to be the hard way by asking the question, what if it could be easy? If that makes you uncomfortable, then you'll want to tune in to hear how this question could be a game-changer for you and help you get MORE done without wearing yourself out in the process #LikeABuilder.
One of the biggest mistakes that leaders make is that they treat all problems the same. But when it comes to helping your teachers improve, all teacher challenges are not created equally and if you use the same tools to address every teacher challenge, you and your teachers will end up frustrated. Builders know that at the heart of any teacher challenge is either a will problem or a skill problem and the more you are able to tell the difference, the more effective you'll be at helping teachers continually grow. So, on today's episode, discover the difference between a will problem and a skill problem so that you can handle all teacher challenges #LikeABuilder.
One of the most frustrating things about being a Builder is that not everyone will understand what you are trying to build. And, even those who do understand may find your bold vision a threat to their own complacency. That means, you will likely face times when others try to block what you are trying to build. That's why on today's episode, we're tackling what you should do when someone or something attempts to block what you are trying to build. Tune in to discover how to land on your feet even when they try to pull the rug out from under you #LikeABuilder.
There’s a hidden phenomenon that happens in every school every year about this time of the year. I call it the “October Surprise” and if you don’t handle it correctly, it can take your school way off course and create challenges that reverberate throughout the rest of the school year. That’s why on today’s episode, you’ll discover what the “October Surprise” is, why it’s so insidious, and the specific steps you can take now to turn your October Surprise into a stepping stone for school success this year #LikeABuilder.
Every school goes through 4 phases of growth. Each phase or zone has a specific challenge that if you don’t overcome, will keep your school stuck in that zone and keep you working harder and not seeing any results. But, when you understand the central challenge of each zone, you can focus on doing the right work for your zone, get your school unstuck, and see significant growth this school year and keep your school growing until you achieve success for 100% of your students in the next 3 years or less. Tune in to discover the 4 zones of Buildership® . Then take a simple quiz to find out which zone you’re in right now and how you can get your unstuck and get to the next level #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever faced a situation that seemed impossible? Perhaps you’re dealing with one now. Builders face seemingly impossible situations all the time, but Builders always find a way to keep building even in the worst of circumstances. What’s their secret? Builders always question their assumptions. When you question your assumptions you open up new solutions that were previously hidden to you. Tune in today to discover a simple 3-step process to help you question all your assumption and discover a way when there seems like no way #LikeABuilder
We're all familiar with the term YOLO (You only live once). It's often used as an excuse to indulge ourselves in something decadent because after all, we only have one life, we might as well make the best of it. But what happens when you shift the term from YOLO to TOLO - They only live once? On todays episode, we're going to explore how having a TOLO perspective can help you make a real difference in the lives of your students (even in the messiest of circumstances) #LikeABuilder
Welcome back to this season of the School Leadership Reimagined Podcast! Although I'd planned to do a completely episode today, I so many Builders have been reporting that they are already feeling a bit overwhelmed, frustrated, or defeated (and the school year has barely started) that I wanted to address it on today's episode. So, if you are becoming discouraged by the new spikes in Covid cases, teacher shortages, contact tracing requirements, teacher burnout, political landmines (hello masks, vaccines, and critical race theory!) or any other frustration, then today's episode is for you. Instead of feeling defeated, find out how to handle these challenges and keep your school focused on what matters #LikeABuilder.
One of my favorite sayings is "Culture eats strategy for breakfast." If you've got a toxic culture, it really doesn't matter what your strategic plan or vision is. Your culture always trumps your strategy. That's why Builders protect their culture by spotting and getting rid of toxicity before it has a chance to spread. This week, we’re revisiting Episode 7 where I share 6 early warning signs that your culture is turning toxic. If you can nip these in the bud before they have a chance to infect your entire culture and ruin any initiatives you are trying to launch, you can clear the way to achieve your school-wide vision and get everyone on board #LikeABuilder.
I'm often asked what the secret is to success. Is it some new program? Some secret strategy? Some new technique? Unfortunately, my answer disappoints many people looking for the latest and greatest next new thing. Success, it turns out, is pretty boring. So if you find yourself chasing the latest new thing and you're constantly on the school improvement hamster wheel, then tune in to today's Summer Rewind where we revisit episode 84 to learn the secret of true success. In other words, discover how to be boring #LikeABuilder
We're continuing our Summer Rewind series by revisiting one of my favorite seasons where we delved more deeply into several "Mindstep-isms" and today's episode is one of my favorites from that season: "All money ain't good money." It's actually something we say around the office all the time. In fact, it's become a huge part of how our culture makes decisions. And, given the rapidly-changing times we're in right now, it's particularly apropos. You see, the habits you establish now for your school will be hard to break later. That means you must think carefully about the long-term consequences of the decisions you make in times of crisis. So, if you're trying to figure out how to navigate the days ahead, especially when things are changing all the time and there's a growing sense of urgency that demands that you make decisions quickly, then you need to listen to this episode and discover how to make the right decision #LikeABuilder.
Most schools already have core values, but there’s a really good reason why those core values aren’t alive and driving your school culture -- Nobody truly owns them. If you really want your core values to be non-negotiable in your school and if you really want teachers to fully embrace them, there’s one thing you need to do: You’re going to have to give up some control. That's why today, we're revisiting episode 44 to find out how to develop school core values that your teachers can truly own (without drama or chaos). You’ll also discover how to handle the inevitable push-back you’ll face and how to neutralize it so that by the time you’re done, EVERY teacher in your building will support your school core values and live by them. And at the end of the episode, I’ll tell you how you can get a free download of my latest ebook How to Overcome a Toxic School Culture which lays out the entire process step-by-step so that you can apply it to your school this year. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll know exactly how to create core values everyone will embrace #LikeABuilder. #LikeABuilder.
Do you spend the majority of your day putting out fires and dealing with interruptions that keep you from doing the work that you really want and should be doing? Are you taking work home over the weekends because you don’t have time to catch up during the school day? The problem isn’t that you need fewer interruptions. The problem is that you need better systems. That's why this week, we're revisiting Episode 16 in our Summer Rewind Series. Discover how to go from hero mode where you run around fighting fires, to making your systems the heroes so that you can reclaim your time to do the work that really matters #LikeABuilder
Have you ever wondered why your change efforts lose steam over time? There’s a reason for that. In fact, there are 5 BIG reasons, I call them TRAPS that seriously threaten the success of our change efforts and keep us from achieving the momentum we need to reach our goals. This week, we're revisiting Episode 15 where we go through these 5 traps one by one and show you why they are so insidious and exactly what you need to do to avoid them #LikeABuilder.
Although this episode originally aired a few years ago, it is still very true: You will always feel burned out whenever you are not operating inside your "zone of genius." That's why this week, we're revisiting episode 22 which is all about how to overcome one of the biggest and sneakiest obstacles many builder’s face -- Burnout. But instead of just doing a training where I give you tips and strategies for overcoming burnout, this week, I’m also going to get pretty personal and share with you my own struggle with burnout. Because here’s the thing. Burnout is something we will ALL face at some point of our career. And what’s more, it’s not something that you can solve by taking a vacation, or getting more rest, or even reducing your workload. That’s because usually burnout is a symptom of a bigger problem. So today, we’re going to talk about the real problem with burnout and I’m going to share my own story with burnout with you. Now, I’m going to get a little vulnerable, not deep sobbing and sloppy tears vulnerable but I am going to share with you one of the toughest parts of my own career in hopes that my story can become a cautionary tale for you. If you’re struggling with burnout you’re going to learn how to quickly get yourself out of burnout and be energized and inspired by your work again. And, if even you’re not struggling with burnout yet, chances are you will. So today, you’ll learn the early warning signs of burnout and how you can avoid real burnout altogether #LikeABuilder.
I've always said that one of the most powerful tools a Builder has is the meeting rhythm and team meeting agenda. One of the biggest hidden obstacles keeping you from achieving your school goals is how you meet around those goals. Let’s be honest, most meetings are pretty useless. And every time you have a meeting where you go round and round about an issue and don’t actually SOLVE it, you are wasting time and putting you and your team further away from your school goals.
That's why this week, we're revisiting episode 19 where you'll discover how to build a better, more accountable meeting agenda, one that gets you focused on the right issues and ensures that you actually solve your most important issues each and every time you meet. It’s my secret weapon for helping teams actually accomplish their goals and this week I’m sharing it with you. Whether you are working with your leadership team to tackles school-wide issues or your grade level team to deal with the issues that come up on your grade level, this meeting agenda will guarantee that you not only run meetings more efficiently and smoothly, but actually get stuff done! After you listen to the episode, don’t forget to download my team meeting agenda template so that you can use it to plan your next team meeting.
This week's summer rewind is Episode 38: How to Conduct Student Focus Groups. This is THE definitive episode on how to conduct student focus groups. Student focus groups are a great way to connect with your students and collect their feedback on how you are doing as a school. In this episode, learn step-by-step how to select students for a focus group, what questions to ask, how to analyze the data, and how to use the data to improve your school. So, if there is anything you're trying to figure out about how to make your school better or how to overcome a school challenge, stop guessing. Just ask your students and they will tell you what needs to be done. All the steps are in this episode so that by the time you're done, you'll be able to conduct your own student focus group #LikeABuilder.
As a part of our summer rewind series, we're replaying some of our favorite episodes from past seasons. Episode 17 has been a perpetual favorite and there's a good reason why. In this episode, we explore how you can take ordinary moments in the school year and make them extraordinary and why you should. With all of the worries and feelings of overwhelm many of you and your staff members may be feeling as you prepare for next school year, deliberately engineering WOW moments into the first 30-90 days of school can dramatically alter your school culture. So, tune in to discover how you can make the ordinary extraordinary #LikeABuilder.
Welcome to the summer rewind series where we revisit some of our favorite episodes. This week, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes, Episode 63 "Anchor in the Outcome." Although this episode originially aired near the beginning of the Covid crisis, it's a timely reminder for us now as we prepare for the new school year. We have no idea what we'll be facing in the fall and perhaps you're feeling just a little anxious as you make plans. This episode reminds you that you can make your school crisis-proof and navigate your staff and students through any challenges you might face if you anchor in the outcome #LikeABuilder.
This year's list is a little different. I just didn't read that many great books this year. But I did manage to discover 3 non-education books that I think you should be reading this summer and I'm sharing 4 other books that are on MY summer reading list. Hopefully you'll discover at least one book that will help you step into next fall #LikeABuilder.
All season long, we've been talking about the difference between being a boss, leader, and Builder. On today's episode, we're going to talk about one final difference and it's a big one: Being a Builder makes you a bit of a weirdo. So tune in to discover how becoming a Builder makes you different than everyone else and why that's a good thing. By the time you're done, I hope you'll be inspired to step beyond the status quo and become a weirdo #LikeABuilder.
There is a real difference between the way that bosses, leaders, and Builders plan for the summer and that difference determines what kind of school year you're going to have next year. So, on today's episode, we're breaking down the distinction between the way that Builders plan and sharing some "out of the box" ideas about things you can do this summer to set your school up for success next year #LikeABuilder.
One of the questions I get asked the most comes from assistant principals. They love the idea of Buildership but worry that they can't be a Builder in their current roles. So, on today's episode, I'm going to tackle that question and offer some suggestions for how you can still be a Builder even if you work for a boss, or a leader. So tune in today to discover how AP's can approach their work #LikeABuilder
One of the questions I get asked often is this: Is there ever a time when you just need to be a boss? So, on today's episode, we're going to explore that question along with various situations where being a boss might feel like the only option. Plus, we'll look at the short-term and long-term effects of going "boss-mode" and consider those against the short-term and long-term benefits of always approaching your work #LikeABuilder.
When your staff is hurting, how do you handle it? If you're a boss, you tend to avoid dealing with people's pain. If you're a leader, you try to listen and show empathy, but if you're not careful, how you navigate those tough conversations may actually exacerbate their pain. But, if you're a Builder, you find ways to create safe spaces for people to process their pain but then you get everyone refocused on your vision, mission, and core values. That way, you help people process their pain and leave them feeling hopeful and equipped to handle tough situations and still move toward your school purpose #LikeABuilder.
There's a distinct difference between the way that bosses, leaders, and Builders look at their challenges. Bosses tend to avoid problems altogether. Leaders tend to look for solutions, often without really understanding the problem. But Builders know that in most cases, the solution lies within the problem itself. So, tune in today to discover how to find the solution INSIDE of your problems and solve your most pressing problems once and for all #LikeABuilder
Have you ever received “feedback” from someone and it felt personal? Maybe it felt mean-spirited, or maybe it just hurt to hear the truth, but either way, it stung. Well this week, we’re talking about how to handle tough feedback in a way that doesn’t destroy your confidence, give you an ulcer, or make you feel attacked and defensive. Plus, I’ll be sharing how I personally struggle to hear tough feedback (and even how I sometimes fail to process it productively). Hearing tough feedback is never easy, but it doesn’t have to destroy you or take you off your game if you process it #LikeABuilder.
If you hate meetings, you're not alone. Most of us don't love the meeting that should have been an email. Nor do we enjoy seeing a meeting get hijacked by someone with a hidden agenda or those discussions that go round and round and end up nowhere. The truth is, most meetings are pointless at best and excruciating at their worst. That's why on today's episode, we're taking a look at how Builders conduct meetings. You'll discover the big mistake most leaders make that leave their meetings vulnerable to hijacking, how to avoid those discussions that go nowhere, and 3 very specific and practical things you can do to make your meetings more productive (and dare we say, enjoyable too?). So check out today's episode where you'll learn how to conduct your next meeting #LikeABuilder.
The closer we came to our 100th episode, the more pressure I felt to create something splashy. But, Buildership™ is rarely splashy, so on today's episode, we're have an intimate conversation about Buildership™. I'll share my own journey to Buildership™, discuss some of the challenges Builders face, and offer some encouragement as you become more and more #LikeABuilder.
Sometimes it's not the work in front of us that matters as much as it's how we see the work. That's why on today's episode, we're taking a look at how bosses, leaders, and Builders see their work and how the lens they use to see their work makes all the difference about how the work feels, how it gets done, and what impact that work has on students. So, if you're staring at a pile of things to do, or you're worried that you might not reach a goal, then tune in to discover how to re-see your work (and ultimately accomplish more) #LikeABuilder.
It's master scheduling season so on this episode, we thought we'd share something really practical. Usually, just the mention of master scheduling can elicit groans. But, your master schedule is really one of the most powerful tools you have to achieve your school vision. Done right, your master schedule can help you achieve dramatic growth in just one year. Done wrong, and your master schedule can keep you stuck in mediocrity. So tune in to find out why bosses rarely get their master schedules in on time, why you shouldn't consider people's needs first when creating your master schedule, and how Builders leverage the entire master scheduling process to help their school achieve major gains in just one year. Plus, get the details on a free Master Schedule Master Class we're hosting this week so that you can start creating your master schedule #LikeABuilder.
We're continuing our series on Bosses, Leaders, and Builders with this episode all about why Builders never ask anyone to do anything. Discover how asking others to do something sets you up for a lot of stress as you try to convince them to do what you ask. Builders never ask. Instead, Builders invite. Find out the difference between commanding, asking, or inviting on today's episode and learn how you can shift from asking to inviting #LikeABuilder.
My brand new book Stop Leading. Start Building is finally here and today, I'm reading you the first chapter on today's episode. Discover why "leadership" as we know it is dead, how the way you were trained may be adding to your frustrations right now, and how you can make the shift from leadership to Buildership™ and turn your school into a success story with the people and resources you already have.
We're continuing our series on Bosses, Leaders, and Builders this week by looking at the difference between the way that Bosses and Leaders try to get others moving and Builders do. It all boils down to a simple difference -- Bosses and Leaders try to get others to comply or accept their requests even when their requests are not in the best interests of students and teachers. Builders, on the other hand, never ask others to accept or comply with something that isn't good. Instead, they sift everything through their vision, mission, and core values and only ask others to do that which is truly good for them and good for their students. If you find yourself trying to figure out how to get others to do something that you yourself don't even believe in, then you'll want to listen to this episode to discover how to rewrite untenable requests and get others on board #LikeABuilder.
Conventional wisdom says that you will always have some students who struggle or lag behind. But, there is a HUGE difference in the way that Builder's deal with struggling students and the way that bosses and leaders handle students who are behind. You don't have to accept student failure. There is something you can do about it. Discover what that difference is, and find out how you can completely eliminate student failure and achieve success for 100% of your students #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever set a goal, made plans, and gotten started only to have a district or state or board mandate completely derail your plans? If so, then today's episode can help. Find out the difference between the way that bosses, leaders, and builders respond to district mandates and unexpected policy changes and discover how you can make your school "mandate-proof" #LikeABuilder
With so many important and urgent decisions needing to be made, it can be hard not to feel immense pressure as everyone looks to you for answers. But it doesn't have to be that way. You don't have to succumb to everyone else's demands. On today's episode, find out the difference between the way that bosses, leaders, and builders handle pressure and discover the secret to dealing with pressure #LikeABuilder
If you're like most educators right now, you're feeling a degree of stress, especially as we debate re-opening schools, field demands from parents and teachers, and attempt to help our schools thrive in crisis. That's why on today's episode, we're tackling the difference between the way that bosses, leaders, and Builders deal with stress. Tune in to find out the secret to handling stress #LikeABuilder.
Do you ever feel like you make all these plans and they never turn out the way you wanted? It may be because you are planning like a Boss or a Leader. You see, the way that most of us were taught to create plans keeps us on the School Improvement Hamster Wheel, planning and working hard, but seeing little results. On today's episode, discover how the get off the School Improvement Hamster Wheel once and for all and achieve your vision in 3 years or less #LikeABuilder.
We're doing a little more casual episode today as we share a few updates on what we've been up to over the last month and our plans for 2021. Plus, discover 3 questions you need to ask of your own vision for 2021 of you ever hope to achieve your vision this year.
Do you ever feel like you are playing a constant game of “whack-a-mole?” Would you like to be focused on your vision, mission, and core values but there are so many issues popping up right now that you find yourself saying “I can’t deal with that right now?” If so, you may be suffering from a phenomenon called “tunneling.” Tunneling is where you feel like you don’t have the time, energy, bandwidth, or resources to deal with your problems right now, so you just focus on what’s right in front of you. While this might seem like a prudent, even natural response to the stresses you’re facing right now, tunneling is a trap. Tune in to today’s episode to find out why tunneling is a trap and how you can escape the tunnel #LikeABuilder.
Over the years, we've grown used to certain circumstances -- whether those circumstances are uncooperative parents, disengaged students, lagging test scores, contentment with the status quo, resistant teachers, or a school stuck at good but unable to cross over to "great." But what if I told you that you don't have to accept your circumstances? What if I told you that you could rewrite your school story regardless of what you're facing right now? In today's episode, you'll discover the ONE question that can be the catalyst for rewriting your school story. In fact, this ONE question has helped school leaders go from 43% proficiency in reading to 100% proficiency in reading by grade 3, 65% gradutation rates to over 95% graduation rates in just 3 years, and from a toxic school culture to a healthy school culture in just one school year. If you're ready to change your school story in spite of your current reality, then you'll want to ask yourself this question and rewrite your school story #LikeABuilder.
Over the years, most of us were trained to be leaders. We followed what we were told made "good" leaders and dutifully applied what we were trained to do, only to meet with frustration when our training didn't deliver the results we thought we should be seeing. Many of us blame ourselves and look for even more leadership strategies hoping something will work. But the truth is, those strategies aren't working because they are based on lies we've been told about leadership. So if you're frustrated that the leadership strategies you've been taught aren't working the way you expected, maybe it isn't you after all. Today, we're pulling the curtain back from those lies and exposing the truth #LikeABuilder
Your school "brand" is not your logo, colors, or tagline. Your brand is how people perceive their experience with you. It's what people say about you behind your back. So, how strong is your school brand? And, if you want a stronger brand, how do you go about getting one? On today's episode, we take a deep dive into what comprises your school brand and the exact things you need to do to build a strong brand. You'll also discover the difference between your external brand and your internal brand and why you need to work on your internal brand first. While it may seem like a "nice-to-have," a strong school brand is integral for establishing trust and credibility among your staff and with the students and families you serve. Neglect your brand at your own peril! So tune in today to discover how to build a strong school brand #LikeABuilder.
I'm often asked what the secret is to success. Is it some new program? Some secret strategy? Some new technique? Unfortunately, my answer disappoints many people looking for the latest and greatest next new thing. Success, it turns out, is pretty boring. So if you find yourself chasing the latest new thing and you're constantly on the school improvement hamster wheel, then tune in to today's episode to learn the secret of true success. In other words, discover how to be boring #LikeABuilder
No matter what obstacles you may be facing right now, there are only 3 things that can hold you back from achieving your goals. In today's episode, we'll take a deep dive into what those 3 things are and how you can prevent them from derailing your dreams and goals. If you are frustrated and don't know why, if your passion has dimmed, or you seem stuck, then today's episode will give you the secret to reigniting your passion help you begin to make true progress towards your goals #LikeABuilder.
When it comes to engaging parents, it can be difficult to develop positive, meaningful relationships, especially when everyone is already under a great deal of stress. I've made my mistakes along the way and learned from them and on today's episode, I want to share 5 tips for getting meaningfully engaging parents in your classrooms and in your school. You'll discover 2 big mistakes to avoid, and 5 counterintuitive ways to get parents move involved. By the time you're done listening, you'll be ready to develop more positive and productive relationships with parents #LikeABuilder.
By now, we've all heard the expression "Start with why." Unfortunately, many leaders have take that to mean they should start with THEIR why. But, nobody really cares about YOUR why; they care about THEIR why. This is why so many teachers are burned out and overwhelmed despite your best efforts to support them. And, it's why so many teachers seem less than enthusiastic about your plans. The good news is that there is a simple fix. Tune today to discover how you start with WHY #LikeABuilder.
Did you know that your confidence is one of your biggest assets as a Builder? And yet, your confidence is under almost constant attack each day as you work to achieve your vision, mission, and core values. So, you need to take special steps to protect your confidence. In this episode, discover 5 specific things you can do as a Builder to protect your confidence especially in times of crisis #LikeABuilder.
When it comes to the important work you are trying to accomplish as a school, do your teachers act more like renters or owners? It's an important question because if they don't own the work you do, then they don't see themselves as responsible for its success. If they on the other hand, take ownership, they will take more responsibility. Whether teachers see themselves as renters of owners of the work makes all the difference in how they approach their work. In this episode discover how to make the shift from teachers who are renters to those who are owners and find out how you can actually gain more security by giving up some control. By the time you're done, you'll be ready to help all your teachers become owners #LikeABuilder
Things have been uncertain for quite some time now so it's fair to say that we need to get used to uncertainty. And while this might feel overwhelming to some, Builders have a way of handling uncertainty that keeps them focused on their goals in spite of how things might change. In this episode, discover how Builders successfully navigate uncertain times, 4 things you can do right now to help your teachers deal with uncertainty and calm their feelings of overwhelm, and 1 thing that you can do to keep your focus in the midst of all the distractions right now. By the time you're done, you'll be able to manage these uncertain times and still turn your school into a success story this year #LikeABuilder.
I've been getting a lot of pushback lately around how feedback has to look different when you're observing a remote classroom. So, in this episode, I want to tackle the myths around feedback and evaluation of remote learning contexts and highlight the difference between the way that leaders approach feedback and builders approach feedback. Plus we'll tackle some of the most common "yes, buts..." around remote feedback and you'll discover how to help every teacher welcome and embrace your feedback and use your feedback to create more meaningful learning experiences for students when you give them feedback #LikeABuilder.
How often have you written a beautiful School Improvement Plan, submitted it to your district, and then never referenced it again (at least until it's time to submit your end of the year progress report). Or, how often have you created a SIP plan with the best of intentions only to find that you failed to execute it because life got in the way. Well if your School Improvement Planning process is not serving you, maybe it's time you had a different process. In today's episode, find out how Builder's approach planning in a way that helps them reach their goals predictably and go from one success to the next. Once you're done, you'll know how to go beyond school improvement planning to actually improving your school #LikeABuilder.
In this week's episode, we're going to tackle a touchy subject -- Equity. While almost everyone agrees we should strive for equity in schools, much of the way that we pursue equity is problematic. Builders approach equity in a way that is fundamentally different, and as a result, they end up achieving equity far more frequently than leaders do. So tune in to discover how Builders handle equity and then go out and approach your equity work this year #LikeABuilder.
As we embark on a new school year in these unprecedented times, how can you avoid making the same mistakes from last year this year? How will you determine what is working and where you need to tweak? And, how can you set your school up this year for success? In this episode of the School Leadership Reimagined podcast, you’ll discover 3 questions you must ask yourself right now if you want to safely navigate your school through the messiness of this crisis and set your school up to be even better for it #LikeABuilder
When schools shut down in March 2020, principals across the world began to panic. But not Tosha-Lynn Francis. Instead of panicking, her teachers quickly made the transition to online learning without the stress, confusion, and even "epic fails" that other schools were experiencing. In fact, things went so smoothly that they began to wonder if there was something wrong. But the results don't lie. They regularly had 95% or higher student attendance each day and students were posting measurable gains. Plus, teachers were calmly and confidently delivering excellent instruction. Tune in today to discover the systems Tosha-Lynn used to turn her formerly failing school into a school that is truly crisis proof and take away some tips you can use to do the same in your school #LikeABuilder.
In this bonus series of podcast, discover ways to learn from crisis and make your school more resilient to future crises. On this episode, find out 3 lessons we all can learn from crisis and how we can use them to crisis-proof our schools.
Welcome to our 2020 Summer Reading List episode! Every year, I curate a list of 5 NON-education books that can inform your work as an educator and help you think outside the box as you plan for the upcoming school year. This year's list is particularly strong and includes several books that can help you re-design your school culture (especially if you are planning on distance learning next year), be more effective as an organization, tell your vision story in a way that gets everyone engaged and invested in your vision, and solve problems even before they happen. Check out today's episode and then step into summer #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever hired someone who looked great on paper but was an absolute disappointment once they were in your school? If you have, then you know how frustrating that can be. Well, on today's episode, you'll discover how to avoid making a hiring decision you'll regret. Even if someone looks great on paper, there are still 5 things you must do to make sure that they will be a great fit for your school culture. So tune in and find out how to avoid making a hiring decision you'll regret #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever felt that your school vision was being held hostage by a few resistant teachers? You're trying to reach a goal but there are one or two (or more!) teachers who are standing in your way? If you are struggling with people problems, then today's episode is just for you. Tune in as we discuss another mindsteps-ism that can help you deal with all of your people problems #LikeABuilder
Are you feeling a little overwhelmed right now? Do you get frustrated that you spend so much time dealing with everyone else's issues, you don't have time to do the work you really want to do? Or, are you afraid to let your team loose for fear that if you do, they won't do the right work the right way? If you are, then today's mindstepsism is just what you need. It may sound counter-intuitive, but structure gives you freedom. Discover 3 structures you can put into place right now to give yourself more freedom, more flexibility, and more bandwidth than you ever though imaginable so that be more creative and more productive #LikeABuilder
This week's mindstepsism isn't actually a mindstepsism at all. In fact, although I've heard this advice a lot over the last few weeks, I dismissed it as glib and opportunistic. I felt it ignored the real challenges many of us are facing right now. But lately, I've been seeing just how applicable it actually is. In fact, there are 6 opportunities we have right now to not just help our schools survive, but actually thrive right now and in the days ahead. So on today's episode, I'm going to talk about those opportunities and share ways that you can make the best of this crisis #LikeABuilder.
We're dealing with a LOT of change right now and perhaps you're starting to face some resistance from your teachers as they are being asked to make enormous changes to the way that they teach in a very short period of time. Even under the best of circumstances, change is hard. That's because "nobody likes to be changed but a baby." So this week, I share 4 things you can do to help your teachers handle the changes you are asking them to make so that you can manage change #LikeABuilder.
In these uncertain times, it's hard to keep yourself motivated. Sure, you put on a calm face, but inside, you're grappling with some of the same fears, frustrations, and challenges your teachers are facing. How can you motivate your teachers when you're worried yourself? And, how can your teachers motivate their students, when they are struggling to stay motivated themselves? That's why this week's mindsteps-ism is this: "Unmotivated people can't motivate anybody." So, if you want to keep your team motivated, here are 5 things you can do that will help them stay motivated and be resilient in the midst of crisis #LikeABuilder (Bonus: these tips will help you too!)
I know that I spend a lot of time talking about your vision, but there's a reason for that. Your vision is your north star. If you ever want to build a school where EVERY student is successful, then every decision you make must get sifted through your vision. While you may agree that's true most of the time, what about in times of crisis? During these uncertain days, is vision really what we need to be talking about right now?
The answer is absolutely. But, how you work towards achieving your vision will look different. On today's episode, I'll share three ways you will need to adjust how you pursue your school's vision in the short term and share some real-life examples of how Builders are staying stubborn on their visions, but being flexible on the details. Hopefully, you'll be inspired to double-down on your vision and help your school thrive in the midst of crisis #LikeABuilder.
This week's mindsteps-ism is something we say around the office all the time. In fact, it's become a huge part of how our culture makes decisions. And, given the rapidly-changing times we're in right now, it's particularly apropos. You see, the habits you establish now for your school will be hard to break later. That means you must think carefully about the long-term consequences of the decisions you make in times of crisis. So, if you're trying to figure out how to navigate the days ahead, especially when things are changing all the time and there's a growing sense of urgency that demands that you make decisions quickly, then you need to listen to this episode and discover how to make the right decision #LikeABuilder.
Fact: Schools are in a state of flux, uncertain about whether we are even going to have school for the rest of the year. Things are changing daily and it's hard to make plans when those plans could be trashed at any moment by the next announcement from the president, governor, or superintendent. So how do you make good decisions under these uncertain times, and how do you help your school thrive now, and set your school up to be successful later?
The answer is this week's mindsteps-ism: "Anchor in the outcome." Tune in for some real talk about how you can weather these storms #LikeABuilder
Ever get frustrated that your staff isn’t performing as you’d like? Worried that your team is getting a little lax? Well, I’ve got a mindsteps-ism for you, but you’re not gonna like it. You see, a lot of times, the very behaviors that frustrate us are behaviors we’re practicing ourselves. The fish rots from the head. So, in today’s episode, we’re going to engage in some real talk about the subtle ways that we shape our culture -- for good or for bad -- and how you can leverage this amazing power you have to shape culture to heal your school climate #LikeABuilder
Have you ever launched a new initiative or project only to have your staff complain, undermine, or openly tear things down before you've even had a chance to get things off the ground? If you have, then you know how frustrating it can be. Well, on today's episode, I've got a solution for you and it comes in the form of a Mindsteps-ism -- People don't tear down what they helped build. Discover 3 ways you can help people be a part of building instead of working to destroy your next initiative (all without ceding control to those who might have a nefarious agenda). Once you're done, you'll know how to get everyone committed to the work #LikeABuilder
Welcome back to Season 4 of the podcast. This season, we're tackling some of your biggest challenges using what we call "Mindsteps-isms." These are the exact things we use to help our Builder's Lab alum and our private clients solve their biggest challenges once and for all.
On today's episode, we're tackling challenges around culture. Maybe you're dealing with a toxic culture. Maybe you have a pretty good culture, but you're noticing a few pockets of toxicity that threaten it. Or maybe you have a great culture and you want to keep it that way. Well, there's a little-known but powerful secret to building a healthy culture and it's this: Whoever controls your narrative controls your culture. So, in today's episode, discover 3 secrets you can use to maintain or regain control over your cultural narrative #LikeABuilder.
Ever since Jim Collins penned his seminal work Good to Great, many schools have made that their goal. And yet, why is it that so few of us have actually made the transition from a school that is merely good, to one that "delivers a superior performance and makes a distinctive impact over a long period of time." The answer is that "Good is the enemy of great." So in today's episode, we're going to explore why being a good school is no longer enough and how more of us can make the transformation from good to great #LikeABuilder.
As a Builder, do you have an unfair advantage over your colleagues? The answer is absolutely. In fact, when you approach your work #LikeABuilder, it may seem as if you are doing the same things as everyone else, but you are getting WAY better results, with less effort and less drama. So tune in to this episode to discover some of the unfair advantages being a Builder can give you, and find out 4 specific shifts you can make that will help you have a bigger impact with less stress, frustration, and work. It's the unfair advantage that comes when you work #LikeABuilder.
The number one thing you need to protect as a builder is your confidence. That's because your confidence is constantly under attack by plans that don't work, teachers who resist you at every turn, challenges that feel insurmountable, and work that constantly expands. What can you do when it feels as if you are carrying the weight of your entire school or district on your back? How can you maintain your sense of purpose when you get pushback on every side? How can you stick to your plan when you face new obstacles every day? How can you trust your plan with a staff that doesn't have the will or skill to see it through? I'll tackle those challenges on this episode, and show you four things you absolutely need to protect your confidence so that you can make your bold vision for students and your school a reality #LikeABuilder
We make over a lot of vision and mission statements here at Mindsteps and today, I want to let you in on 2 of the biggest mistakes I see school leaders make when it comes to their vision and mission statements. I'll also share a few examples of these mistakes and show you how to quickly correct them so that you have a vision and mission statement you can actually use to drive the work of your school. If you think vision and mission statements are boring, then you're probably making these same mistakes yourself. Tune in to find out how to transform your vision and mission statements and unleash their hidden power to ignite passion, give focus and meaning to your work, and ultimately help you achieve more for your school than you've ever imagined. All this happens when you make over your vision and mission statements #LikeABuilder.
If you're working on developing real core values for your school, then you need to listen to today's episode! Discover 3 of the biggest mistakes people make when creating school core values and learn how some very simple tweaks can take your core values from "meh" to "yeah!" When you're done, you'll be able to make over your own core values #LikeABuilder.
Does it ever feel like you are dragging your school towards your goals? Do you ever get frustrated because others are not as committed as you are to your goals? Do you sometimes wish that you could just clone yourself in order to get the job done? If so, then you’ve likely fallen into the trap that many instructional coaches, school administrators, and central office leaders fall into -- I call it the “trapeze moment.” We all have faced our own “trapeze moment” at some point in our careers and it’s always because at some point, we must realize that what got us here won’t get us there. In other words, the things that made us so successful in the past may not be the things that will take us to the next level. So, if you’re currently frustrated because you feel like you are carrying the weight of your entire school on your back and working WAY harder than those you lead, then tune in today to discover how to overcome the trapeze moment #LikeABuilder.
Once you’ve done the work of creating successful change in your building, you’re not done yet. Now you must make that change stick over time. Here’s where many schools fail and it’s why so many of us feel like we’re always lurching from one change to the next each year. Not only does it wear us out, but it overwhelms our staff, kills our morale, and makes others think that we don’t mean what we say. But, there is a better way. In fact, if you do this right, you can so embed your change into the school culture that people will actually forget the problems that prompted the change and think “this is the way we’ve always done things.” So, tune in today to discover the three things you must do if you want to make change stick #LikeABuilder.
Does your school have "pockets of excellence" while other teachers are "phoning it in" each day? Do you struggle to get all of your teachers implementing a new initiative "with fidelity?" If so, then you don't want to miss today's episode where you'll learn how to use evaluation to get every teacher in your building doing the right thing, the right way (without being the "bad guy" in the process. You don't have to settle with spotty implementation. You can get every teacher moving closer and closer to excellence when you leverage the Evaluation Stage #LikeABuilder.
Wanna know the most frustrating part of any transformation process? It's when you are ready to stop talking about transformation and actually implement the changes you're looking to make. Do this wrong, and you get spotty implementation with some teachers actively engaged and others sitting things out on the sidelines. But, if you've properly laid the groundwork during the first 3 stages of the Transformation Process, you can get everyone implementing the changes you want to see consistently and pervasively (and without a whole lot of drama!) So, on today's episode discover the 3 steps you can take to overcome inertia and foot-dragging and get everyone actively engaged in the transformation.
In honor of our 50th episode, I'm doing something a little different -- I'm going to answer YOUR questions! So, on this episode, I'm tackling challenges like how do you motivate teachers to implement a new district initiative, how do you get teachers to volunteer to work with students outside of their duty day, how can you become an educational consultant, and what do I do for fun? Tune in to hear the answers (some of which are a little unconventional) on today's episode!
You've gotten people excited. You've overcome objections. Now it's time to move forward with your plans for transformation. But, soon you find that not everyone is ready or able to move forward. So, you bring in training and provide resources, and still, teachers are not moving. Often, this is where many transformation plans stall. Teachers SAY they buy into your initiative, but when it comes time to actually make changes, they soon get stuck. So, how do you generate momentum at this stage, while silencing critics, and disarming the skeptics? On today's episode, you'll learn 3 crucial steps you must take to keep your people from getting stuck in that nebulous space between talking about the work and actually doing the work.
You've gotten everyone excited about your new initiative. Everyone's bought in. And... here come the naysayers with objection after objection taking all the wind out of your sails. Normally, we try to avoid or shut down the naysayers. But, avoiding or defending yourself against objections will actually make things worse and bring your new initiative to a halt. So how do you deal with objections and keep them from killing your new initiative before it even has a chance to start? On today's episode, find out the three critical steps you need to take to protect your new initiative from the naysayers and actually flip every objection on its head. By the time you're finished listening, you'll know exactly how to handle any objection #LikeABuilder.
Have you ever introduced a new initiative to your staff only to have it fall flat? Or worse, have you ever tried to get your teachers excited about a new program and met push-back and resistance before you could even get the project started? Getting people truly excited and invested in a new initiative is not as simply as making a rousing speech and hosting splashy big launch with banners, balloons, and a band. There are actually 3 specific things you must do if you want to get teachers genuinely excited and invested in any new initiative. On today's episode, learn what those three things are, and how you can use them to get real buy in from your teachers and get everyone excited to get started!
Initiative fatigue is real and it’s wearing out your staff. It starts when we feel pain, and we look for a solution -- ANY solution -- to alleviate our pain. Only, when it doesn’t work, we grab another one, and another one, and another one. The problem isn’t that we need a better solution, the problem is that we need a better understanding of the problem. So, on today’s show, we’re going to talk about how Builders avoid initiative fatigue and stay focused on what matters most. Plus, we’ll discover how to “micro-slice” your school so that you can quickly get to the root cause of whatever challenge you’re facing and come up with a simple, elegant solution to solve it once and for all. #LikeABuilder.
Sometimes when you are working to help teachers improve, it can feel like for every step you take forward, you take two steps back. You try to give teachers good feedback, you provide great professional development and coaching, but sometimes, teachers still don’t improve. When teachers aren’t performing, leaders resort to writing the teacher up, putting the teacher on a performance plan, or proving an avalanche of feedback and support. However, Builder’s know that those tools don’t work. In fact, Builders know that there are only four things you can do to actually impact teacher behavior and performance. I call these four things, the Four Disciplines of Buildership. Chances are, you’re probably already practicing some or all of these four disciplines already, but on today’s episode, you’ll discover a simple tweak you can make that will exponentially magnify your effectiveness. Tune in to this episode find out how to multiply your effectiveness with teachers #LikeABuilder.
Most schools already have core values, but there’s a really good reason why those core values aren’t alive and driving your school culture -- Nobody truly owns them. If you really want your core values to be non-negotiable in your school and if you really want teachers to fully embrace them, there’s one thing you need to do: You’re going to have to give up some control. Today, find out how to develop school core values that your teachers can truly own (without drama or chaos). You’ll also discover how to handle the inevitable push-back you’ll face and how to neutralize it so that by the time you’re done, EVERY teacher in your building will support your school core values and live by them. And, at the end of the episode, I’ll tell you how you can get a free download of my latest ebook How to Overcome a Toxic School Culture which lays out the entire process step-by-step so that you can apply it to your school this year. By the time you’re done listening, you’ll know exactly how to create core values everyone will embrace #LikeABuilder. #LikeABuilder.
Let’s be honest shall we? Most school mission statements are pretty useless. Sure, we write them, post them on our website, and put them in our strategic planning binders, but in reality, they read more like a game of “School Jargon Bingo,” than a compelling reason for our work each day. And that’s a shame really, because your mission statement, when built the right way, will not only inspire and unite your staff, but it will help everyone be more accountable and make better decisions (even when you’re not checking on them). So, on today’s episode, you’re going to discover how to use a counter-intuitive process that cuts through the nonsense and gets to the truth about your school. That way you can build a mission statement WITH your staff that gets them excited, focused, and committed to your vision. Listen in to find out how you build a mission statement #LikeABuilder.