Accelerate Your Performance: Recent Episodes
Studer Education
Accelerate Your Performance is a semi-weekly show focused on tactical actions to improve workplace culture from the Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence. On Monday & Thursday mornings, Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews other leaders and provides commentary on how you can be the best you can be. Each episode will leave you with actions you can implement in your organization to drive performance, motivate and engage employees, and strategically prepare your organization for the future.
Getting and keeping employees engaged is hard, intentional work, but it's worth the continuous time and effort. As Lana Fontenot, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and External Relations at South Louisiana Community College, states, "Engagement is not a one-time thing, it happens day in and day out, year-round. You never stop doing it. It's not a check the box."
In the first part of this two-part interview, Dr. Janet Pilcher and Ms. Fontenot discussed the importance of getting employees engaged from very early in their tenure at an organization. In this second part of this interview, they talk about how important it is to continue keeping employees engaged throughout their career at an organization.
Listen as they discuss the importance of employee engagement; the impact of employee engagement on organizational culture; and ways to keep employees engaged, such as
- Holding regular touch points,
- Listening strategically and deliberately,
- Capitalizing on wins,
- Showing care and concern for employees' growth and well-being,
- Taking an interest in employees’ work, and
- Removing barriers.
Recommended Resources: Small Conversations, Big Impact: Strengthening Culture Through Rounding, Shape Culture Through Connection
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Employee engagement is key to a successful organization, and getting team members engaged should begin even before their first day of work as a new hire. New hires naturally feel a mix of excitement and anxiety, but leaders must capitalize on the excitement while minimizing the anxiety to stimulate employee engagement from the outset. According to Lana Fontenot, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and External Relations for South Louisiana Community College, effective pre-boarding and onboarding programs are effective ways to not only stimulate excitement and reduce anxiety but to build engagement and increase retention rates.
Listen to the first part of Dr. Janet Pilcher's two-part interview with Ms. Fontenot as they discuss her model for pre-boarding and onboarding and her personal experience as a new hire that instilled within her the passion for effective onboarding and employee engagement.
Recommended Resources: Focus on Employee Engagement, Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Continuous improvement is grounded in learning. In fact, continuous improvement necessitates a mindset that focuses on continued learning and growth and that acknowledges that there is always something new to discover. Through this learning, growth occurs, and growth facilitates improvement. As Brian Alaback, Director of Professional Learning for Escambia County Public Schools in Florida so aptly shares, “if I don't have the mindset of continuing to grow and learn, then it doesn't matter what I’m trying to improve.”
Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Mr. Alaback
- consider how leaders model and lead the way in growing and learning to drive improvement,
- explore why investing in your own learning and the learning of others is crucial to continuous improvement, and
- discuss tactics for supporting improvement through learning.
Recommended Resources: Continuous Improvement Through Leadership, Build a Culture of Improvement
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
In today’s episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher implements her own advice to “face the brutal facts” in education. As educational leaders in both K12 and higher education face a changing landscape, Dr. Pilcher explains that it’s crucial for leaders to attend to the bottom line to provide what’s best for students. Listen as she encourages the practice of facing the brutal facts and responding in positive ways by
- using scorecards and short cycles of improvement;
- having open conversations with other leaders;
- helping people understand where they’ve been, where they are now, how they got to where they are now;
- tracking progress;
- engaging in problem-solving discussions; and
- making decisions even when they are difficult.
Recommended Resources: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards, Get Aligned: Strategic Plans, Scorecards, and Measures that Matter
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Dr. Howard Spearman, one of the 2026 Studer Education Difference Maker Award winners, believes that knowing your "why" is essential for a leader. Without knowing your why, Dr. Spearman shares that a leader can "lose their way." When a leader knows their why, students and communities thrive, and outcomes are met. Dr. Spearman is an example of how knowing and living your why reaps benefits. Listen as he shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher his experiences with aligning daily work with the why and the positive results that follow.
Recommended Resources: Remember Your Why: From Struggle to Purpose, Connecting Operations to Student Success
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Even the best leaders know that they can continue to learn. That mindset is partially what makes them good leaders; they continue to seek ways to improve. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with Dr. Vincent June, one of those great leaders who continues to seek ways to improve. His leadership has had a tremendous impact on the institutions and communities that he has served. As a result, he was the recipient of a 2026 Studer Education Difference Maker Award.
Listen as Dr. June shares candid advice and wisdom about what good leadership looks like and feels like and the value of becoming a student of leadership.
Recommended Resources: Leaders as Lifelong Learners, Higher Education Isn't One Size Fits All
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Change is everyday business for leaders, and employees rely on leaders to guide them through change by effectively managing and leading change efforts.
Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the idea that change is everyday business and shares three key concepts related to how leaders can effectively manage and lead the "everyday business" of change:
- Align leader behaviors that produce results and consider what this means in relation to change.
- Apply tactics to show people that they are valued and to demonstrate that what they do adds value.
- Commit to the reality that solid performance is not good enough.
Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Just Start: Driving Change in Education
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
People want to do good work, and they want to work in an organization that has a positive work environment. According to Kelly Krostag, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services for Escambia County Public Schools in Florida, a positive work environment “is the culture,” and she shares that developing, implementing, and living standards of excellence in the organization can transform organizational culture.
In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with Ms. Krostag about how the Human Resource Services Department of Escambia County Public Schools created and implemented standards of behavior and the positive impact those standards have had on the culture of the department. She also shares how she recognizes the standards “walking the halls.” Listen to hear how standards of excellence can make a positive impact on organizational culture.
Recommended Resources: Develop and Apply Standards of Excellence, Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
On the heals of Studer Education's 2026 Destination High Performance Higher Education Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the event and her takeaways. She calls out an idea shared by Dr. Brendan Kelly, President of Eastern Michigan University: the idea that education institutions serve and support students best when they align "what they do" with what students want and need -- not what the institution wants and needs. Listen as Dr. Pilcher shares a way to identify what students want and need and how education institutions can align what they do to student wants and needs with the intention of enhancing the student experience.
Recommended Resources: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards, Get Aligned: Strategic Plans, Scorecards, and Measures that Matter
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
As Dr. Kristine Strickland, Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College, proposes in this week’s episode, strategic plans are important…if they don’t sit on a shelf to collect dust. Rather, as Dr. Strickland shares, strategic plans must be “alive” in daily work and conversations to keep everyone in an organization aligned with the goals and priorities outlined in the strategic plan. Scorecards are one effective way to keep strategic plans alive and a central focus of daily work.
Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Strickland discuss how scorecards have kept Fletcher Technical Community College moving toward collective goals. They explore how scorecards help internal and external stakeholders understand where the organization is going, how they are tracking toward goals, and how the work of each individual in the organization supports goal attainment. Listen to hear how scorecards have helped Fletcher take their strategic plan “off the shelf.”
Recommended Resources: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards, Get Aligned: Strategic Plans, Scorecards, and Measures that Matter
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Employees want to feel valued and heard at work. When they feel this way, they feel safe sharing ideas, are motivated to do their best, and see the impact of their contributions and the contributions of others. In these ways, value and voice build a strong workplace culture. Rounding and recognition can help add value and voice to an organization to a strong culture.
Listen to this conversation between Dr. Janet Pilcher and Mr. Bill Adams, a Studer Education Leader Coach, to learn how to use rounding and recognition as tactics to add voice and value to an organization. They discuss
- the value of rounding and recognition,
- how rounding and recognition work together, and
- how organizations have successfully implemented rounding and recognition.
Recommended Resources: Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition, Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition, The Power of Reward and Recognition
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Bright spots of good work are all around us in organizations. It is a leader's responsibility to create ways for people to harvest the stories of these bright spots. These stories reinforce why someone's work is valued, the impact it has on others, and how individual contributions make a positive impact. “Connecting to Purpose" is a tactic outlined in Pillar 4 of the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence that highlights an approach to sharing bright spots. Connecting to Purpose stories are powerful.
In today’s episode, Dr. KK Owen shares the Connecting to Purpose story of a struggling school district that changed their community by saving education. They transformed the perceptions and outcomes of their district through hard work and an unwillingness to give up. This is a story of how education can save a community by restoring hope, pride, and success. Listen as Dr. Owen shares the story of Tarrant City School District and what we can all learn from the “Little School District That Could.”
Recommended Resources: Transform Communities by Transforming Schools, Bridging Community Divides
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
In preparation for an upcoming webinar, Dr. Janet Pilcher provides a brief introduction to the idea that feedback is a gift. She discusses how feedback is a two-way gift – leaders must provide and receive feedback. Feedback is a gift that provides valuable data that informs solid decisions, but it must be received with the right mindset. Listen as Janet shares tips for receiving feedback in the “right” way; explains how leaders must provide meaningful, constructive feedback; and explains how leaders receive feedback as a means to improvement.
Recommended Resources: Listen, Learn, Improve: The Gift of Feedback, Master the Art of Feedback
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Every day in an organization, good work is being done. Ensuring that all this good work is aligned and focused on the same goals and outcomes is what Superintendent Michael Maine of Martin County, Florida calls getting “locked tight,” and Superintendent Maine is a master at this alignment process.
In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher and Superintendent Maine discuss how getting locked tight has resulted in the success of Martin County School District. Listen as they explore the power of aligning strategic plans, goals, scorecards, and measures that matter; and they talk about the importance of having a strong, united team working together to create this alignment.
Recommended Resources: Measure Impact to Drive Improvement,Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Getting feedback is one thing; capturing feedback with the mindset that it is a gift is another.The idea that “feedback is a gift” relates to proactively seeking feedback to better understand what is working well and what needs improvement. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher and, Kathy Myles, a Studer Education Leader Coach, as they explore the idea of feedback being a gift and listening to others for the purpose of learning.
Kathy shares her personal experiences and suggests that feedback isn't personal; it's about the system, and it's about improvement. When leaders hold this mindset, they see feedback as a gift and use feedback to grow and improve.
Listen as Janet and Kathy discuss:
- how leaders can listen to learn,
- tips for developing the mindset that feedback is a gift, and
- tactics for effectively listening to learn.
Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Feedback Is a Gift...or is it
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Good leaders continuously seek improvement; they want to grow and learn. They lead the way in growing, improving, and surpassing status quo. The 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence frame these kinds of continuous improvement efforts and shape how leaders execute effective leadership practices. The Pillars offer the means to grow, learn, and excel in leadership.
In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses the DHP 2026 Virtual K12 Leadership Conference, an opportunity for leaders to see the 9 Pillars in action, grow their leadership skills, and share their continuous improvement stories. Listen as Dr. Pilcher provides an overview of this conference and the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence. Our goal is to support leaders who are on a continuous improvement journey develop effective leadership practices and learn how to use specific strategies, concepts, and tactics in everyday work to be the best leaders they can be.
Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Building Lasting Impact with 9 Pillars for Leadership Excellence
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
"Words have power," which is why Dr. Janet Pilcher issues a call for leaders to be thoughtful of words, choosing them carefully and using them in positive ways. Leaders model how to use words effectively, and operationalizing values, including those related to how words are used, encourages the use of words that build a positive workplace culture.
Listen as Dr. Pilcher
- discusses two compelling quotes about the power of words,
- explains why words matter,
- challenges leaders to be intentional about their words, and
- ties the power of words to Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment.
Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Use Words With Purpose, Count Your Words
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Improvement is a team effort, and teams must support one another to be able to move forward together. As Dr. Jennifer Kubista, Superintendent of Central School District 13J in Oregon states, “You have to be reflective and working hard together.” Survey data provides the data and feedback for an organization to reflect on and work on together. In fact, effectively using survey results can improve an organization and its culture. In this episode, Dr. Kubista shares how acting on survey data has done just that in her school district.
This episode addresses questions such as
- What is the value of survey data?
- Why is it important to act on survey data and feedback?
- How does survey data connect with organizational improvement?
Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Kubista discuss these and other questions and explore the powerful story of one district’s journey toward improvement by using survey results to move toward real growth.
Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Use Feedback to Unlock Operational Excellence, Convert Surveys to Solutions
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
In this episode, Dr. KK Owen, a leader coach at Studer Education, shares that “our best chance of success is through our people.” As she explains, it’s for this reason that people need to understand that they are valued and that they bring value to an organization. Building a people-first mindset allows for this kind of focus through recognition, intentional communication, and shining lights on bright spots.
What is a people-first mindset? What does it look like? Why is it important, and how can it be built? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Owen discuss these questions and explain why leaders must "just start" intentionally recognizing good work, shining lights on bright spots, upholding the good work and value of others, and maintaining a “people-first” mindset.
Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Transform District Culture with People-First Strategies, People-First Leadership in Classrooms and Communities
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
According to Dr. Reggie Todd, the guest in this episode, “Service excellence is critical because it directly shapes the experiences people have with an organization.” The truth is that service matters, and service excellence is an all day, every day, all-in proposition.
What does it mean to have great customer service? What does service excellence entail? How can you build service excellence practices in your organization? These are questions addressed in this episode. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Todd as they dive into these and other questions related to Pillar 6: Exceed Customer Expectations from the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence.
Listen to learn how you can transform your customer service practices from good to great and how you can positively shape the experiences people have with your organization.
Recommended Resources: 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Provide Excellent Service, How K12 District Leaders Can Foster Service Excellence
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Do you want to improve your communication skills but don’t know how to get started? This episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast is for you! Join Dr. Janet Pilcher in the third episode in a series focused on communication and Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment, part of the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher provides practical tactics that you can use to communicate effectively and build a positive, trusting workplace culture. Because as Dr. Pilcher explains, as leaders, our communication “can make the biggest difference for those we serve each and every day.”
In this episode, Dr. Pilcher shares how to effectively use two tactics from the 9 Pillars for Leadership Excellence Toolkit that are specifically related to communicating for alignment: Key Words at Key Times and Starting with "Why."
Listen to hear why these tactics are important and how you can immediately use them to enhance your communication by using words with purpose.
Recommended Resources: Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment, 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, Words Have Power
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Effective leadership necessitates effective communication.
If you want to grow your communication skills, join Dr. Janet Pilcher this week for the second episode in a series related to Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment. In this episode, she shares specific communication barriers and ways to tackle to those barriers.
Listen as Dr. Pilcher explains how communication barriers impact employees and leadership and how you can grow your leadership through effectively managing communication barriers. This episode will leave you armed with at least one thing that you can begin doing immediately to improve your communication skills. Then, as Dr. Pilcher suggests, "when you think of that one thing, go do it and then see what happens."
Recommended Resources: Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment, 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
“Great leadership requires leaders to be great communicators.”
That’s why Dr. Janet Pilcher shares a deeper dive into Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment, one of the overarching 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence.
Join her for the first in a series of episodes exploring:
- the importance of communicating effectively;
- the value of communicating for alignment;
- the barriers to effective communication; and
- the tactics to ensure communication is positive, impactful, and results-driven.
Dr. Pilcher also pauses to express gratitude for coaches and partners doing meaningful work in the field. As she shares, “We can always spend time learning to improve and expressing gratitude.”
Recommended Resources: Building Lasting Impact with 9 Pillars for Leadership Excellence, 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence: A New Operating System for Education, 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence Toolkit
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Sometimes, a pause is all that is needed to get an organization moving faster. This may sound counterintuitive, but, as Dr. Casey Blochowiak explains, pausing to reflect on what may be bogging down systems and processes allows organizations to refine their work, improve processes, and operate more efficiently.
Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with Dr. Blochowiak, Vice President of Coaching at Studer Education, about how improving processes can save resources that can then be invested in students and their learning. The partner stories Dr. Blochowiak shares demonstrate how organizations are effectively using the power of the pause to strengthen processes and reinvest in student success.
Recommended Resource: Go Slow to Go Fast
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, Founder and President of Studer Education, as she reflects on four decades in education leadership and shares why this moment calls for greater focus, consistency, and action.
In this episode, Dr. Pilcher explains the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence—a practical leadership operating system designed to help organizations move from intention to results.
Listen to hear how leaders can:
- Establish consistent leadership behaviors and routines that build trust and alignment.
- Focus on what matters most to drive engagement, performance, and improvement.
- Create people-first systems that sustain excellence over time.
This episode sets the foundation for a deeper exploration of the 9 Pillars and invites leaders to reflect on where they are, where they want to go, and the next step they can take to lead their organizations to the next level.
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Are you looking for an effective way to shift organizational culture? Listen to hear why Ms. Marni Herrington, Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of the Oxford School District in Mississippi, can confidently proclaim, “rounding has changed our culture.”
Find out how the Oxford School District is using rounding to build a positive culture that is focused on improvement as Dr. Pilcher and Deputy Superintendent Herrington discuss how rounding upholds the bright spots, captures meaningful feedback, identifies areas for improvement, and shapes effective processes. They also explore how the K12 Rounding app has enhanced the district’s rounding efforts and allowed them to capitalize on the power of recognizing people for their good work.
Recommended Resources: K-12 Leader Rounding, Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
When applied consistently and effectively, one simple practice can have a tremendous impact on culture and create a ripple effect across your organization. What is that practice? Rounding.
In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Samantha Sands, Director of Customer Success for K-12 Rounding, to discuss how small, intentional interactions help leaders build trust, strengthen culture, and boost engagement.
Together, Janet and Samantha explore what successful rounding looks like in practice, why recognition and follow-up matter, and how leaders can turn what they learn into meaningful change. Samantha also shares real examples of how districts are using rounding to ensure employees feel seen, valued, and heard, and how the right tools can help leaders transform insights into action that drives improvement.
Recommended Resources: K-12 Leader Rounding, Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, Founder and President of Studer Education, as she welcomes the new year with reflections on a longstanding commitment to worthwhile work that helps educational leaders make a meaningful, lasting difference.
In this episode, Dr. Pilcher introduces the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence—a practical framework grounded in decades of field experience—to help leaders strengthen culture, align teams, and drive measurable results.
Listen to hear how leaders can:
- Establish shared practices that build consistency and trust across their organizations.
- Apply leadership tactics to strengthen communication, recognition, and performance.
- Take purposeful, actionable steps that create lasting impact for students, staff, and communities.
Whether you’re leading a school, district, or team, this episode offers inspiration and practical guidance to move leadership from potential to performance—one step, one tactic, and one pillar at a time.
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, Founder and President of Studer Education, for the final Accelerate Your Performance episode of the year as she reflects on the moments, partnerships, and lessons that shaped Studer Education’s path. Dr. Pilcher expresses her deep gratitude for the early leaders who helped lay the foundation for this work and celebrates the enduring impact of aligning culture, strategy, and purpose in education.
Recommended Resources: Keep Your Organizational Flywheel Spinning with Gratitude, How Gratitude Anchors Organizations, Show Your Gratitude
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day challenges of leadership, but what if our most powerful tool is simply focusing on what's working well? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher explains how recognizing bright spots creates a powerful loop of purpose and builds the sense of belonging that helps employees know they matter.
Recommended Resources: Keep Your Organizational Flywheel Spinning with Gratitude, Wrapping Up the Year with Purpose, How Gratitude Anchors Organizations
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Consistent practices keep the organizational flywheel spinning, and one practice is essential, especially during the holidays: gratitude.
In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher explains how intentional appreciation connects people back to the core values of purpose and worthwhile work. Listen to learn how to connect an individual's specific behavior to its organizational impact, sending a clear message of "what right looks like" and strengthening the bond with your school community.
Recommended Resources: Creating the Momentum to Achieve Organizational Excellence in Education Systems, How Gratitude Builds Great Teams
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
"Culture and strategic improvement—those are inseparable." This is a guiding philosophy of Dr. Jamie Burkhart, Director of Women in Leadership at the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA).
Joining Dr. Janet Pilcher, Dr. Burkhart discusses her leadership journey and demonstrates why "going slow to go fast" is the only sustainable path to strategic improvement. She also details how MASA's Women in Leadership Initiative has grown from a group of five women to a statewide cohort focused on multiplying leadership, building capacity, and intentionally growing the next generation of female leaders across the state.
Listen to hear how focusing on people and purpose helps leaders tackle current challenges like recruitment, retention, and political pressures.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are the most pressing and significant trends facing educational leaders today, and how can professional organizations effectively support them?
- What is the critical relationship between organizational culture and strategic improvement?
- How does a leader build a foundation for lasting positive change?
Recommended Resources: The Culture-Strategy Equation: Reflections from the AASA Conference, Empowered Leaders and Aligned Values, Go Slow to Go Fast
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
"Education is truly the conduit to freedom."
This powerful belief drives Superintendent Dr. Tremayne Clardy of the Verona Area School District. Joining Dr. Janet Pilcher, he discusses how the district is strategically establishing literacy as the driving force behind all its work. Dr. Clardy explains why, in today's complex world, strong literacy is the path to student freedom and the one way to ensure every child gains the critical thinking skills necessary to thrive. Listen to hear how this singular focus fuels a disciplined, systemic practice that ensures consistency across the organization.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What is the strategic role of literacy in a district's overall mission?
- How does systems alignment ensure that all students have equitable access to opportunities?
Recommended Resources: Listen Humbly and Learn Continuously, Transform Communities by Transforming Schools, Remember Your Why: From Struggle to Purpose
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Recurring problems demand a shift in focus. In this final rapid-fire episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three essential steps to move away from blame and toward process improvement. Learn what it takes to reframe discussions, conduct a system audit, and hardwire new, standardized processes for better performance and desired outcomes.
Recommended Resources: Empower Your Team by Embracing Accountability, Achieve Operational Efficiency with Process Improvement, Process Improvement Tool: Stoplight Report
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
External noise is a constant, yet you can be a source of stability and trust. Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three actionable steps educational leaders can take to proactively share their story and build strong allies. In five minutes, learn how to anchor conversations to your scorecard, lead with what's right, and ensure message consistency across your system.
Recommended Resources: Save Time with Proactive Communication, Communicate at All Levels, Communicate Clearly, With Simplicity
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
October burnout is real, and the first 90 days are critical for new hires. Don't leave retention to chance. In this second rapid-fire episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three intentional executive actions to help leaders secure their best people and create a culture where staff want to stay.
Recommended Resources: Retain New Hires with 30- and 90-Day Conversations, Studer Education 30/90-day Conversation Guide, Create Connections Through Rounding
Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
In the first of four rapid-fire episodes, Dr. Janet Pilcher delivers three essential steps educational leaders can take right now to protect their mission and secure their future. Listen now and learn how to operationalize your budget with discipline and strategic focus.
Recommended Resources: Build Trust to Strengthen Culture, Measuring Progress and Fostering Excellence: The Power of Scorecards
Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she welcomes Joseph Murley, Director of Finance for Barren County School District, to discuss how a district-wide survey revealed a surprising breakdown in the district's online fundraising system. Joe explains how he then modeled a new survey to pinpoint the root cause of the problem. Finally, he shares the impact of leader rounding, demonstrating how showing care for your people is the foundation for driving connection.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can operations leaders use internal surveys and data to pinpoint system inefficiencies?
- What are the benefits of leading with service and explaining the "why" to internal teams instead of just mandating compliance?
- What is the "Lone Wolf" problem, and why is eliminating it essential for building a high-performing team culture?
Recommended Resources: Getting 1% Better Every Day,Alignment and Accountability in Operations, Excellence in Operations
Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
Visions in Education, a charter school serving nine counties across Northern California, is thriving—even as many districts face declining enrollment. Listen as Chief Operations Officer, Tom Tafoya, discusses their evolution to meet the changing needs of their students and families in their unique online environment.
Tom shares how his team approaches each day with a '1% better' philosophy to drive massive efficiencies, grow enrollment, and even catch the eye of Amazon. Listen now and learn how he built a high-performing operations team dedicated to student success.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does a '1% Better' philosophy translate into high-performing leadership actions?
- How can operations departments move toward innovative systems that accelerate student success?
Recommended Resources: Alignment and Accountability in Operations, Excellence in Operations, Connecting Operations to Student Success
Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/
Follow Host Dr. Janet Pilcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetpilcher/
In this final live episode from the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Dr. Heidi Eliopoulos, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona. With over two decades in education, Heidi shares her leadership journey—from an "accidental superintendent" to a high-performing leader.
Tune in as Dr. Eliopoulos highlights the essential role of leadership coaching. She also discusses how she has successfully hardwired personal connections through practices like rounding and recognition, and why a relentless pursuit of improvement has been central to her district's success.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does leadership coaching provide personalized support and drive continuous improvement?
- Why is it important for leaders to actively seek out mentors?
- How can you effectively hardwire practices like rounding and recognition for genuine, lasting connections?
Recommended Resources: Leadership Development is a Must-Have, Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition, Create Connections Through Rounding
Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/
In another live episode recorded at the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Superintendent Dr. Casey Nye of D.C. Everest Area School District. Listen as Dr. Nye shares his approach to building and sustaining a strong culture of caring and continuous improvement. He shares how his district:
- intentionally gathers feedback from families through surveys,
- uses that data to drive meaningful action,
- and communicates with empathy and transparency, especially during difficult moments.
He also discusses the importance of creating a supported, resilient leadership team and the role of gratitude in combating loneliness and creating joy.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can a school district effectively use parent surveys to build stronger relationships with families?
- What does it mean to be a leader who is both empathetic and effective during challenging times?
- Why is it crucial to create a culture of support for district leaders?
Recommended Resources: Lead People with Purpose, Achieve Sustainable Impact with Rounding and Surveys, How Gratitude Builds Great Teams
Learn more about and register for DHP Hemet: https://studereducation.com/dhp-hemet-2025/
In this live episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Dr. Cory Strasser, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Rapid City Area Schools. In a special conversation recorded at the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Strasser shares his proven approach to building a "people first" culture. Listen as he reveals how his commitment to intentional, values-based leadership, including strategies like feedback loops and rounding, has led to significant gains in student, parent, and employee experience.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What does it mean to be a leader who puts people first?
- How are intentional, follow-up conversations more impactful than data alone?
- Why is gratitude a key driver of positive culture and organizational excellence?
Recommended Resources: Transform District Culture with People-First Strategies, Grow Your People, What K-12 Leaders Need to Know for Real, Lasting Improvement
This week, we close our series celebrating the release of Quint Studer and Dr. Janet Pilcher's book, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers. In this moving episode, Dr. Pilcher shares two more powerful stories about the educators who shape our lives.
First, hear from Dr. Pat Greco as she recalls how the simple moments of connection from caring educators helped her find belonging during a childhood of frequent moves. Then, a story from chapter 3 of the book, as Dr. Charlotte Boling shares her personal experience with a fifth-grade teacher who went above and beyond to meet both her academic and emotional needs after a family tragedy.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- Why are a teacher's "little moments" often the ones that leave the most lasting impression?
- How can educators create a sense of security and belonging for students during times of change?
Recommended Resources: Beyond the Ordinary: A 400th Episode Reflection, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers, The Lasting Impact of a Caring Educator
Purchase The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers at https://studereducation.com/books.
Dr. Janet Pilcher celebrates her new book, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers, by sharing powerful stories from two Studer Education team members. Listen as Tiffany Latshaw shares how a fourth-grade teacher's belief transformed her life, and hear from Dr. Casey Blochowiak about the school community that became a safe haven during a difficult time. Their experiences reveal how a teacher's simple act of kindness can change a child's life and how a school can become a vital source of security and hope.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does the simple act of a teacher "seeing" a student create a lasting sense of security and belonging?
- Why is a school so much more than a place for academics?
- What is the incredible power of one educator to change the trajectory of a child's life?
Recommended Resources: Beyond the Ordinary: A 400th Episode Reflection, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers
Purchase The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers at https://studereducation.com/books.
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she sits down with her co-author, Quint Studer, to discuss their new book, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers. In this special episode, Quint shares his personal and emotional story of how three teachers changed the course of his life and inspired him to become a special education teacher.
Listen as they explore the unique challenges and profound impact of the teaching profession, highlighting the importance of gratitude and creating a culture where educators feel seen, appreciated, and supported.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- Why is teaching a "lonely" job, and how can we support new teachers?
- What is the power of a teacher's influence, even when it goes unrecognized?
- How can we create a culture of appreciation and positivity for teachers in our communities?
Recommended Resources:
- Watch this episode: https://studereducation.com/the-extraordinary-gift-our-teachers-ayp
- Purchase The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers at https://studereducation.com/books.
- Learn more about Quint Studer and his work at https://quintstuder.com.
Welcome to a truly special episode of Accelerate Your Performance! In this 400th episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher takes us back to the roots of the podcast, celebrating six and a half years of sharing extraordinary leadership stories and journeys of continuous improvement. This episode also kicks off a powerful month-long focus on our gratitude for teachers, introducing Janet's new book with Quint Studer, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers. Tune in to rediscover how what seems ordinary in education is truly extraordinary and why recognizing our educators is more important now than ever.
Recommended Resources: The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers, Start the School Year with Appreciation, Strengthen Your Team by Hardwiring Gratitude
Continuing our series on Douglas School District's successful recognition strategies, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes School Nutrition Coordinator Jennifer Garner. Jennifer shares her heartfelt approach to staff appreciation, from personalized notes and engaging team activities to transparent communication. Learn how her dedication creates a culture where every team member feels deeply valued, driving remarkable results like 100% staff retention.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can leaders communicate effectively with their teams, especially when they are spread across different locations?
- Why is it important to tailor recognition to individual staff preferences?
- How does showing staff appreciation ultimately benefit students as well as district goals?
Recommended Resources: Elevate School Culture Through Appreciation, Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition
In the second part of a two-episode series, Dr. Janet Pilcher continues her conversation with Superintendent Rashon Hasan of Plainfield Public Schools. Drawing on his unique blend of education and business experience, Rashon shares advice on building powerful, transparent relationships between school boards and superintendents, emphasizing clarity, consistency, and communication.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does a background in operations and finance influence an approach to leadership?
- What unique insights can be gained from serving as both a board president and a district superintendent?
- What strategies can superintendents and school boards use to intentionally foster collaborative and trusting relationships?
Recommended Resources: Achieve Sustainable Impact with Rounding and Surveys (Part 1), Working with the School Board, Strengthening School Board Collaboration to Drive District Success
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
In the first part of a two-episode series, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Superintendent Rashon Hasan of Plainfield Public Schools. With a unique background spanning education and business, Rashon shares how rounding has become a cornerstone of his leadership, building trust and continuous engagement across his district. Listen to hear how Plainfield leverages surveys to gather feedback from students, parents, and staff, directly informing district actions and sharpening alignment. Finally, Rashon emphasizes the importance of hearing from every voice in the district, ensuring community perspectives are at the heart of every decision.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does rounding contribute to developing leadership capacity?
- How can leaders "make the complex simple" when implementing improvement strategies like rounding and surveys?
- Why is it crucial for leaders to be vulnerable and reflective when receiving feedback during rounding?
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Fuel Success with a Feedback Loop, Convert Surveys to Solutions, Amplify Student Voice
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Principal Jeannie Clark and second-grade teacher Ms. Laressa Finney share how Francis Case Elementary is taking gratitude to the next level. Listen as they join Dr. Janet Pilcher to explore the impact of recognition and appreciation on school culture, relationships, and morale. Learn how small, intentional gestures create powerful ripple effects that benefit students, parents, and the entire school community.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What role does recognition play in retaining employees and creating a positive work environment?
- How can leaders effectively build relationships with their staff and stay focused on positive aspects within their schools and districts?
- How does attending a school with a strong culture of gratitude positively affect students?
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Strengthen Your District with Rounding and Recognition, How Gratitude Anchors Organizations, Strengthen Your Team by Hardwiring Gratitude
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
It's one thing to acknowledge outcomes that miss the mark; it's quite another to intentionally transform them into rich learning opportunities. Listen as Dr. Peter Stiepleman, leadership coach and retired superintendent , shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher the foundational principle of his podcast: the importance of reflective practice.
This commitment to reflection is central to his podcast, An Imperfect Leader, where Peter interviews leaders weekly about decisions they made and what they learned from them. He and Janet then close with a discussion on the evolving landscape of education, including the integration of AI and the enduring value of connection and empathy in leadership.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How do we prepare for the future of education? What challenges might be ahead, and how can we plan for them?
- When decision-making, what does it mean to “engage those closest to the work,” and why is it necessary?
- How can after-action reviews equip leaders to improve decision-making and create a culture of continuous learning?
More about Dr. Peter Stiepleman: Visit his website to purchase his books and stream his podcast.
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Transform District Culture with People-First Strategies, Empower Your Team: Using Plus/Delta as a Template for Making Improvement Decisions
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
What if two simple practices could significantly improve your district's culture? Tune in as Superintendent Kevin Case of Douglas School District joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss the impact of intentional rounding and heartfelt recognition. They'll talk about how leaders going first in these practices creates a ripple effect, building an environment where employees, families, and students feel valued and supported. Learn how these essential tactics can strengthen your district from within.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are some tangible results of prioritizing a people-first approach in education?
- How do districts use intentional rounding and recognition to strengthen their culture?
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition,Fuel Success with a Feedback Loop
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
What inspires the Glencoe School District to keep working toward excellence every day? For Superintendent Dr. Catherine Wang, it all comes back to the students. Tune in as she shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher how her commitment to organizational development is shaping a thriving school district where leaders are empowered to reflect, learn, and grow. You'll also hear how they've transformed new staff onboarding to build a foundation of support and belonging for all new hires.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does a district build highly aligned leaders?
- What is the importance of having those directly involved in the work contribute to problem-solving?
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: The Relentless Pursuit of Consistent Growth, Leadership Development is a Must-Have, Pause, Reflect, and Plan for Progress
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
How does a high-achieving district continue to elevate its performance? According to Dr. Kelly Tess, Superintendent of Winnetka Public Schools, the answer lies with leaders who never stop learning and who embrace simplicity in their strategic approach. Tune in as she joins host Dr. Janet Pilcher to share how she and her team are relentlessly pursuing consistent student growth. Learn how high-achieving school district strategies and practices like comprehensive coaching, instructional consistency, and leadership vulnerability drive excellence and help everyone find meaning in their work.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- Why is it important for a high-performing district to continue to focus on improvement?
- What are the benefits of a simplified strategic plan for the team and community?
- How does a coaching model support the development and growth of leaders' skills to deliver on the strategic plan?
Recommended Resources: From a System of Schools to a School System, Leadership Development is a Must-Have
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Behind every educator is a driving purpose. For Jill Robinson-Wolgamott, Director of Teaching and Learning for K-5 in Bethel School District, that "why" is a powerful story of overcoming obstacles and dedicating her career to literacy education. Join host Dr. Janet Pilcher as Jill shares her inspiring journey, prompting us to reflect on our own driving purpose. You'll also learn how Bethel is achieving impressive literacy results and creating a strong culture of collective responsibility.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How do strategic tools drive widespread instructional improvement, specifically in literacy education?
- What impact does rounding have in fostering a culture of connection, trust, and gratitude?
- What's the essential fuel that drives and sustains all meaningful change?
Recommended Resources: Strengthen Your Team by Hardwiring Gratitude, Connecting to Purpose Gives us Courage
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
It's one thing to talk about service excellence, another to define it collaboratively and actually put it into practice. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher and Superintendent Dr. Derek Bub to learn how West Ada School District actively engages diverse voices to define shared service standards and uses a feedback process to build understanding and drive improvement.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- Why is it beneficial to involve a cross-functional team in defining service standards?
- How can a school district use its defined service excellence standards in practical ways, such as hiring and employee expectations?
- Why is closing the feedback loop by following up on survey results critical, and how can it be done effectively?
Recommended Resources: Focus on Service Excellence, Fuel Success with a Feedback Loop, Develop and Apply Standards of Excellence
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Why should educational leaders consider adopting a startup mentality? Dr. Janet Pilcher answers this question and guides you through the essential leadership and mindset shifts needed to thrive in today's evolving educational landscape. Tune in and learn which behaviors to embrace and which foundational principles to uphold.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What's the difference between leading with a legacy mentality and leading with a startup mentality?
- How can educational systems move from good to great?
- What are some characteristics of a startup that educational systems need to incorporate into their business model?
Recommended Resources: Four Focus Areas for Coaching Great Teams, The ABCs of Effective Goals
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
In Martin County School District, if it's important enough to measure, it's important enough to improve. Join Superintendent Michael Maine as he sits down with Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss his data-driven approach to continuous improvement. Listen now to hear how the district strategically gathers and shares feedback, transforming it into action plans that drive lasting change.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can organizations create a continuous improvement cycle using data and feedback effectively?
- In what ways do feedback loops improve communication and understanding across departments?
- How can leaders create a culture where feedback is welcomed?
Recommended Resources: Fuel Success with a Feedback Loop, Feedback is a Gift…or is it?, Cascade and Execute Your Strategic Plan
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she thoughtfully revisits the highlights and key takeaways from Studer Education's recent virtual Destination High Performance conference. Listen as she describes the four essentials elements at the core of leadership and emphasizes what it means to do work that is purposeful, worthwhile, and makes a positive impact.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are some foundational tactics that develop trust between leaders and their employees?
- What are the four leadership essentials?
- What comes first: culture or strategy?
Recommended Resources: The Culture-Strategy Equation: Reflections from the AASA Conference, Stomp Out We/They Culture, Fuel Success with a Feedback Loop
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to access the conference sessions on demand.
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Don't miss this special cross-over episode with our partners at Escambia County Public Schools and their Voices United in Education podcast. Meredith Hackwith Edwards interviews Dr. Robin Largue, a retired Leader Coach from Studer Education. Dr. Largue shares how the strategic use of data and goals, combined with strong leadership and relationships, build thriving and high-performing schools.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does coaching bring together parents, students, and school staff to support every child's success?
- How does leadership extend beyond a title?
- What are specific daily actions leaders can take to positively impact the culture?
Recommended Resources: Transform District Culture with People-First Strategies, How Three School Districts Are Solving Problems and Driving Student Excellence, Grow Your People
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"An organization with a hero is a sign of weakness,” begins Dr. Heidi Eliopoulous, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona. Join her and Dr. Janet Pilcher as they dismantle the myth of the lone-ranger leader, focusing on the impact of collective growth. Discover why investing in leadership development, particularly developing leadership teams in school systems, is a "must-have," not a "nice-to-have." Listen as Heidi shares tactics that drive improvements in student well-being and academic performance, empowering you to create meaningful change in your district.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What impact does leadership development have on students and families?
- What are some tools and tactics used for leadership development?
- How does a focus on leader development translate into the creation of a more positive and supportive culture within the school district?
Recommended Resources: Stomp Out We/They Culture, Boost Employee Retention Through Leadership Development, Leadership Development is a Lifeline
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Whether you're building a championship team or a successful organization, consistent effort and a structured approach will get you to the finish line. At El Dorado County Office of Education, short cycles of improvement are a core part of their winning strategy. Tune in as Dr. Janet Pilcher sits down with Dr. Ed Manansala, Superintendent of Schools, to hear how he leads short cycles of improvement to drive real change. He’ll also share specific examples of how these cycles are applied to improve processes in multiple departments, from transportation to IT. Listen now as Dr. Manansala highlights how this focus on improvement fuels his team's success, and learn how you can apply it with your own teams.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How do short cycles of improvement provide accountability and focus?
- How do you know when to scale improvements?
- Why is it important to honor the voice of students and staff in the improvement process?
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Create Momentum with Short Cycles of Improvement, Becoming an Improvement Organization, Bridging Community Divides
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Strong cultures empower winning strategies, and well-executed strategies reinforce strong and healthy cultures. But how do you actually begin the work of transforming a school district's culture? Join Dr. Adam Leckie, Superintendent of Casa Grande Elementary School District, as he discusses with Dr. Janet Pilcher how centering his faculty, staff, and students is the core of driving substantial improvement. Listen as he unpacks strategies that build this culture, empowering his team to execute with excellence.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can a people-first approach be practically implemented to empower those leading daily improvement initiatives?
- What are practical ways to show gratitude and service to the people within a school district?
- How can data-driven insights be used to accurately measure improvement and guide strategic decisions?
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: People-First Leadership in Classrooms and Communities, The Culture-Strategy Equation: Reflections from the AASA Conference, Cultivating a Culture of Gratitude and Continuous Improvement in the Casa Grande Elementary School District
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Are you seeing the impact you want from your organization's efforts? Tune in now and discover strategies to enhance operational efficiency with Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco. Gain insights on improving processes, maximizing outcomes, and identifying hidden inefficiencies. If you’re committed to better serving your employees, students, and families, listen now to learn how to drive peak operational efficiency.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does a focus on operational excellence contribute to an organization’s financial health?
- How does the rounding process contribute to process improvement and employee engagement?
- How can leaders harness the expertise of their employees to identify and eliminate process barriers?
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: The Culture-Strategy Equation: Reflections from the AASA Conference, Lean In, Stay Curious, and Other Leadership Lessons, Grow Your People
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Do you want to see your district’s strategy thrive? Start with your culture. Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco unpack the crucial link between school district culture and strategic execution, sharing inspiring examples from superintendents and partners at AASA‘s NCE conference. Listen now to learn how to build a foundation for lasting impact and uncover the essential area that many leaders overlook.
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Fuel Success with a Feedback Loop, Lean In, Stay Curious, and Other Leadership Lessons, Grow Your People
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Following the AASA conference and reflecting on recent episodes, Dr. Janet Pilcher highlights the importance of feedback loops in improving organizational performance. Listen as she emphasizes how leaders can use surveys and rounding conversations to gather input, identify areas for improvement, make data-driven decisions, and optimize performance so students can achieve better outcomes.
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards, From a System of Schools to a School System, Fuel Success with a Feedback Loop
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
When Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum looks back at his career and wishes he’d started one thing sooner, it’s rounding. Tune in as he explains how the practice of rounding has transformed the San Benito High School District—from the boardroom to the classroom. Listen now to learn how this approach to gathering feedback and integrating it with district services surveys creates a feedback loop that drives positive and lasting change.
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Rounding for Results,Create Connections Through Rounding, Strengthening School Board Collaboration to Drive District Success
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Showing gratitude is an often overlooked yet essential practice for leading organizations effectively. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher reveals three practical ways to embed gratitude into your organization and connect your team to their purpose.
Recommended Resources: Cultivating a Culture of Gratitude and Continuous Improvement in the Casa Grande Elementary School District,How Gratitude Anchors Organizations, Pursue Gratitude and Goodwill
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 7
Superintendent Bradley Roberson of Oxford School District is a leader who understands that true improvement transcends individual schools. He's committed to scaling successful practices across his district, throughout the state of Mississippi, and beyond. Join him in a conversation with Dr. Janet Pilcher as they dive into the strategies and culture he's built to achieve organizational excellence and, ultimately, student excellence.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How do you create synergy and alignment across different schools in the same district?
- Why is organizational excellence essential for student excellence?
- What are the key mindsets and behaviors that drive continuous improvement?
Part 1: Four Focus Areas for Coaching Great Teams (episode page)
Part 2: Building Leadership Capacity Through Daily Huddles (episode page)
Part 3: Create Momentum with Short Cycles of Improvement (episode page)
Part 4: Leaders as Lifelong Learners (episode page)
Part 5: Leaders as Collaborative Teammates (episode page)
Part 6: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards (episode page)
Part 7: From a System of Schools to a School System (episode page)
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 6
How do you empower students to set learning goals and track their own data? Principal Lori Phillips of Oak Grove Elementary shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher how a schoolwide scorecard drives both student achievement and teacher collaboration. Listen as she shares how working together toward a common goal has broken down silos and improved student test scores, attendance, and behavior.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What role does a collaborative scorecard play in driving student achievement?
- How can a scorecard build alignment across the school?
- How can schools break down silos and foster a collaborative culture among teachers?
Part 1: Four Focus Areas for Coaching Great Teams (episode page)
Part 2: Building Leadership Capacity Through Daily Huddles (episode page)
Part 3: Create Momentum with Short Cycles of Improvement (episode page)
Part 4: Leaders as Lifelong Learners (episode page)
Part 5: Leaders as Collaborative Teammates (episode page)
Part 6: Drive Student Achievement with Scorecards (episode page)
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 5
Escape the reactive cycle and become a solutions-focused leader. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she returns for Part 2 of her interview with Dr. Holly Ellis. Listen as Janet reveals how a systems approach to leadership creates an engaged and productive work environment that tackles root causes and empowers teams to perform at their best. Continuing the discussion from Part 1, she also highlights the importance of leaders acting as both coaches and teammates.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How do I move beyond a "band-aid" approach to problem-solving and address root causes within my organization?
- What does a systems approach to leadership look like in practice?
- What are the qualities of excellent leaders?
Part 1: Four Focus Areas for Coaching Great Teams (episode page)
Part 2: Building Leadership Capacity Through Daily Huddles (episode page)
Part 3: Create Momentum with Short Cycles of Improvement (episode page)
Part 4: Leaders as Lifelong Learners (episode page)
Part 5: Leaders as Collaborative Teammates (episode page)
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 4
In this special episode, Studer Education's very own Dr. Holly Ellis flips the script and interviews podcast host Dr. Janet Pilcher. Listen to the first half of their conversation as Janet shares her reflections on recent conversations with Dr. Christi Barrett and Dr. Ryan Carpenter, exploring the essential role of coaching and continuous learning in effective leadership.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How is coaching integral to effective leadership?
- How can we transition from a compliance-focused mindset to a performance-based mindset?
- How does being a good leader also mean being a good teammate?
Part 1: Four Focus Areas for Coaching Great Teams (episode page)
Part 2: Building Leadership Capacity Through Daily Huddles (episode page)
Part 3: Create Momentum with Short Cycles of Improvement (episode page)
Part 4: Leaders as Lifelong Learners (episode page)
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 3
Tune in to hear Dr. Ryan Carpenter, Superintendent of Estacada School District, share how he implements short cycles of improvement to build momentum and achieve results. Listen as he candidly discusses with Dr. Janet Pilcher how one short cycle of improvement often leads to the next and emphasizes the significance of completing the cycles you begin. He closes with a powerful message on empowering and engaging your team so they can execute with confidence.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can organizations avoid getting overwhelmed by large goals and data?
- What tools and strategies can be used to gather input from employees?
- How can organizations measure the success of their improvements?
Part 1: Four Focus Areas for Coaching Great Teams (episode page)
Part 2: Building Leadership Capacity Through Daily Huddles (episode page)
Part 3: Create Momentum with Short Cycles of Improvement (episode page)
Destination High Performance 2025: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Communicate at All Levels, Enhance Communication with Scorecards and Huddles
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 2
In part 2 of the series, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes back Dr. Christi Barrett, Superintendent of Hemet Unified School District, to dig into the impact of daily leadership huddles. Listen as Christi shares how this tool has reshaped her district's approach to student behavior, improved outcomes, and strengthened leadership capacity.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are daily leadership huddles, and how do they work?
- How do huddles create a culture of continuous improvement?
- What strategies ensure huddles are effective and sustainable over time?
Part 1: Four Focus Areas for Coaching Great Teams (episode page)
Part 2: Building Leadership Capacity Through Daily Huddles (episode page)
Recommended Resources: Continuous Improvement Through Leadership, Moving From Hope to Action
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series PremiereJoin Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, as she kicks off a new series that empowers leaders to become great coaches of their teams. In this short solo episode, Janet highlights four key focus areas for driving peak organizational performance in 2025. She also sets the stage for upcoming episodes, where she’ll interview leaders about the specific tactics they use to support these focus areas.
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
As the year comes to a close, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the beauty of the holiday season, the lessons we can learn from A Charlie Brown Christmas, and the importance of finding purpose in the small things that bring us joy. Join Janet for a short, heartfelt episode as she reminds us to celebrate the messy yet beautiful moments of life. What’s your “little tree” this season?
Recommended Resources: The Joy of Kindness,Practice Goodwill Intentionally
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
What does it mean to "start where you are," and how can leaders leverage a cadre of the willing to drive meaningful change? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Julie Giannini-Previde to hear how she’s leading McKinleyville Union School District in their continuous improvement journey. Learn how Julie fosters collective efficacy among her team, uses rounding to build stronger connections with staff, students, and parents, and navigates challenges with a focus on long-term growth.
Recommended Resources: Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, The ABCs of Effective Goals, Just Start
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
What does it take to lead a school district through tough facilities challenges? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Coy Sasse, Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Rapid City Area Schools, to hear how he champions a culture of excellence and positive accountability. Listen as Coy shares the strategies he and his team use to define, prioritize, and execute their most critical operations needs with strength and focus.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are the benefits of involving the community in strategic planning for facilities?
- What strategies can be used to prioritize facilities improvements?
- How can leaders promote positive accountability within facilities and operations teams?
Recommended Resources: Excellence in Operations, Connecting Operations to Student Success
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
How do you set goals that deliver results? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she unpacks the goal-setting process to help you prepare for the year ahead. Discover her "bull's eye" approach to identifying focus areas and growth opportunities, and hear her personal example of how effective goals must be achievable, believable, and backed by commitment.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How do we translate a strategic vision into actionable organizational goals?
- How does the scorecard serve as a structured framework to track progress towards goals and ensure alignment?
- In what ways do outcome, performance, and progress measures act as a roadmap for growth beyond simply tracking results?
Recommended Resources: Align Behaviors with Goals and Values,Spur Success with Audacious Goals, Refresh Strategic Goals to Move Forward
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
As we enter the Thanksgiving season, join Dr. Janet Pilcher for a heartwarming solocast celebrating the impact of kindness. Drawing on the message, "Be kind," she shares how her parents and a beloved teacher instilled the values of compassion and generosity in her upbringing. Finally, she closes with a warm wish for you to experience the joy of kindness.
Recommended Resources:How Gratitude Anchors Organizations, Practice Goodwill Intentionally, The Value of Kindness
Subscribe: Catch all the insights from our What’s Right in Education 2024 Conference by visiting http://www.studereducation.com/subscribe, where you'll receive the latest conference content as soon as it’s released.
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Expressing gratitude and recognizing a job well done are powerful leadership practices. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher describes how these practices build stability in both our personal and professional lives. Learn the importance of being specific and genuine in your appreciation, and be encouraged to thank those who make a difference every day.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What three factors challenge us in living out our core educational values?
- Why is expressing gratitude especially important in the face of external challenges?
- What are the most effective ways to recognize and appreciate others?
Recommended Resources:The Power of Reward and Recognition, Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition, Go Slow to Go Fast
Subscribe: Catch all the insights from our What’s Right in Education 2024 Conference by visiting http://www.studereducation.com/subscribe, where you'll receive the latest conference content as soon as it’s released.
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
What does it mean to be a people-first leader, and what impact does that have on a school and community? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher sits down with Dr. Adam Leckie, Superintendent of Casa Grande Elementary School District, to hear how his district is creating a culture of gratitude by intentionally recognizing and celebrating the hard work of employees. Learn how his people-first leadership approach begins with leaders and systems and extends to classrooms, ultimately creating a ripple effect that impacts the community.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What does it mean to be a people-first leader?
- What is the impact of leading classroom improvement on teachers, students, and the community?
- How does community and industry partnership play a role in educational success?
Recommended Resources: Grow Your People,Process Improvement Tool: Stoplight Report
Subscribe: Catch all the insights from our What’s Right in Education 2024 Conference by visiting http://www.studereducation.com/subscribe, where you'll receive the latest conference content as soon as it’s released.
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
How does going slow to go fast build a strong foundation for continuous improvement? Join Superintendent Ira Porchia and Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Marroquin of Tulare City School District as they share with Dr. Janet Pilcher how a thoughtful, deliberate approach is building alignment and fostering a sense of belonging. Hear how practices like rounding, consistent communication, and recognizing employee contributions are increasing employee engagement.
Recommended Resources: Focus on Employee Engagement, Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition, Sand Creek Zone-School District 49 Sets the Standard in Employee EngagementSubscribe: Catch all the insights from our What’s Right in Education 2024 Conference by visiting http://www.studereducation.com/subscribe, where you'll receive the latest conference content as soon as it’s released.
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
What is a rounding road show, and how is it being utilized by Oldham County Schools to achieve service excellence? Listen as Superintendent Dr. Jason Radford shares how he takes this tactic on the road so his leadership team can gain valuable input from all 1,500 employees. Learn how it positively impacts the district's culture and enhances service excellence satisfaction, as reflected in the district services survey.
Recommended Resources: Create Connections Through Rounding, Round for Employee Retention, Rounding for Success: A Superintendent’s Journey from Skepticism to ImpactRead and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Are you attending What’s Right in Education? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher previews Studer Education’s thirteenth annual K12 leadership conference, where leaders will gather to share impact stories and demonstrate how they apply the Nine Principles® Framework daily. Even if you're not able to attend, she invites you to continue tuning in each week as we highlight the stories of superintendents and executive leaders who are dedicated to creating great places to work, learn, and succeed.
Recommended Resources: What it Takes to Be a Level 10 Leader, What's Right in Education Playlist on YouTubeRead and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
To build excitement for the upcoming What's Right in Education conference in Colorado, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Superintendent Mike Crawford from nearby Mapleton Public Schools to talk about his continuous improvement journey. Listen as he shares how he maintains strong relationships with the school board, promotes collaboration among staff, and regularly engages in the rounding process.
Recommended Resources: Retain Employees in Education Using Leadership Rounding, Create Connections Through Rounding, Rounding for Success: A Superintendent’s Journey from Skepticism to Impact
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
Developing skilled leaders is a top priority at Manitou Springs School District 14. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she speaks with Superintendent Sean Dorsey about his dedication to building a robust leadership pipeline. Listen as he shares how his partnership with Studer Education empowers him to provide this development and achieve performance excellence within the district.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What is the importance of building both leadership capacity and leadership density within an organization?
- How does building a district scorecard create a sense of urgency for improvement?
- How can rounding be used to achieve various outcomes?
Recommended Resources: Hiring the Right Principal, Sand Creek Zone-School District 49 Sets the Standard in Employee Engagement, Measuring Progress and Fostering Excellence: The Power of Scorecards
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
What's a better mindset than "failing fast and failing often"? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she explores how reframing this phrase with positive language shifts the focus from failure to growth—exactly where it belongs in education.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Why I dislike the phrase "Fail Fast, Fail Often,"Continuous Improvement: Adjusting Through Disruption, How One School District Hardwired Continuous Improvement Practices to Change their Culture and Adjust through Disruption
WRiE Information & Registration: Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!
Hardwiring systems is non-negotiable. If we want to take calculated risks, we need stable foundations and reliable processes to weather disruptions. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher defines what it means to hardwire excellence in education and how this approach builds trust with employees, empowering them to feel deeply connected to their work and confident to innovate.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, The Maturity Model: Phases of Improvement in Organizational Excellence, What it Takes to Be a Level 10 Leader, Story Behind the Story: Hardwiring Excellence in Education
WRiE Information & Registration: Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!
What would a school look like if all faculty and support staff regularly met to discuss student successes and challenges? It would look exactly like Mountainside Success Academy in El Dorado County Office of Education. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Principal Maria Osborne and Instructional Strategist Sharon Shipley about their approach and experiences in leading and teaching students in alternative education. Listen to hear how they regularly meet with students to provide personalized support and integrate trauma-informed practices to address the unique needs of their students.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Excellence in Operations, Leverage Input to Spark and Sustain Change,Educational Perspectives from California
WRiE Information & Registration: Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!
How can you create departments that people want to work in? Amy Andersen and Meghan McAndrews, both operational leaders in El Dorado County Office of Education, join Dr. Janet Pilcher to share about their improvement work in human resources and transportation. Listen and learn how they’ve successfully implemented rounding and targeted training to elevate workplace culture, boost retention, and streamline onboarding practices.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Connecting Operations to Student Success, Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance
WRiE Information & Registration:Engage with your colleagues and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly for this October event!
Throughout the summer, Dr. Janet Pilcher has had the privilege of interviewing exceptional leaders and teachers from educational organizations across the country. Join her as she reflects on how these individuals demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence through their relentless focus on continuous improvement. Listen as she highlights how prioritizing improvement over mere accountability lays the foundation for sustained success in education.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Preparing Students for Success from Kindergarten and Beyond, Recalibrate to an Improvement Lens, Raise the Bar with a Growth Mindset, Moving from Hope to Action, Classroom Improvement That Empowers Students
WRiE Information & Registration:Engage with your peers and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at our annual K-12 leadership event, What's Right in Education. Visit studereducation.com/wrie to see the full speaker agenda and register. Seats are filling up quickly!
What can you achieve when you collaborate with students to identify their learning barriers and make a plan to overcome them? According to Kristen Anderson, Director of Instructional Development, and Cheyenne Roberts, Teaching and Learning Specialist, the answer is collective efficacy. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher along with Kristen and Cheyenne as they discuss Hemet Unified School District's classroom improvement journey. Listen as they share how a student-centered improvement framework is impacting achievement in math and creating a collaborative culture.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Moving from Hope to Action, Continuous Improvement through Leadership
WRiE Information & Registration:Engage with your peers and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at WRiE 2024: studereducation.com/wrie
As Dr. Christi Barrett from Hemet Unified School District reminds us in this episode, "Hope is not a plan." For meaningful improvement to occur, she emphasizes that leaders must use hope to fuel intentional actions. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages with Christi to discuss Hemet's ongoing improvement journey, with a special focus on their recent classroom initiatives. Listen as Christi highlights the crucial role of building trust with all stakeholders and explains how, once trust is established, intentional actions are driving significant improvements in student learning across the district.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Continuous Improvement through Leadership, Simple Strategies for Classroom Improvement, Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement
WRiE Information & Registration:Engage with your peers and learn to Hardwire Excellence in Education at WRIE 2024: studereducation.com/wrie
Creating a learning environment modeled on a healthy family unit might sound unconventional, but at Child Development Centers of Erie, Pennsylvania, it works. Join County Director Pam Sampsell and Lead Preschool Teacher Kaylee Kellerman as they share with Dr. Janet Pilcher their unique approach to help students ages 0-5 learn emotional self regulation. Listen as Pam and Kaylee share how classroom families and "wishing well" routines foster a sense of belonging and mutual respect so all kids in their care can thrive.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Innovation for the Whole Child,Preparing Students for Success from Kindergarten and Beyond
WRiE Information & Registration:Engage with your peers and learn to hardwire Excellence in Education at WRIE 2024: studereducation.com/wrie
Can you believe we've reached episode 350? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher in celebrating this milestone as she expresses her heartfelt gratitude to you. Listen as she encourages you to recognize someone this week by handwriting a thank-you note. And be inspired as she shares her own note of appreciation for you.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Transform Culture with Reward and Recognition, The Power of Reward and Recognition, Creating a Culture of Recognition
WRiE Information & Registration:Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie
Good leaders listen humbly, and as Dr. Janet Pilcher often says, they pay ridiculous attention to details. Join Janet and Dr. Kraig Sproles, Superintendent of Bethel School District, as they explore the intersection of analytical and interpersonal approaches in their leadership practices. Listen as Kraig shares his candid thoughts on failing forward, all in service of getting better at getting better for the students his district serves.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What's the difference between a strategic plan that sits on a shelf and a strategic plan that transforms the way you teach and reach your students?
- What role does humble listening play in the continuous improvement process?
- How does "failing forward" evolve from a challenge into a catalyst for growth?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Round for Employee Retention, Pause, Reflect, and Plan for Progress
WRiE Information & Registration:Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie
How do leaders stay true to their values during challenging times? And how do they respond to critical incidents and make tough decisions? Listen and learn as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco continue part two of their reflective conversation from last week where they address these questions and underscore how developing their people is at the heart of everything they do.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Lean In, Stay Curious, and Other Leadership Lessons, Building the Leadership Muscle to Improve Hiring and RetentionWRiE Information & Registration:Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie
What is impactful leadership? According to Dr. Janet Pilcher and returning guest, Dr. Pat Greco, it's all about making a difference, having a clear purpose, and creating meaningful and positive experiences for those they lead and serve. Listen now to hear part one of Janet and Pat's conversation about their key learnings over the past year, what it means to be a level ten leader, and lessons from the classroom they'll never forget.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Building the Leadership Muscle to Improve Hiring and Retention, Getting Better at Getting Better,Leadership Development is a LifelineWRiE Information & Registration:Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie
Join Dr. Janet Pincher for a special conversation with Dr. Chris Hartley, Deputy Executive Director at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence. Together they discuss the evolving educational priorities from both state and national perspectives. They also dig into California’s approach in building coherence around the services provided to all districts in California. Listen now to hear how Dr. Hartley says California is working to break down silos and showcase exemplar practices.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Service in the Relationship Business, Recalibrate to an Improvement LensWRiE Information & Registration:Early bird registration and discounted pricing open now through July 31, 2024. studereducation.com/wrie
What's more important than accountability? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Bradley Roberson from the Oxford School District, who emphasizes the importance of focusing on daily actions that truly make a difference. Listen as he highlights the significance of creating a workplace culture that celebrates innovation, recognizes small wins, and promotes trust.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What does it mean to shift from a lens of accountability to a lens of continuous improvement?
- How does focusing on actions rather than just goals help in achieving better outcomes?
- What are some ways building administrators use rounding to identify and solve school-wide problems?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Raise the Bar with a Growth Mindset, Cascading Scorecards to Achieve Continuous Improvement: The Oxford School District's Journey, Build a Culture of Improvement
What learning gains can students make when their teachers and leaders are practicing a growth mindset? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Principal Patches Calhoun and teacher Ms. LaTonya Smith from Della Davidson Elementary in Oxford, MS. Listen now to learn what it takes to create an inspiring workplace where mindset matters and students achieve phenomenal outcomes.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does creating a positive workplace culture enhance teacher motivation and increase student achievement?
- What specific actions do school leaders take to make teachers feel valued and supported?
- What challenges do classroom teachers face, and how can leaders help alleviate these challenges?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Building Trust with Teachers and Supporting Them, Align Behaviors with Goals and Values, Why Does Recognition Matter?
It may be the start of the summer, but it's prime planning time for educational leaders. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she explores three ways to think about building inspiring workplaces for our staff and inspiring classrooms for our students for the upcoming school year. Listen now as she highlights how educators and leaders can create remarkable experiences for all students all the time.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are some key lessons in building inspiring schools and workplaces?
- How can we provide remarkable experiences for our students?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Spur Success with Audacious Goals, The Value of Kindness, Creating the Momentum to Achieve Organizational Excellence in Education Systems
How can school districts effectively cascade and communicate strategic plans? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Todd Antony and Principal Jared Schaffer from the School District of Onalaska to hear how they emphasize clarity and alignment so people at all levels can be highly engaged and connected to the work of continuous improvement. Listen now as they discuss the role of scorecards and short cycles of improvement in driving meaningful change in their district.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What is the difference between having a strategic plan and operationalizing a strategic plan?
- What role do scorecards and short cycles of improvement play in the process of cascading a strategic plan from the district level to the school level?
- How does a strategic plan build clarity and alignment for employees and students?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Plan Strategically for Success, The Power of Collaboration in Strategic Planning, Plan and Execute for Organizational Excellence
What insights and lessons can be unpacked from the previous school year? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Charan Cline, Superintendent of Redmond School District, to hear how he utilizes reflective practice to identify both bright spots and challenges. Listen as Dr. Cline elaborates on how scorecard and survey results are an opportune moment for reflection before diving into decision-making.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How are scorecards and surveys useful in the reflection and planning process?
- How can leaders prioritize continuous learning and growth?
- How do rounding conversations clarify purpose and promote engagement within teams?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Pause, Reflect, and Plan for Progress, Moving from Reflection to Action
Purposefully pausing and reflecting paves the way for improvements and adjustments to be made in the upcoming school year. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Kathy Oropallo, a Leader Coach at Studer Education, to hear how she coaches her partners to evaluate the effectiveness of past strategies, celebrate wins, and address challenges. Kathy explains how tools like leader rounding and plus delta capture real-time data and shares insights on how she coaches leaders to move from reflection to action.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are the most important steps of the reflection process?
- How can leaders evaluate the effectiveness of past strategies?
- How can the insights gained during the reflection process be translated into actionable steps to take?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Pause, Reflect, and Plan for Progress, Transform Communities by Transforming Schools, Make Way for Improvement
The end of the school year is packed with obligations and events, but making time to pause, reflect, and plan for the upcoming school year is essential for continued growth. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she advises leaders to pause and reflect on organizational results and the alignment and consistency of leadership practices. Listen as Janet presents questions to guide leaders through this reflection, empowering them to plan for success in the year ahead.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does gaining feedback allow leaders to "get better at getting better"?
- What is the importance of pausing and reflecting before the planning process begins?
- How can leaders successfully measure that their priorities support the achievement of positive results, both organizationally and individually?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Reflect to Improve Your Leadership, Mindfulness and Reflection Practices for Leaders and Teams, The Power of Pause
Can effective leadership create ripple effects that extend beyond school walls? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she connects with Lisa Nellessen Saveage of the Pensacola News Journal to highlight the impact of CivicCon on the Pensacola community, and continue listening as she interviews Dr. Angela Bush of Jefferson County Schools, a recent CivicCon presenter, to hear how she spearheaded school improvement efforts that became a catalyst for community transformation. Listen as Dr. Bush emphasizes two of the Nine Principles that have shaped her leadership and explains how the principles she hardwired at Erwin Middle School can be replicated in any school.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are the broader impacts of successful leadership within an organization or community?
- How can well developed systems and processes be hardwired into an organization?
- What does it look like in practice to develop leaders to develop people?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, From CSI to a Top 5 School: Erwin Middle, a Jefferson County Success Story, Watch CivicCon: Learn how to lead a school out of low performance with Angela Bush, Align Behaviors with Goals and Values
What strategies can leaders use to navigate resistance to change and encourage employee buy-in? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages in a conversation with Mrs. Aubree Short, Principal of Los Tules Middle School in Tulare, California, to hear how surveys and rounding have proven to be pivotal tools in her journey toward school improvement. Aubree explains how post-COVID data revealed a need for improvement in climate and culture for both students and teachers. Listen as she reveals how collaboration amongst high performing employees has transformed Los Tules from a trauma-informed school to a trauma-sensitive school through the implementation of the Ready to Learn program.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How do data-driven insights transform school culture?
- What role do high-performing employees play in rolling out organizational changes?
- How can rounding with students and teachers be used to improve the change process?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Charting the Course: Leadership Strategies for Managing Change in Education, Coaching High Performers Through Resistance to Change, Fostering Resilient Learners
Inviting input from high performers early and often in the change process is one of the major keys to managing resistance in organizations. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she welcomes Dr. Charlotte Boling, a Leader Coach at Studer Education, to share how she coaches her partners to proactively prepare employees for success throughout the change process. Listen as Charlotte elaborates on the necessity of "facing the brutal facts" and explains how engaging high performers helps leaders to identify potential challenges and provide necessary support through organizational shifts.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does "facing the brutal facts" help leaders implement change?
- What proactive measures can leaders take to set up employees for success throughout the change process?
- How can leaders create a supportive culture that encourages feedback from high performers?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Charting the Course: Leadership Strategies for Managing Change in Education, Resistance to Change, Connecting with High Performers
How can leaders support high performers through organizational change? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher to hear actionable strategies for managing resistance to change among top performers. Listen now to hear how leaders can effectively guide employees through each phase of change, ensure a smoother transition process, and maintain high performance through organizational shifts.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are the four phases of change, and why are they important to understand?
- Why do high performers sometimes struggle with change despite their past successes?
- How can leaders involve high performers throughout the change process?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Charting the Course: Leadership Strategies for Managing Change in Education, Pay Attention to the Right Work, Did That Question Catch You Off Guard?
What is rounding like in action? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Deanna Ashby, Senior Director of Coaching at Studer Education, to hear about how rounding has positively impacted three of her partner districts in Kentucky. DeDe shares insights into how Graves County, Oldham County, and Meade County Schools have each customized rounding to build meaningful connections, share feedback and action steps, and address specific needs. Listen now as Janet and DeDe role play an actual rounding conversation about DeDe’s experiences at the Kentucky School Board Association conference, providing a firsthand example of what rounding entails.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can rounding help leaders build connections to recruit and retain employees?
- Who should leaders round with, and how often?
- What results have partner districts experienced as a result of implementing rounding strategies?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Create Connections Through Rounding, Rounding for Success: A Superintendent's Journey from Skepticism to Impact, Rounding with Purpose
How do we build great workplace cultures to keep exceptional employees on our team? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education,, as she explains how rounding is key to building environments where employees feel motivated and deeply connected to their work. Janet emphasizes how rounding helps leaders address any challenges that get in the way of employees being able to do their best work and demonstrates how rounding can be used to recognize bright spots and people who are doing good work. Listen now to learn to how we round, why we round, and what questions to ask our employees when we round.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does rounding build a deep connection between employees and their work?
- What key questions should drive rounding conversations?
- How can the 3 to 1 tactic be utilized in rounding conversations to build an emotional bank account?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Master the Art of Feedback, Essential Components of Healthy Workplace Cultures, Rounding for Success: A Superintendent's Journey from Skepticism to Impact
How can school districts prioritize amplifying student voice? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, as she explores the impact of student feedback with Dr. Candace Pelt-Perez, Superintendent of Central Linn School District, and Celeste Van Cleave, District Business Manager. Together, they discuss the integration of student surveys into short-term improvement cycles, resulting in significant outcomes such as collaborating with students to address school bus safety concerns and expanding cafeteria menu choices. Listen now to learn how the collaboration between students and adults continues to drive positive cultural shifts within Central Linn School District.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What role does student input play in the overall strategic planning process?
- How can results from student surveys be used to identify and implement short term cycles of improvement?
- How does the partnership between students and adults cultivate trust and goodwill?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Building Bridges: A Superintendent’s Journey to Create a Community-Driven Strategic Plan, Using Student Voice to Help Shape District Plans, Continuous Improvement to Support Students
It’s one thing to create a strategic plan, but it’s another altogether to execute it with precision. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, as she speaks with Superintendent Brian Sica of Banks School District to hear how he initiated the strategic planning process and began regularly implementing short cycles of improvement during his first year as superintendent. Listen as Dr. Sica highlights specific needs and challenges his district faced as well as the critical role of balancing culture and strategy throughout the process of achieving organizational excellence.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What steps can leaders take to establish trust within the community?
- How do culture and strategy intertwine to support organizational success?
- How can strategic planning build trust and foster professional growth within the leadership team?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Plan Strategically for Success, The Power of Collaboration in Strategic Planning, Building Bridges: A Superintendent’s Journey to Create a Community-Driven Strategic Plan
How do leading organizations stay ahead of the curve? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, as she delves into the intricacies of strategic planning with Dr. Casey Blochowiak, a Coach Senior Director at Studer Education. As a companion to last week’s high-level overview of strategic planning, this week’s episode dives into crucial aspects like how to form a strong steering committee and the pivotal role of executive leadership throughout the planning process. Listen now to also hear a roleplay between Janet and Casey demonstrating how coaches collaborate with partners to set a clear strategic vision for organizational excellence.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What is the role of coaches in the strategic planning process?
- How do you select members for the strategic planning team, and what role do they play?
- How does strategic planning help organizations navigate industry trends and future challenges?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Plan Strategically for Success, Mindfulness and Reflection Practices for Leaders and Teams, Listen to People to Continuously Improve
Balancing the emotional and rational aspects of leadership is complex, but with strategic planning, organizations can build alignment to drive success. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, as she outlines the steps involved in creating a strategic plan and identifies questions that leaders can answer to create organizational alignment.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can leadership effectively acknowledge both the rational and emotional components of the organization?
- What is the purpose of a strategic plan, and how is it used to promote successful outcomes?
- How does each step of the plan build upon the last to create better alignment?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, How Can We Build Strategic Agility for Continuous Change?, Building Bridges: A Superintendent’s Journey to Create a Community-Driven Strategic Plan, Mastering the Art of Reflection: A Superintendent’s Guide to Progress and Impact
Service excellence is a cornerstone of thriving organizations. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she revisits past episodes with Donna Kirby, Vice President of Experience at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, to hear how she’s created a culture of service excellence within her team. Hear how Donna transforms customers into loyal fans and learn the three tactics she employs to apply consistent and exceptional service delivery.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can practicing reward and recognition for employees positively impact the customer experience?
- How can customer survey results be used to deliver real-time solutions?
- How can leaders empower their employees to tackle challenges and find innovative solutions?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service Excellence, Service Recovery That Knocks it Out of the Park, Service Excellence: Always Behaviors That Increase Performance Metrics
Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, wraps up her deep dive into mastering the art of constructive feedback. Joining her on this episode is Jon Malone, the Director and CEO of the Northwestern Illinois Association, to discuss the use of the three to one ratio in providing positive reinforcement while also challenging employees to distribute their high performance. Jon also shares insights into the deliberate and intentional work that must be done before conducting performance conversations. Lastly, Jon explains the creation and implementation of a decision-impact conversation template that employees can initiate with their leaders that allows leaders the opportunity to model the willingness to receive critical feedback around their decisions. Listen now to gain valuable insights and practical strategies on planning for and delivering constructive feedback to achieve positive outcomes.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can feedback conversations be utilized to continue building an emotional bank account?
- What are specific actions leaders can take to prepare for giving effective constructive feedback?
- How does the decision-impact conversation template empower employees to initiate feedback conversations with their leaders?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Foster Confidence with Constructive Feedback, Master the Art of Feedback, Develop and Apply Standards of Excellence, Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service Excellence
Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, continues the conversation from last week about the pivotal role of feedback in achieving important people outcomes within organizations. Joining her is Dr. KK Owen, a leader coach at Studer Education, to explore effective tactics for delivering genuine, timely, and specific feedback to employees. They’ll discuss the concept of building an emotional bank account to create trust, and they’ll also demonstrate the three to one tactic, illustrated through a role play for clearer understanding. Listen as Dr. Pilcher and Dr. Owen continue to explore the transformative impact of feedback on fostering relationships with employees and how it can serve as a tool for re-recruitment.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can leaders be genuine, timely, and specific with their feedback?
- What is the three to one ratio, and how can it be utilized effectively?
- How does feedback influence organizational culture?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Foster Confidence with Constructive Feedback, Essential Components of Healthy Workplace Cultures, Provide Performance Feedback Aligned to Values
Receiving positive feedback is transformative. It builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and helps individuals improve. Listen now as Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, emphasizes the importance of praising what’s right and sets the stage for future episodes on tactics you can use to give constructive feedback to the employees in your organization.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What is the purpose of giving feedback to employees?
- How does the shift in mindset from evaluation to recognition contribute to high-performance outcomes?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Do People Really Want Feedback?, Feedback is a Gift...or is it?, Provide Performance Feedback Aligned to Values
What is goodwill, and how do we know if we’re practicing it? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she guides us through the journey of measuring our own personal goodwill and explains how we can radiate it to others, even during the busiest season of the year. Listen as she reflects on how even the most routine of encounters can emit warmth when infused with goodwill.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Pursue Gratitude and Goodwill,The Value of Kindness, Build Trust With Intentional Kindness
How can leaders use Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs) as a strategic tool to achieve successful outcomes? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher for the latest episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast where she defines what a BHAG is and urges organizations to set such long-term goals guided by core values and purpose to succeed in a world shaped by the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Listen as Janet discusses how these goals contribute to an organization’s overall vision, igniting and building collective greatness.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Refresh Strategic Goals to Move Forward, Align Behaviors with Goals and Values, Define Guiding Actions to Live by
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages in a conversation with Dr. Shelly Viramontez, Superintendent, and Ms. Whitney Holton, Associate Superintendent, of Campbell Union School District in Campbell, California. Dr. Viramontez discusses her commitment to leadership development, particularly focusing on aligning systems and streamlining processes so leaders can focus on meaningful and impactful work. She also shares specific examples of process improvements that have achieved significant outcomes. Additionally, Ms. Holton highlights how the district is implementing continuous improvement down to the classroom level. Listen now to hear Dr. Viramontez and Ms. Holton explain how the organizational shift from compliance to commitment is fostering a positive culture within the district.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does collaboration across departments boost organizational efficiency?
- What positive results are achieved through intentional data collection in monitoring classroom progress?
- How do you empower teachers to lead the work of continuous improvement at the classroom level?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Continuous Improvement Through Leadership , Simple Strategies for Classroom Improvement, Empower Your Team: Using Plus/Delta as a Template for Making Improvement Decisions
How do gratitude and goodwill enhance the quality and richness of life? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she invites us to reflect on the power of small acts that, when multiplied, shape a more harmonious and compassionate world. Listen as Janet reminds us to create a context of warmth and balance with every gentle gesture of goodness leading to the next.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Finding Purpose Outside of Work, Reflect to Overpower Hate, Show Your Gratitude
Join us for part two of Dr. Janet Pilcher’s thought-provoking conversation with Superintendent Rob Clayton of Warren County Public Schools. In this episode, they dive into how Mr. Clayton has built trust, courage, ownership, and commitment with his team by leading with intention and transparency to achieve organizational excellence. They also discuss the importance of data-driven decision-making and systematic review processes to encourage a culture of accountability and alignment. Lastly, Mr. Clayton highlights the ultimate goal of ensuring student success by focusing on the continued investment in and development of the adults who play a pivotal role in students' educational journeys.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How does collaboration positively influence the executive decision-making process?
- What is the beneficial influence on students when support is provided to the adults within an organization?
- How does instilling a sense of pride and ownership within a team create a culture where employees are assertive and empowered?
Recommended resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Achieve Accountability Through Consistency and Communication, Building Transparency and Trust, Listening to Parents and Students via Pulse Surveys
Join us as Dr. Janet Pilcher sits down with Mr. Rob Clayton of Warren County Public Schools for a compelling conversation about accountability, leadership consistency, and the transformative power of intentional communication. Tune in as Mr. Clayton describes the role of accountability in achieving organizational goals and how he is actively embedding his commitment to accountability into the district’s culture. He also discusses how he uses the core values of being respectful, ethical, professional, and nurturing to establish consistency in leadership practices across the entire organization. Listen as Mr. Clayton delves into his experience of practicing intentional listening and soliciting and using feedback to help him build strong relationships and achieve positive outcomes within the district.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What role does accountability play in achieving organizational excellence?
- How does consistency in leadership practices provide support for eventual transitions?
- How can leaders successfully demonstrate intentional listening?
Recommended resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Building Transparency and Trust, Develop Accountability to Develop Leadership, The Maturity Model: Phases of Improvement in Organizational Excellence
Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she delves into the core principle of leadership accountability from her book, "Hardwiring Excellence in Education." Janet explains that leadership is more than just a title; it's about modeling the right behaviors and fostering ownership within an organization. Listen as she explores the critical role of individual accountability and sheds light on how leaders can inspire self-motivation among employees to create a positive workplace culture. Listen now to learn how fostering accountability creates inspiring workplaces where employees are connected to the organization’s missions and goals.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What role do leaders play in setting the tone for accountability in an organization?
- How can you distinguish between motivating employees and inspiring them to motivate themselves?
- How can leaders effectively create a culture where employees feel a sense of ownership for their actions within the organization?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Develop Accountability to Develop Leadership, Leading Change with Creative Tension, Using Key Words at Key Times
What does reward and recognition look like in practice? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher for an insightful conversation with Dr. Jennifer Lowery from the Tea Area School District where we dig into this core principle of Reward and Recognition from Dr. Pilcher’s new book, “Hardwiring Excellence in Education.” Hear how Dr. Lowery has integrated this principle into her organization’s culture by using employee feedback to identify and define organizational values and consistently celebrate what "right" looks like. Gain valuable insights as she describes her innovative strategies to recognize students who embody the district's standards of excellence. Listen as Dr. Lowery shares her unique onboarding approach that aligns new hires with the district’s values and provides guidance for building an elevated culture based around rewarding and recognizing at all levels.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can organizations actively involve their employees in shaping and rewarding a culture that fosters excellence?
- What strategies can be employed to effectively communicate the standards of excellence to new employees and ensure their alignment with the organization's values?
- How can organizations ensure that they reward and recognize employees and students effectively at every level?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Avoiding the Chaos, Powerful Practices that Build Connection, Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement
What role does intentionality in connections play in shaping a strong organizational culture? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Mr. Al Betry of CESA 9 to discuss the strategies he uses to drive improvement, achieve remarkable outcomes, and create a culture where people want to come to work. We’ll explore the profound significance of exceptional service as a cornerstone principle and how it underpins his agency’s journey to success. We'll also dive into Mr. Betry’s strategic planning process where he skillfully gathers input from a diverse array of voices, fostering a sense of shared ownership and values within his organization. Listen and gain invaluable insights into Mr. Betry’s commitment to employee engagement through his culture playbook centered on compassion, integrity, and growth.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are some effective ways to boost employee engagement?
- What does it take to foster a sense of unity within an organization?
- How can I use survey results to create a strategic plan?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Focus on Employee Engagement, Organizational Excellence, Organizational Feedback Loop
As we begin to focus on the principle of rewarding and recognizing others, please join us for a special episode where Dr. Janet Pilcher shares four valuable life lessons from one of her most influential mentors and friends, Ms. Georgia Blackmon. Although Ms. Blackmon recently passed away, her legacy as a visionary, community leader, political activist, and strong advocate for both children and the Black community in Pensacola remains. Janet explains how Ms. Blackmon's strong mentorship profoundly influenced her, leaving an enduring mark on her life and values. Not only did Ms. Blackmon and her husband found the Gathering Awareness Book Center, she also founded a nonprofit organization that spearheaded the restoration of the historic Ella Jordan home in downtown Pensacola, Florida. Listen as Janet honors her late friend, Georgia, and inspires us to carry on her legacy of love over hate.
Recommended Resources: Ella Jordan African American History Museum, Georgia Blackmon's Gathering Awareness to close in February after nearly 30 years, Find Your Path & Pay it Forward
Would you like to strengthen communication within your organization? Listen along as Dr. Ryan Carpenter of the Estacada School District discusses how he establishes effective two-way communication through his implementation of daily huddles and scorecards. He explains how scorecards drive success and enhance communication while huddles allow teams to build culture, chemistry, and ensure alignment with strategic goals. As communication at all levels is integrated throughout the process of achieving excellence, join us to hear how Dr. Carpenter hardwired this principle into the fabric of the school culture.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How is a huddle organized and implemented to ensure it is focused and productive?
- How can daily huddles help your organization meet its strategic vision?
- What benefits does the scorecard process offer for engaging with stakeholders?
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Building Transparency and Trust, Communicate At All Levels, & Team Huddle Agenda Template
In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Ryan Carpenter, Superintendent of the Estacada School District, to discuss his efforts at enhancing communication at all levels in his district. Effective communication is a key part of an improvement mindset that extends to the workplace and the community, and Dr. Carpenter has excelled at this. Listen as Dr. Carpenter shares how he has utilized surveys to gather input from employees, parents, and students and how he has rolled out the results.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Critical Communication in Times of Crisis, How Can We Improve Employee Engagement and Communication?, & Roll Out Survey Results With Employees
In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Angela Bush, principal of Erwin Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss how she has moved her school from low-performing to now the top-ranked school in the Jefferson County School District for attendance. They were also ranked #5 out of fifteen middle schools in the county in 2022 by US News. Listen now to hear how Angela utilizes scorecards to close the achievement gap, strengthens team alignment and accountability, builds strong relationships within the community, and boosts engagement through reward and recognition.
Recommended Resources: Develop Accountability to Develop Leadership, Tackle Student Learning Gaps, The Power of Reward and Recognition, & Organizational Scorecard Examples
In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Nannette Johnston, former Studer Education Leader Coach and 2014 Superintendent of the Year, awarded by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. She joins us to discuss what it takes to succeed in the continually changing K12 education landscape and also share her experience serving one of our partners, Rob Clayton, Superintendent of Warren County Public Schools in Kentucky. Mr. Clayton is a model leader who is committed to excellence and improvement. Listen now to hear about Nannette’s journey and to hear her share how Rob has built an inspiring workplace culture, applies excellent service, what key actions he’s taken to focus on developing leaders intentionally, and how he models accountability within his district.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Inspire Others to Achieve, Building Transparency and Trust, & Practice Accountability
What does it take to facilitate meetings people look forward to coming to? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses her approach to designing better meeting agendas and strategies that have helped her become a better coach and facilitator. Listen now to learn more about these tips for agendas, including how incorporating questions rather than topics can enhance team and leadership outcomes.
Recommended Resources: Improve Your Meetings, Planning for an Effective Meeting, Guidelines for Effective Meetings, & Effective Meeting Preparation
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how professional development for leaders can impact employee retention and workplace environments. She explains the importance of helping leaders learn how to build inspiring workplace environments that build strength in teachers and staff and that develop their skills. This supports a positive learning environment for students. She also discusses how this topic correlates with Principle 5, Focus on Employee Engagement, from the Nine Principles Framework. Listen now to find out why leaders should focus on employee engagement, how turnover has been impacted by the pandemic, how leaders can stay focused when boosting retention, and how to apply tactics that help foster an inspiring workplace environment.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Recruit and Retain Excellent Teachers, Empower and Invest in Your Teams, & Focus on Employee Engagement
Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how leaders can foster a workplace environment where employees feel engaged and connected to their work in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Today's focus is employee engagement, a key leadership principle she discusses in her new book, "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework." Listen now as she gives examples of tactics that can help leaders connect with their high-performing teachers and staff, such as leader rounding, 30- and 90-day conversations, and stay interviews.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Recruit and Retain Excellent Teachers, Empower and Invest in Your Teams, &Meet 5 Critical Employee Needs With Leader Connection Questions
Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews Superintendent Dr. Christi Barrett, of Hemet Unified School District in Hemet, California, on this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode. During their conversation, they discuss Christi's commitment to leadership development, student safety, community opportunities, and improvement work. Listen now to hear Janet and Christi discuss the tactics, such as daily leader huddles, used to achieve successful outcomes and promote continuous improvement.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Getting Better at Getting Better, Continuous Improvement to Support Students, & Be a High-Performing Leader
Featured in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast is Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann of the Northfield Public School System in Northfield, Minnesota to discuss leadership development. Dr. Janet Pilcher also highlights him in chapter 4 of her book, "Hardwiring Excellence in Education" as an example of a high-performing executive. In this interview, Dr. Hillmann explains how he clearly defines performance expectations for employees, giving a clear picture of what right looks like. Listen now to hear how he implements the principle of developing leaders to develop people within his district.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Be the Best Leader You Can Be, Building Trust to Enable Success for Boards and Leaders, & Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework podcast episode
Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Amy Mikesell, principal of Estacada High School, and Kate Dean, instructional coach, as guests on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Amy and Kate share their continuous improvement journey and the strategies, such as PDSA, rounding, and Plus/Delta, that have helped them achieve great progress in helping students own their learning. Listen to them discuss this relentless and rewarding work as they also provide advice and other strategies they have utilized to see success in their classroom improvement journey.
Recommended Resources: Students are Treasures, Inspiring Young Futures, Plan Do Study Act (PDSA), & Tailor Your Rounding Questions
Recently, Dr. Janet Pilcher participated in a podcast hosted by Dr. Brendan Kelly, University of West Georgia President, called Off the Cuff. Dr. Kelly is featured in the second chapter of Janet's newly released book "Hardwiring Excellence in Education." In today's episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, we share the recording of their conversation. Listen now to discover how Janet applies the Nine Principles in her work and partnerships, the connection that makes her work worthwhile, and how her newly released book can benefit leaders, regardless of their position in an organization.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Getting Better at Getting Better, Develop and Apply Standards of Excellence, & Measures that Matter
In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Dale Shaver, Director of the Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use in Wisconsin. He is a model leader in how he uses measures that matter to achieve successful outcomes. Listen now to learn how Dale and his team use this principle to gather data, define problems, align teams, and build strong relationships with the community and board.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Focus on the Fundamentals to Improve, Getting Better at Getting Better, & Develop and Apply Standards of Excellence
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Janet invites two leaders who exhibit the first principle in the Nine Principles Framework, Commit to Excellence. Listen to the Chancellors of Fletcher Technical Community College, Dr. Kristine Strickland, and Bossier Parish Community College, Dr. Rick Bateman, as they discuss their recent leadership awards, strategic focus on cultivating a campus of care, resilience in the face of natural disasters, and the increase in enrollment at their institutions.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework podcast episode, Getting Better at Getting Better, & Develop and Apply Standards of Excellence
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Jon Malone, Regional Director and Chief Executive for the Northwestern Illinois Association, and Alicia Hulin, Executive Director for Human Resources and Strategic Engagement at South Louisiana Community College, as guests. They are shining examples of leaders committed to excellence in their organizations. Janet shares their journey and results in her newly released book “Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework.” Listen now as Alicia and Jon dive deeper into their journeys and how they developed and applied the Standards of Excellence in their organizations.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework podcast episode, Getting Better at Getting Better, &The Nine Principles and The Pursuit of Excellence
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Matt Renaud and Dr. Kyle Thompson, who both serve as Regional Superintendents for the Regional Offices of Education in Illinois, to discuss how they each work to help recruit and retain teachers in their districts. Listen now as they discuss many of their recruitment tactics from consistently looking for effective qualities (such as servant hearts and seeing good characteristics in everyone), to utilizing the TeacherReady program. Also, listen to how they retain their high-level teachers by ensuring they have room to grow and are supported in that growth.
Recommended Resources: Recruit and Retain Successful Teachers, Highly Effective Teachers Need Highly Effective Leaders, Building Trust with Teachers and Supporting Them, & TeacherReady Online Certification Program
This episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast will be the first in a series to highlight some of the stories and results chronicled in Dr. Janet Pilcher’s newly released book “Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework.” The first guest to be interviewed is Dr. Pat Greco, Senior Director of Thought Leadership at Studer Education. Listen as Janet invites Pat to discuss how she embarked on her journey of improvement with Studer Education and led her district to become one of the top-performing in the country. Also, listen to how she has continued to help other districts in their continuous improvement journeys.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework podcast episode, Journey to Excellence, & The Nine Principles and The Pursuit of Excellence
How do you build an improvement-focused culture of engagement and service excellence? This is what the new book, “Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework,” helps leaders focus on. The book is written by our own Dr. Janet Pilcher. Listen to this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast where Janet discusses her newly released book and how it can help leaders on their journey to excellence.
Recommended Resources: "Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework" Book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, Nine Principles in Action, & The Nine Principles Framework: A Foundational Guide to Organizational Excellence
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites CheyAnne Fant, Director of Nutrition Services at Barren County Schools in Glasgow, Kentucky, to the show. Eight schools in CheyAnne’s district have been named Healthiest Schools in America, awarded by Alliance for a Healthier Generation's annual recognition program. Listen as CheyAnne shares how they reached this goal and how they prioritized student voice in the process.
Recommended Resources: Create a Positive School Culture, Students are Treasures, Tailor Your Rounding Questions, & Using Student Voice to Help Shape District Plans
Is my role as a leader to have the answers, or to impress upon people that I am the expert? Am I set on continuing to learn as a leader? How can I better serve others? These are some of the questions our host Dr. Janet Pilcher regularly reflects upon so that she can grow as a leader. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Janet models how employees on every level in an organization can go about self-reflection to improve. Listen now, and consider what action you might take to take your leadership to the next level.
Recommended Resources: Mindless and Reflection Practices for Leaders and Teams, Great Leaders are Learning Leaders, Leadership Reflection and Hardwiring, & Reflective Practice
Dr. Janet Pilcher invites a multi-international award-winning photographer, author, and soon-to-be teacher, Mary Davis, as a guest on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Mary discusses her journey and how she came to the decision to enroll in TeacherReady, our online teaching certification program. Listen as she shares her works, her latest children’s book, and how the TeacherReady program has fit her lifestyle and supported her. Mary also offers her insights on how leaders in education can support teachers and students.
Recommended Resources: Recruit and Retain Successful Teachers, Highly Effective Teachers Need Highly Effective Leaders, Steps to Maximizing Passion, & "Bossy Flossy" & "Kaylan the Lion"
What must our organizations do today to help our country maintain its greatness and to sustain the democracy? What does business owe the world? In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses these questions posed by Frances Hesselbein in order to understand the importance of creating healthy schools and communities. Listen as Janet reflects on how individuals, organizations, and society can create a sense of responsibility by keeping these questions in mind.
Recommended Resources: Rethinking School Safety, Create a Positive School Culture, The Value of Kindness, & Corporate Social Responsibility
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Sergio Mendoza, Superintendent of Burton School District in Porterville, California, to discuss his retirement announcement and journey as a leader in education. Listen as Sergio discusses key tools, such as scorecards and PDSA cycles, that he has used to cultivate a culture that drives continuous growth.
Recommended Resources: Go All In to Improve, Make Complex Work Simple, Organizational Scorecard Examples, & PDSA Cycles Template
Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Casey Blochowiak, Coach Director, as a guest on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Casey shares tips on how you can create time and space to intentionally slow down, pause, and reflect on the past year and prepare for the next school year. Casey encourages leaders to not get stuck in a “should have” mindset and to instead focus on positive accomplishments and what is in their control to help improve their organization. Listen as Janet and Casey discuss the importance of living in the moment and how you can create intentionality in being present.
Recommended Resources: Strategies for Reflection and Planning, The Power of Perspective, Leadership Reflection on Hardwiring, & Collect The Right Data to Reflect: Insights From High Performing Operations Leaders
Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Sarah Miller, Senior Director of TeacherReady, as a guest on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Dr. Miller explains how we utilize a continuous improvement process to update and advance the TeacherReady program, an alternative path to teacher certification. Listen as they discuss current district partnerships, results seen from TeacherReady alumni, and how the TeacherReady program can be a tool for districts to recruit and retain successful teachers.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, TeacherReady Online Certification Program, Increase Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, & Rethink Teacher Preparation Programs
In this Accelerate Your Performance Podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses her soon-to-be-released book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. The book reflects our team's and partners' work across the country with the Nine Principles. Listen now as Janet explains the importance that the core values from the Nine Principles Framework (discussed in her book) have in fostering excellent leaders and how excellent leaders are needed to grow excellent organizations.
Recommended Resources: Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework, The Nine Principles and The Pursuit of Excellence, Nine Principles in Action, & The Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence
In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Matt Hillmann, Superintendent of Northfield Public Schools, to discuss the progress and successes his district has had along their continuous improvement journey. Dr. Hillmann cultivates a culture of positivity and recognition through systems, his "what's next?" philosophy and a commitment to continuous forgiveness. Listen to the recently awarded Minnesota Superintendent of the Year as he shares an inspiring call to action for leaders in education.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can I build buy-in among team members when it comes to implementing continuous improvement strategies?
- How do I build meetings where people are highly engaged in the work?
- What are some ways to implement reward and recognition tactics in my district that boost positivity and fuel the culture?
Recommended Resources:Build a Culture of Improvement, Listen Intently, Reward and Recognize, & Students are Treasures
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Bradley Roberson, Superintendent of Oxford School District in Oxford, Mississippi, to share how he implements intentional systems with tactics such as rounding and scorecards to further continuous improvement in his district. Mr. Roberson has fostered a culture of continuous improvement through truth, trust, and discipline. Listen as he discusses how he built systems to be intentional in his district.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can student learning be intentional and not left to chance?
- What steps can you take as a leader to embed rounding into your culture and cascade it through the district, schools, and grade levels?
- What are some elements you can include on scorecards to help foster student improvement?
Recommended Resources: Excellent Leaders are Intentional, Building Transparency and Trust, Rounding for Results, Building a Scorecard
In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum, Superintendent of San Benito High School District, and the district's Board President John Corrigan to discuss the great impact leadership rounding has had on their district. This has allowed them to understand how constituents feel about developing a new school, engage in one-to-one conversations with employees to gather feedback, and allow board members to have productive dialogue with community members. Listen now as Dr. Tennenbaum and Mr. Corrigan discuss how they built rounding into their district's culture.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What are some examples of who should round with who in an organization?
- How can rounding improve communication between educational leaders and members of the community in a district?
- What questions can help drive meaningful dialogue during rounding?
Recommended Resources:
In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Lupita Hightower, Superintendent of Tolleson Elementary School District, to share about her district's successes and learnings from their continuous improvement journey. Dr. Hightower was recently awarded Arizona Superintendent of the year. During the conversation, Dr. Hightower discusses leader engagement, building professional relationships, and supporting student performance. Listen as she discusses how she uses her engaging leadership skills and tactics to cultivate a community founded on the belief that students are treasures and assets to the district and community.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can I build a culture that believes in all students without exception?
- What does it take to achieve a mutually supportive relationship with the school board?
- What steps could you take to be strategic in how you go about supporting students to be able to be engaged and thrive?
Recommended Resources: Inspiring Young Futures, Preparing Students for Success From Kindergarten and Beyond, Build Strong Board Relationships, & Working With The School Board
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Sergio Mendoza, Superintendent of Burton School District; David Shimer, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services; and Julissa Leyva, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, to discuss their improvement journey and the tactics they used to reach successful outcomes in their district. In this episode, Sergio and his team also share about their upcoming presentation at the 2023 Carnegie Summit, where they will discuss the speed at which they were able to implement continuous improvement strategies and how they got them to stick. Today, Julissa, Sergio, and David share their advice with other leaders who are considering committing to the work of continuous improvement.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can leaders maintain a "just keep going" attitude in the midst of challenges in the work of continuous improvement?
- What does it take to fearlessly commit to the work of improvement?
- What impact can strategic planning and scorecards have on your improvement journey?
Recommended Resources: Effective Leaders are Consistent, Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement, Improvement & Innovation, & Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites back Terrie Morgan, Superintendent of Hardin County Schools, to discuss how she uses different leadership and strategic tactics to improve her district. Terrie discusses how tactics, such as scorecards, strategic planning, and surveys, have helped her district's improvement journey. Listen now to hear about her district's journey and consider how you might implement improvement tactics in your own district.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can scorecards drive improvement?
- What impact could strategic planning have on your organization?
- When is the right time for a school district to commit to the work of continuous improvement?
Recommended Resources: Great Leaders are Learning Leaders, Excellent Leaders are Intentional, Organizational Scorecard Examples, & Roll Out Survey Results With Employees
In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Terrie Morgan, Superintendent of Hardin County Schools, as a guest on the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Terrie discusses how she got involved with Girls, Inc. The initiative inspires the future of young students and serves as their connect to purpose so they can learn about what future career paths are possible for them. Terrie and Janet discuss why the school board supports an initiative like Girls Inc. and the lasting change they hope will take place due to the program.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What is your connect to purpose that drives you to feel like your work is meaningful?
- What might you do to help students think outside the box to choose career paths that excite them?
- How can you inspire others to find purpose in their work and prepare for their future?
Recommended Resources: What Drives You?, Preparing Students for Success from Kindergarten and Beyond, Inspire Others to Achieve, & 4 Questions to Plan a Meaningful Life
How can you grow your commitment to excellence by leading with transparency and trust? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Rob Clayton, Superintendent of Warren County Public Schools, to discuss how he effectively models “cascading information” and leads with transparency and trust. Listen as Dr. Pilcher and Mr. Clayton explain how leading with transparency allows you to build trust and foster relationships within your community.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What does leading with transparency in action look like?
- How can you effectively “cascade information” in your school district?
- How can you model a commitment to excellence, holding yourself and others accountable?
Recommended Resources: Lead Collaboratively and Transparently, Excellent Leaders are Intentional, Trust: Consistency of Leadership, & Cascading Communication
In a Harvard Business Review article, Jesse Sostrin stated, "One of the most difficult transitions for leaders to make is the shift from doing to leading." In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher utilizes this article to discuss the importance of a leader's understanding of how to effectively delegate. Listen as Janet explains how leaders can empower other leaders and team members to contribute their best work to shared priorities.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What is the difference between being involved and being essential?
- What does it mean to shape the thoughts and ideas of others instead of dictating their plans?
- How can you insure progress is being made even in your absence?
Recommended Resources:What Can I Stop Doing For a Strong New Year?, Great Leaders Are Learning Leaders, Be The Best Leader You Can Be, & Excellent Leaders are Intentional
How can you work to overcome division, create unity, and strengthen relationships in your district? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Ed Manansala, County Superintendent of Schools for El Dorado County in California, and Dr. Ken Futernick, writer and educational consultant, to discuss how they worked together to find solutions for these issues. They explain how the Bridging Divides-El Dorado initiative was formed, how they built the conditions for a culture that promotes collaboration across community agencies, and how they improved communication between the public and public officials.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What is the Bridging Divides -El Dorado initiative, and how can you apply some of its core values to help alleviate division in your community?
- How can you work to build a culture that promotes collaboration between your school board, school executives, and community agencies to solve problems and build relationships?
- What are the potential consequences caused by polarization, division, and strife within communities, and why is it important to safeguard ways to combat these issues?
Recommended Resources:Bridging Divides, Teachers Stories Podcast, Lead Collaboratively and Transparently, & Collaborate and Innovate With Your School Board Members
What habits might be holding you back? In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how starting the year with a "stop doing," or bad habit to break, can help you be a better leader, employee, and person. She explains how she will practice the act of leaving behind her phone and breaking the habit of dependency. She encourages us all to consider what our personal "stop doing" for the year will be and how that will affect our leadership and help us accelerate forward.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- Why is stopping a bad habit more beneficial than a New Year's resolution, and how can it make you a better leader?
- How can being dependent on your phone affect your cognitive ability even when you are not on it?
- What is a negative habit you can stop this year to make yourself a better leader?
Recommended Resources:New Year, Positive Mindset, Great Leaders are Learning Leaders, What it Really Takes to Prevail, & Make Way for Innovation
What impact would it have on children's futures if they were dramatically prepared to enter Kindergarten? That's the mission of our guest in today's Accelerate Your Performance Podcast episode. Today, Rina Irwin, CEO of the Child Development Centers, Inc. and a 2022 Difference Maker Award winner joins us to discuss her passion and commitment to preparing children for a successful educational experience as they transition into Kindergarten and beyond.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What happens during the early childhood years that benefits children entering Kindergarten?
- How can leaders build team alignment and commitment around the organization's vision?
- What could a child entering Kindergarten look like if there were strong partnerships with Early Childhood providers?
Recommended Resources:Great Leaders Are Learning Leaders, Be the Best Leader You Can Be, Create Resilient Leaders, How Focus Leads to Results
What does it mean to be a learning leader? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Mark Bielang, Superintendent of Portage Public Schools and winner of a 2022 Difference Maker award, to be a guest. Mark discusses why being a learning leader helps him lead his team, and he also shares about his commitment to prioritizing the student voice. Listen as he explains how their voices have shaped school culture and helped foster unity across the district.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders go about connecting with students to prioritize their voice?
- Why is it important to establish a set of organizational core values, and how do you begin this process?
- How can you work to enhance your leadership skills and become a learning leader to improve your organization?
Recommended Resources:Be The Best Leader You Can Be, Lead Collaboratively and Transparently, Collaborate and Innovate With Your School Board Members, & Why Do Values Matter?
Striving to be an excellent leader and accomplish great goals in an organization takes commitment and hard work. In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Xavier De La Torre, Superintendent of Ysleta Independent School District and recent recipient of a 2022 Difference Maker Award, to share about his district's improvement journey. Ysleta Independent School District is an “A” district in Texas, and 98% of the schools in this district are earning A's and B's. In today's discussion, he shares the impact creating a strategic plan with a scorecard has had as well as how the district has achieved excellent student achievement outcomes.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important to use surveys to understand and garner parent, student, and employee satisfaction?
- How can implementing a strategic plan using a scorecard improve an organization?
- What does being the best leader you can be look like to you, and what is one next step you can take to get there?
Recommended Resources: Lead Collaboratively and Transparently, From Input to Action: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Excellent Leaders are Intentional, & Organizational Scorecard Examples
What does it take to be a collaborative leader who leads transparently and commits to improvement in an organization? In today’s Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Jeff Dellutri, Superintendent of Fox Point-Bayside School District, to discuss his ‘why’ for committing to the work of improvement. Listen as he shares about the results he has seen from applying the improvement work and how his collaborative leadership style has contributed to these results.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What role does listening and asking questions play in being a collaborative leader?
- Why is working collaboratively and relying on others to do their jobs well an important part of the improvement process?
- What is your 'why’ for committing to the work of improvement for your organization?
Recommended Resources: Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement, Get Clear About Action, Make Way for Innovation, & From Input to Action: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
"We have to know we will prevail and do so by facing the brutal facts." - Dr. Janet Pilcher. Sometimes having an overly optimistic attitude and disregarding perceived negative data can be harmful to an organization and individual. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Pilcher discusses how you must often be a realist and address the hard facts while continuing to be persistent and motivated in your problem-solving. She goes on to analyze and quote the beliefs of Jim Collins, who is the author of "Good to Great," and Admiral Jim Stockdale, who was a prisoner of war.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is an overly optimistic outlook or the disregard of negative data damaging to organizations?
- What is a continuous improvement process, and how does it relate to the Stockdale Paradox?
- How can you cultivate a culture where individuals do not shy away from negative data or circumstances?
Recommended Resources: Passion and Perseverance, Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement, Fire Up Your Inner Drive, & Good to Great
How do you gather, analyze, and implement data in order to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion? In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Angela Frazier Arthur, Vice President of Student Services at Waukesha County Technical College, and Sherry Simmons, Chief Diversity and Compliance Officer at Waukesha County Technical College, to discuss how they gathered data through surveys and translated it into actions to improve campus diversity and inclusion. In this episode, they dive into their three-year data-gathering period, what they have learned, how they gathered momentum for change, what obstacles they have faced, and advice they have for other leaders seeking to enact change and growth.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is gathering data an important step of the improvement process, and how might you start gathering data in your organization to seek growth and development?
- How can you cultivate a culture of continuous improvement in your organization?
- What impact can diversity, equity, and inclusion have on a campus as well as an organization?
Recommended Resources: Excellent Leaders are Intentional, Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement, Passion and Perseverance, & Sample 360 Feedback Survey
Recently, we hosted our annual What's Right In Education (WRIE) conference in Pensacola, Florida, where we heard from leaders in education across the country about the successes and struggles they have encountered on their continuous improvement journeys. In today's Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher summarizes some of her favorite parts of WRIE and reflects on one of the key takeaways that surfaced throughout the two-day conference. To be an excellent leader and to be an excellent organization, you need to be intentional. Listen as Dr. Pilcher explains what this means.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the key traits that mark intentional leaders?
- How can you work to actively be more intentional as a leader and encourage intentionality throughout your organization?
- What does being intentional mean to you?
Recommended Resources: Unrelenting Commitment to Improvement, The Big Picture Synthesizing, Bullseye: Framing a Strategy Session, & Champion of the Goal
In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites back a guest we have had the pleasure of hosting before, Dr. Jennifer Lowery, Superintendent of Tea Area School District in South Dakota. Dr. Lowery discusses how she has fostered growth in her school district through commitment to improvement, focusing first on culture and a commitment to excellence. Listen as Dr. Lowery shares the successes and lessons learned along the way.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- For leaders beginning their improvement journey, where do they start?
- How might you open doors for the future generation of leaders and push the growth of your district?
- What results would you like to see from improvement processes, if you were to implement them in your district, school, or classroom?
Recommended Resources: Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement, Improvement and Innovation, Continuous Improvement: Where to start?, & Improvement Action Plan
Steve Jobs once said there is something that separates successful entrepreneurs from non-successful ones... perseverance. What does it take to lead with perseverance? According to Dr. Janet Pilcher in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, you need passion to fuel your perseverance and enhance your skills as a leader. According to Marcel Swamp, "Passion is the engine that puts perseverance into overdrive to think up big ideas, solve big problems, and make the world a better place."
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Of the qualities marked by Level 5 leaders, which do you live out the best, and which one would you like to work on more?
- How can you focus more on the "people" and recruit those who are passionate?
- Why is it difficult to persevere without passion?
Recommended Resources: Different Types of Leaders, How Resilient Are You?, Communicate Clearly, With Simplicity, & Essentials for Developing Leaders
Two-way communication is key between leaders and board members. In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Nate Nelson, Superintendent of the Porterville Unified School District, and Lillian Durbin, President of Trustees at the district, to share with us how they foster a strong relationship and communication between school leaders and the board. Listen as they explain how two-way communication and investing time in building a collaborative relationship with your board can lead to innovation and positively impact a school district.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why are collaboration and open communication important to cultivate between your board and school leaders?
- How can you build a collaborative relationship with your board?
- How can executive leaders foster a relationship with board members that is innovative and yields positive outcomes for students?
Recommended Resources: Running Plays to Achieve Success, Building Trust to Enable Success for Boards and Leaders, Working With the School Board, & The Power of Collaboration
Communication can be one of the biggest challenges for an organization. In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares several tips on how leaders can work towards being better communicators. She explains how to quickly get to the heart of a topic when communicating and how to do it concisely and with simplicity.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the components of strong communication?
- How can you work to communicate more precisely and efficiently?
- What are some areas of communication that you may fall short in and could further develop?
Recommended Resources: Better Communication, Not More Communication, Communicate With Precision, What Do We Really Need to Know?, & Communicate The Right Way
How can you appeal to both logic and emotion to properly communicate and cascade the right information to the right people at the right times? This week on our Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites back Dale Shaver, Director of Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, and Laura Catherman, Director of the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board, to continue their discussion on how they implement their Playbook for Success to continuously build trust and enable success between boards and leaders. They explain the importance of leading with the why, not the what, when defining your organization’s story, and how to define that why in simple terms. Listen as Dale and Laura describe how to run your strategies, identify the key decision-makers, and look for potential roadblocks.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important to define your story?
- What can you do to start implementing the Playbook for Success and build trust between your board and leaders?
- How can you "arm yourself" with your best team and work on building that team?
Recommended Resources: Building Trust to Enable Success for Boards and Leaders, Trust: Consistency of Leadership, Working With The School Board, & The Power of Collaboration
"A kind act, a selfless sacrifice, and a sincere connection may make a difference in someone's day... in someone's life." This week some of our colleagues have been struggling with sadness, grief, and the pain of loss. In this Accelerate Your Performance episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher explains the value of kindness and the profound impact it can have on ourselves and those around us. She also takes time in this week's podcast to walk us through a favorite meditation, which she refers to as the love and kindness meditation. Finally, we would also like to dedicate this podcast to the loving memory of Michael Owen.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How might you use kindness to help someone or even yourself this week?
- What impact can kindness have at work and in the world around us?
- How can we show up each day more present and more intentional in acts of kindness?
Recommended Resources: Small Things; Gig Difference, Supporting Employee Health and Wellness, Build a Sense of Belonging, & The Best Gift We Can Give
The health of a school district is a leading indicator of the health of a community. That's what our guests in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast share. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dale Shaver, Director of Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, and Laura Catherman, Director of the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board, to discuss how to build trust between the leaderships within schools, such as superintendents and principals, and their school boards. It involves great intentionality. During the conversation, they discuss the playbook for success they implemented to help get all players on the same page and moving in the right direction. Listen as they share how they go about selecting strategic playing cards from their playbook and when they say it's time to run the play.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders help get everyone on the same page and moving forward when there are strong and opposing opinions?
- How do you clearly identify your what, and how can that be aligned with other leaders and/or the school board?
- How can organizations use data to tell a compelling story?
Recommended Resources: Essentials for Developing Leaders, The Power of Collaboration, Working With The School Board, & Trust: Consistency of Leadership
There is a subconscious behavior that is common in organizations and can be dangerous to the culture. It's called We/They communication. We/They communication occurs when a leader or employee positions themselves positively at the expense of someone else. We've all done it at one time or another, probably not realizing that it is harmful. We/They communication can have damaging consequences for an organization's culture. Let's begin this school year by focusing on how to stomp out We/They culture through building a culture of continuous improvement. In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses tactics on how to overcome We/They communication and examples of how to identify and adjust your communication in ways that promote unity.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it take to stomp out We/They culture and replace it with a culture of continuous improvement?
- How do We/They statements create division, and how can it negatively impact workplace culture?
- Why is it important to focus on positive communication and connect the dots for employees in ways that create unity?
Recommended Resources: Stop Placing Blame, Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement, Eliminate We/They, & Replace We/They With Ownership and Practice
What does it take to develop high-performing leaders? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Sally Sugg, the Superintendent of Shelby County Public Schools in Shelbyville, Kentucky, joins us as our guest. Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews Dr. Sugg on the importance of leadership development. Dr. Sugg explains why she thinks leadership development is such a critical component for moving an organization forward, as well as the specific skills she has dedicated her focus to in her district's "Lead and Learn" sessions.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the key components of a quality leadership development program?
- How can leaders build a culture where employees live out the organization's core values?
- Why are "fierce" conversations important to have in organizations?
Recommended Resources: Leadership Reflection and Hardwiring, Using Feedback to Prioritize, Build Culture Through Authentic Leadership, & Highly Effective Teachers Need Highly Effective Leaders
The teacher is the most important variable that affects student achievement. Going into this new academic year, our schools face significant teacher shortages. In the last few podcast episodes, we have focused on this topic and ways to work toward a solution for teacher recruitment and retention. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses the importance of cultivating a highly effective school under a highly effective leader to retain highly effective teachers.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can you set challenging and achievable goals within your school?
- Why is it so important to implement the practices mentioned in the podcast?
- What action can I take to become more proactive and less reactive?
Recommended Resources: Building Trust With Teachers and Supporting Them, Creating a Great Place to Work for Teachers, Increase Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, & Stay Interviews
A current issue many leaders in education face is lower numbers of teachers entering the field and a growing number of teachers leaving. What will it take to address this issue? How can leaders help keep their high-performing teachers and help them feel satisfied in their jobs? This podcast episode is a call to action for leaders to shift their focus to retaining teachers and staff. Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Justin Barlow, a middle school teacher who has worked in the academic world for over two decades, to share his insights into why teachers are exiting the profession and ways leaders can work to support and retain teachers. Justin shares with us ideas for increasing job satisfaction amongst teachers where building trust and investing in relationships will be key. Listen as he shares ways to carry this out within schools.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can you actively work to build trust with the teachers in your school?
- What can you do to help teachers feel valued, supported, and more satisfied with their jobs?
- What are some ideas you can take from this podcast and implement in your own school to support teachers?
Recommended Resources: Creating a Great Place to Work for Teachers, Increase Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, Stay Interviews, & Create a Culture of Recognition
How can leaders keep their high-performing teachers? Recent studies indicate that helping employees feel valued and appreciated is key. One study found that 93% of employees who reported feeling valued at work said that they are more motivated to do their best. Another study found that 79% who left their job reported that a lack of appreciation was a key factor for leaving. In this week’s Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses the importance of cultivating a positive and supportive work environment for teachers. Listen as she shares practical ideas leaders can put into action to help create an environment employees feel supported, valued, and greater satisfaction working in.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we take action to help our teachers feel more valued and appreciated?
- What are the key fundamental leadership actions we can take to support and retain our staff?
- What are some examples of questions you can ask new employees as a check-in 30 and 90 days into the job?
Recommended Resources: Creating a Culture of Recognition, Stay Interviews, Increase Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention, & The Irreplaceables
55% of educators indicate they’re ready to leave the profession earlier than planned due to burnout. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Sarah Miller, Director of Partnership and Student Services for TeacherReady, and Dr. Amy Fowler, Coach Director Studer Education Team join us to talk about teacher retention and recruitment. They discuss the most common factors for teachers leaving the field and how school leaders can alleviate this issue through effective recruitment and retainment. They also delve into how leaders may use federal and state funds, such as ESSER funds, to support some of the recommendations suggested throughout the episode.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How might you be able to implement creative recruitment practices within your school, county, or district?
- Why is retention as important as recruitment?
- What are helpful tips for leaders applying for federal funding to support teacher retention and job satisfaction?
Recommended Resources: Always be Recruiting, The Irreplaceables, Stay Interviews, & Rethinking Teacher Preparation Programs
Safety is debatably one of humanity's foremost values. We desire to not only survive but to also feel safe and secure. How much more important is this ideology to the development of children? The safety within schools and colleges should be sought after with determination, not only for the students, but for the parents, staff, and surrounding community. In today’s episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Deanna Ashby, who recently celebrated her one-year anniversary as a Studer Education coach, to discuss the topic of school safety, its importance, and her personal experiences related to this topic. Dr. Ashby discusses many large and small changes you can implement to boost the safety within schools as well as many reservations school leaders may have. Many leaders may say they can’t afford to take the time or money to implement these precautions, but Dr. Ashby questions if you can really afford not to.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some ways you can implement school safety practices in your county, district, school, or classroom?
- How can leaders help school resource officers build strong relationships with students and teachers?
- What actions can leaders take to create an environment that helps students feel safe at school?
Recommended Resources: Communication Preference Card, Make Way for Improvement, Safe and Sound Schools, & Working with The School Board
Many leaders within education are experiencing higher turnover rates than usual. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 300,000 teachers and school staff left the field between February 2020 and May of this year. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses a reflection she had while driving in her car after a session where members of her team presented one of their solutions called leading for retention, providing a great workplace experience. She explains how Stay Interviews can contribute positively to an organization and how they are more than simply convincing high performers to stay. It is about learning the reason behind it and how we can learn from them. Listen as Janet explains what Stay Interviews can look and sound like.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can Stay Interviews help increase retention of employees?
- How can I provide a good foundation for employees that contributes to their future growth and career and personal development?
- How often should I conduct Stay Interviews with employees?
Recommended Resources: Retain New Hires With 30- & 90-Day Conversations, The Irreplaceables, High Performers: Who Are They?, & High Performer Re-Recruitment Conversation Template
What does it take to help prepare students for life beyond the classroom? As you'll hear in today's episode, our guest, Dr. Mark Martin, shares that dreaming big and thinking outside the box have a tremendous impact on students. Dr. Martin is the Superintendent of Meade County Schools in Brandenburg, Kentucky. His bold and innovative leadership is a model for us all. Listen as he discusses with Dr. Janet Pilcher a program he's launched called Close the Gap Kentucky and how it's helping other school districts succeed. This program reinforces that professional development should be a process and not just a one-time event. He'll also discuss how his team is thinking outside the box to better serve students in special education.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important to lead boldly?
- How do you know you're doing what is best for students and how can you effectively track that growth to ensure success?
- What can leaders do to help increase unity and buy-in when it comes to new initiatives?
Recommended Resources: Build Culture Through Authentic Leadership, Listen Intently, Be Bold About Action, & Lead Your Work
In preparation for our in-person event, Destination High Performance: Organizational Excellence, on July 28th and 29th, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how leaders can practice synthesizing to help them see the bigger picture. Most individuals and leaders stop at analysis, but Dr. Pilcher explains how it is important to go the step further and combine our analyses from multiple sources of information to create the whole. This is the synthesis. In today’s episode, Dr. Pilcher explains how synthesis can help guide leaders forward with the big picture in mind. She also describes tips on how to best take notes with these concepts in mind and encourages trying them at our Destination High Performance event. For more information on this event, please visit studereducation.com/events.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important to synthesize and not stop at analysis?
- How can you utilize synthesizing to see the bigger picture?
- In what ways can you practice synthesis in your day-to-day activities?
Recommended Resources: Activating a Strategic Plan, Oh, The Data We Collect, Are We Improving or Just Documenting Processes, Analyze Impact to Accelerate Forward
Making sure that parents and students feel heard and that students feel supported in their learning and growth are key responsibilities for a leader in education. How can you sincerely, methodically, and purposefully show them that you are doing everything you can to listen to them and take action? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews the 2022 recipient of the Human Rights Award, Matt Hillmann, the Superintendent of Northfield Public Schools. Matt discusses how it has been a privilege to better support the Hispanic Community in Northfield, and he also shares about the actions that he and his team have taken that demonstrate a dedication to listen to all voices.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is listening to the community important as a leader?
- How can you show the community that you are making efforts to listen to their concerns and take action?
- What are some characteristics of an intent listener?
Recommended Resources: Conducting a Listening Tour, Listen For Ideas, Perspective, and Connection, It's All About Relationships, How to Collect The Student Voice
We all face adversity from time to time at work. Maybe we don't achieve the goals we had hoped to. Perhaps an unexpected challenge keeps us from making the progress we wanted to. It's these times when our inner drive must keep us going. Our inner drive helps infuse us with a sense of purpose in our work and brings meaning to it. It brings an urgency to stay committed to doing our best every day, to keep going when things get tough, and not take the easy way out. Our drive will get us through most anything. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher shares tips for fanning the flame of our inner drive.
This episode addresses questions, such as
- What are some characteristics of leaders with inner drive?
- How do leaders with a strong inner drive approach challenges?
- What does it take to have the drive to push through adversity and move to the other side?
Recommended Resources: Urgency to Drive Progress, Lead Your Work, Urgency to Drive Change, & False vs Real Urgency: Leadership Challenge
Can implementing health and wellness practices positively impact leadership and the performance of an organization overall? According to Krystal Lomanto, County Superintendent of San Bonito County Office of Education, developing and supporting the health and wellness of employees can not only impact leadership and the performance of an organization, but it is imperative to leaders in leading the organization. In this podcast, episode listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Krystal Lomanto to discuss her journey in becoming an elected superintendent as well as some of her firsthand results from and ways to implement health and wellness ideals.
This episode addresses questions, such as
- Why is health and wellness important to the culture and performance of an organization?
- What are some tactics and exercises that help implement health and wellness practices in the workplace?
- How can health and wellness promote a healthier work/life balance?
Recommended Resources: The Greater Good Science Organization, Happiness Calendar, Expressing Gratitude, & Leading With Vulnerability
Each day we are faced with our own battles and wars that we must push through, whether that be in the workplace, at home, in our own minds, figuratively, or literally. As many people know, there is a current battle being waged in Ukraine, and while we frequently hear about it on the news and from those around us, life still must go on. But how does it continue for some of the individuals who are very close and even part of the war itself? In this episode, Max Bobbit talks about both his time as a TeacherReady student and how he is currently housing 3 refugees from Ukraine. Our podcast producer, Mary Stackhouse Consoli caught up with Max to hear his and his wife's story on welcoming a Ukranian mother and her daughters into their home during this difficult time. Listen as he shares about the challenges and opportunities, as well as how he's grown through this experience. Max recently raised $5000 to help the Ukrainian mother and her daughters get essentials and school supplies. While he is not requesting any additional funds, he has given us permission to share his PayPal handle, @maxrosser, where additional donations for the mother and daughters can be made in case any of our listeners feel led to give.
Recommended Resources:What Can Connect to Purpose Sound Like?, How Resilient Are You?, Finding Purpose at Work, & The Best Gift We Can Give
Have you ever positioned yourself in a positive light while delivering difficult news or information at the expense of another colleague or department? Has a coworker ever done this to you? Placing blame in the workplace can subconsciously erode the organization’s culture. It can create lose-lose scenarios for all the individuals involved. However, when modeling positive and respectful communication instead of placing blame, you can set an example and expectation for how to interact in your organization. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares how you can stop placing blame in your organization with key tips and examples of alternative, positive communication approaches, and she explains how this can help reinforce a positive culture and help you be your best at work.
This episode addresses questions, such as
* How can we/they statements promote placing blame in the workplace and harm the workplace culture, and how do I steer away from that form of communication?
* Why is it important to focus on factors I can control and ways I can assist others instead of placing blame?
* What responses can I give without using we/they communication?
Recommended Resources:Eliminate We/They, Replace We/They With Ownership And Practice, Be an Owner, & Why It's Important to be an Owner of Your Work
Joining us in today's episode, we have two superintendents representing two different school districts in the same county. The way these school systems partner together to help serve children is an example of the power of collaboration and mutual support. They are models in terms of how they collaborate and work for the community, and as you will see from this episode, they truly make decisions in the best interests of the students and the families they serve. Listen now as the Superintendent of Daviess County Public Schools, Matt Robbins, and the Superintendent of Owensboro Public Schools, Dr. Matthew Constant, have a conversation with Dr. Janet Pilcher about how they partner together for their community.
This episode addresses questions, such as
- What does it take to build a collaborative relationship with a leader outside of the organization?
- What are some examples of ways leaders can partner together for the good of the community?
- How can leaders maintain and nurture a collaborative working relationship with another leader or group outside of their organization?
Recommended Resources: Collective Willpower to Succeed, Build Strong Board Relationships, Cultivate a Can Do Culture, & Organizational Feedback Loop
Have you ever worked with someone who did the minimum just to get by? Maybe you've even heard someone say "That's not my job." These are examples of people not owning the work. To be our best at work, we must be owners of our work. When we own our work, it builds confidence, and it positively impacts our colleagues as well. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares key characteristics of those who own their work as well as tips for living this idea out in the workplace.
This episode addresses questions, such as
- What is something that those who own their work continuously focus on?
- How does it impact the organization and our colleagues when we do not own our work?
- What should we avoid if we want to be owners of our work?
Recommended Resources: Be An Owner, Collective Willpower To Succeed, Victim Thinking, & Ownership Of Organizational Goals
How can we do better? That is the question that drives a culture of continuous improvement. It involves listening to people and taking an authentic look at the data on how the organization is performing. It involves accountability in measuring the important things an organization values. That's how our guest in this episode puts it as he speaks about his journey to building a culture of continuous improvement in his school district. Today, Tom Livezey, Superintendent of Oakridge Public Schools in Muskegon, Michigan, joins us. Listen as he shares about what it takes to create this kind of culture. Listen as he also shares about his district's close relationship with their union and key strategies he uses to keep everyone on the same page and moving in the right direction.
This episode addresses questions, such as
- What actions can leaders who work with unions take to strengthen the relationship and promote unity?
- Why is it vital for leaders to focus on the present, and how can they ground themselves there amid change and uncertainty?
- What are some of the most important things communities need from school districts and education systems at this moment in time?
Recommended Resources:Collective Willpower to Succeed, How Focus Leads to Results, Make the Big Time Where You Are, & Schools Cannot Do It Alone
Do you ever feel reluctant to give the people you lead big challenges? How do you know when it's time to push an employee out of the nest to allow them to grow as a leader? When we step back, we can give our people a chance to problem solve, shine, and build a sense of ownership. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares powerful leadership lessons from a former park ranger. Listen as she references an article written by this former park ranger who offers leaders five tips and discusses why leaders will want to rethink swooping in to save people "lost in the forest."
This episode addresses questions, such as
- Why should I challenge my people with tough opportunities?
- When looking at obstacles, what should leaders be wary of?
- Why should leaders be able to lead with "the bare minimum"?
Recommended Resources: High Level Scenario Thinking, If-Then, Cultivating a Culture of Resilience, & After Action Review Process
Clarity in focus is critical for organizations to stay on track in challenging times. As you'll see, our guests today are shining examples of staying the course amid uncertainty and change. In this episode, Dr. Kelly Thompson and Jeff Petersen from Muskego-Norway Schools in Muskego, Wisconsin join us. Kelly serves as Superintendent in the district, and Jeff serves as Assistant Superintendent of Continuous Improvement. Muskego-Norway Schools has consistently improved in parent satisfaction and employee engagement, despite the pandemic. In today's conversation, they discuss what has enabled this success. They also share how they have addressed substitute and staffing challenges this school year as well as how they've grown a culture of meaningfulness for employees.
This episode addresses questions, such as
- How can I maintain focus in difficult times?
- What actions can I take to model enthusiasm for my work?
- How can I create a culture of meaningfulness where employees feel engaged and a sense of purpose in their work?
Recommended Resources: Creating a Culture of Resilience, Communicate Effectively Using the Execution Triangle, Cascading the Building Blocks of Service Excellence, & Cascading Communication
Belonging is essential to human beings. Psychologists rank our need to belong on par with our need for love. People need to feel like they belong at work. This is more important than ever in workplaces, especially following the disruptions many of us have experienced due to COVID. We don't see our co-workers as often, and sometimes we may feel excluded. Our colleagues may feel like that too at times. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares practical actions leaders can take to help create a culture of belonging.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do I develop and nurture a culture of belonging?
- What can I do to foster a sense of belonging at work?
- How do I create an environment where everyone is closing the belonging gaps in the organization?
Recommended Resources: Leading with Vulnerability, Becoming an Authentic Leader, Vulnerability and Teamwork, & The Benefits of Mentorship Programs
The work of continuous improvement is a journey. It requires commitment and hard work, the results of which can be so powerful, as the story of our guests in today's episode attests. In this episode, the Superintendent of the Estacada School District, Ryan Carpenter, joins us, along with Studer Education Leader Coach, Dr. Kathy Oropallo— or Kathy, as we like to call her. Ryan and Kathy recently co-authored a chapter in Teaching Improvement Science in Educational Leadership, which they will share about. The chapter they collaborated on is about aligning values, goals, and processes to achieve results. As you'll hear, Ryan's leadership at Escatada is a shining example of this. They will also share advice for leaders new to the work of continuous improvement as well as words of wisdom for leaders who are deep in the work. Listen now to hear their rich discussion.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some key actions I can take to build my organization's culture?
- Why is it important for leaders to continually tell their stories?
- What are some things leaders should avoid to help them stay committed to the work of continuous improvement?
Recommended Resources: Keep the Complex Simple, Reward and Recognize, Five Why's: Continuous Improvement, & Teaching Improvement Science in Educational Leadership
The landscape of the educational system is continuously changing-- and particularly so right now. Across the country, there is a struggle to fill the demand for teaching positions in high-need areas. As today's guest puts it, it's calling us to unthink and rethink teacher preparation programs. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Miller, Director of Partnership and Student Services for TeacherReady, joins us to discuss the impact of alternative teacher credentialing and what she and the TeacherReady team has learned is creating access for a diverse range of candidates. Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Miller will present on this topic at this year's Carnegie Summit 2022. Listen now to hear the conversation as well as more about their upcoming presentation.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does feedback fuel the achievement of excellence?
- What can leaders in the field of education learn from other fields?
- Why is unlearning more important than intelligence?
Recommended Resources: Use Standards of Service Excellence, Exceed With Delight, Feedback That Inspires, & Feedback is a Gift... Or is it?
Expressing sincere appreciation is a culture changer. It boosts morale and motivates others to continue their great work. It increases engagement. Rewarding and recognizing people takes little time, and the impact is significant. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks about the power of sincere appreciation and discusses how we can establish recognition systems in our organizations. She also shares ideas for rewarding and recognizing others -- how it can look and when to do it-- as well as tips for making recognition a habit.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we set up a system for recognizing employees to build a positive culture of appreciation and gratitude?
- What can I do to incorporate recognition as a habit for our team?
- How can I reward and recognize my team without blowing my budget?
Recommended Resources: Motivate With Recognition, Emotional Bank Account, What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated, & Episode 6: Can You Fix My Culture?
Achieving excellence in an organization is a journey that requires commitment, constant effort, and reflection on where you are and where you need to be. It requires total commitment to the work of continuous improvement. This topic will be front and center at the upcoming 2022 Carnegie Summit. As our guest in this episode puts it, the summit brings together "champions of improvement" from across the country, offering an opportunity for leaders to share their learnings with one another. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher and our guest, Senior Director of Thought Leadership, Dr. Pat Greco, discuss great improvement work currently taking place across the nation, why committing to this process is so important, and what attendees can expect from this year's conference.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- When is the best time to commit to the work of continuous improvement in an organization?
- Why is it important to have a framework and set of principles to guide the effort of commitment to organizational excellence?
- How do organizations build a foundation for the work of continuous improvement?
Recommended Resources: Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, Organizational Excellence, Becoming an Improvement Organization, & Episode 87: Improvement to Accelerate Learning
The academic year is in full swing, and now is also the time leaders are beginning to plan and budget for 2022 and 2023. What actions can leaders take to set themselves up for a successful next school year? What areas are especially important to analyze before springing forward? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher and our guest, Leader Coach, Amy Fowler, join us to answer these questions. Listen as they discuss how leaders can harness their learnings over this past year to make even more progress moving forward.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Where should leaders start as they begin planning for the next school year?
- What key areas can leaders self-assess and learn from to help set themselves up for success?
- What should leaders avoid as they plan for the next school year?
Recommended Resources: Using Data to Action Plan, Improvement Action Plan Sample, & Improvement Action Plan
It's been a time of monumental change that has presented many challenges at work for leaders. With more on people's plates at work in these uncertain times, it's more important than ever that leaders recognize and appreciate members of their teams for their good work. Reward and recognition is timeless. It never gets old. It's fuel that helps keep people motivated and engaged at work. In this episode, listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher explains why now is a great time to revisit Episode 50, Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition, which explains the importance of our ninth principle, and the impact it can have on our workplace cultures in these times.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we get recognition to stick in our organizations?
- What is the value of recognition to our employees and organizations?
- How does recognition encourage high performance?
Recommended Resources: Ideas for Recognizing Your Employees, What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated,& What’s 1 Top Reason for Employees Quitting Their Jobs?
When leaders are authentic, it helps build a culture that is inclusive. It helps foster an environment where employees will feel free to also be authentic. Our guest in today's episode is a shining example of this. In this episode, Dr. Heidi Eliopoulos, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona, joins us to discuss the importance of authenticity and the impact it's having in her district's culture. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher asks Heidi to share what the other biggest difference makers have been for creating a strong workplace culture.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we engage our leaders to help grow the organization?
- What can leaders do to demonstrate appreciation to team members more genuinely?
- How can leaders leverage what motivates their people to help them feel a stronger sense of purpose in their work?
Recommended Resources: Tips for Building an Emotional Bank Account, Emotional Intelligence, Actions For Excellence, & Organizational Excellence
All content © 2022 Accelerate Your Performance .
Is your communication clear and concise? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher references an article written by Bill Murphy in Inc. Magazine, titled, "How Emotionally Intelligent People Use the Mark Twain Rule to Become Exceptionally Persuasive: Let me Get to Point". As Janet reflects over the key points in the article, she offers us three things to consider as we craft messages that will help us communicate more precisely, clearly, and effectively.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some things leaders need to change in order to communicate brief and concise messages to achieve goals?
- Why is it better to be brief and concise when it comes to communication?
- What are some common factors that detract from crafting a precise, clear message?
Recommended Resources: Accelerate Your Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Cascading Communication, & Keep Communication Simple
All content © 2022 Accelerate Your Performance .
Spring is just around the corner, and now is a great time for leaders to recommit and recommunicate what matters most to finish strong this school year. Our guest today shares how you can harness your leader superpowers of culture and communication to create a great experience for students, families, and your team the rest of this school year. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Leader Coach Tim Wyrosdick discuss practical ways leaders can activate these superpowers.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the most significant things leaders can do to sustain a positive work environment in challenging times?
- How do leaders build employee engagement?
- What should leaders be sure to incorporate into their self-reflection time?
Recommended Resources: Leadership Reflection on Hardwiring,The Keys to Employee Engagement, Boost the Employee Experience, & Episode 74: Becoming an Authentic Leader
It can be a balancing act to achieve and sustain results over time while also remaining emotionally, mentally and physically healthy. That's especially true in challenging, uncertain times. Taking care of ourselves while working toward our goals will help keep us motivated in our work. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares 9 tips for creating a better heart and mind balance to help us thrive and be our best.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can I spend the first 15 minutes of the day to help set myself up for success?
- What simple actions can I take today to help make work more meaningful?
- How can I cultivate a healthier heart and mind balance through my interactions with colleagues?
Recommended Resources: Emotional Intelligence,Pause, Perspective, Process, Create Resilient Leaders, & Episode 200: How Leaders Stay Grounded
An organization with a strong and healthy workplace culture is where you are likely to find employees who are engaged at work and find purpose in the work they do. But how do leaders shape a positive workplace culture in challenging, uncertain times? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher and our guest, Dr. KK Owen, discuss simple actions leaders can take to help create healthier workplace cultures and define one thing leaders must do to start.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What can leaders do to help employees stay connected to their purpose during stressful times?
- Why is it so important for leaders to model and practice self-care at work?
- How do I create a steady, intentional environment of staying focused on goals at work?
Recommended Resources: Connect to Purpose,Creating Unmistakable Value, Cultivating a Culture of Resilience, & Episode 160: Creating a Culture of Shared Leadership
Being proactive at work increases our sense of purpose in the work we do and helps build self-confidence. When we come to work focused on being positive and happy, we persevere to overcome any obstacles that come our way. It feels good to have a take-action attitude. It also has a positive impact on our relationships at work. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses the qualities of proactive leaders and how cultivating more of this spirit can impact workplace culture for the better.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does being proactive at work look like in action?
- How can I take initiative at work while staying aligned with the goals of the organization?
- What three questions can I ask myself as I set my personal mindset to be proactive at work?
Recommended Resources: Lead Your Work,Leader Always Actions, Episode 182: What Makes an Employee a Productive One?, & Episode 160: Creating a Culture of Shared Leadership
In a time of change and uncertainty, it is more important than ever for leaders to communicate with authenticity and to live that out every day. In this episode, hear the second part of our two-part interview with Dr. Lisa Herring, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. In this conversation, Dr. Janet Pilcher asks Dr. Herring to share about the greatest challenges she has faced as a leader and how she stayed motivated during those times. Listen as Dr. Herring also shares about the characteristics she finds most valuable on her leadership team, as well as one powerful trait that is essential for all leaders.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
* What does it mean to lead with authenticity?
* What does living authentically look like in action at work, and how can it impact workplace cultures?
* What two key moves can leaders make to help strengthen their workplace cultures?
Recommended Resources: Leading With Vulnerability,Start With Why,EP229: Strategic Moves for Impact, & Bold Leaders, Bold Decisions, and Bold Results
We spend a lot of time at work for our jobs. It's worth spending our time there being happy. So what if we're not feeling happy in our jobs? As our host, Dr. Janet Pilcher, explains in this episode, we can take action to manage our happiness at work, and we are in control of our happiness. Listen as Janet shares practical moves we can make to help us focus on being happier at work.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What actions can I take in my interactions with colleagues to help cultivate more meaning and joy in my work?
- How can I reframe my thinking to have a more positive outlook at work?
- What tactics can help us focus on being happier at work?
Recommended Resources: The Power of Perspective,Connect to Purpose, Victim Thinking & Episode 184: Be Dedicated to Being the Best
The past 22 months have brought ample challenges for leaders across the country. Schools leaders have all had to make difficult decisions. Staying connected to our purpose can help keep us fueled with passion during difficult times. Our guest today models this so well. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Herring, the Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools, joins us for a candid conversation about overcoming challenges, while still moving forward and innovating. In just under a year and a half on the job, Dr. Herring launched a Center for Equity and Social Justice in the district as well as the Summer Academic Recovery Academy, to overcome learning loss. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher asks Dr. Herring about her journey and how she stayed committed to success.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders stay confident when making decisions in the face of pressure?
- Where can we start as we lead and manage change in our organizations?
- How can leaders reignite their passion when feeling burned out?
Recommended Resources: Decision-Making Confidence,High-Level Scenario Thinking, If-Then, & Leading Change Related Podcasts: Measures that Matter and Decision Rules, Leading Change with Creative Tension, How Do We Achieve Team Success?, & Bold Leaders, Bold Decisions, and Bold Results
Curiosity opens up our minds and connects us to one another. Curiosity in the workplace breeds creativity and ideas. It is essential and will help us reach new heights, no matter what our position. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher has a conversation with the new producer of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Mary Stackhouse. Through the experiences Mary shares about her path from TV news anchor and reporter to her current role as Creative Content Analyst, we're reminded of the value of being curious. Listen and consider ways you might cultivate more curiosity as a leader.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is curiosity a key driver for high performers?
- What actions can students take to make the most of internship opportunities?
- How can curiosity help us lead at a higher level?
Recommended Resources: Listen Intently, The Power of Perspective, & Listen to People to Continuously Improve Related Podcasts: Lead By Example, Are You a Curious Leader?, The Winning Mindset, & Are You a High Performer?
It's a new year. Let's make a conscious choice to have a positive mindset in 2022. People who have positive attitudes are healthier, happier, and more productive. They are more likely to develop deeper relationships, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. Strengthening our mindset starts with being positive even in the most difficult of times. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher challenges us to shift to a positive mindset. Listen as she shares tips on how we can shift our minds to focus on the positive and to find the good in every situation.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do I come to work with a positive attitude and a positive mindset?
- What characteristics do employees with a positive mindset display, and what impact does it have in the workplace?
- How can we reframe our thinking to focus on the positive?
Recommended Resources: Questioning for the Positive, The Power of Perspective, & Victim Thinking Related Podcasts: Three Ways to Stay Inspired at Work, Focus on the Positive, The Winning Mindset, & That Blah Feeling
Time is the most valuable thing we have. It is precious. How we spend it is important. We can't get it back. Because of that, it is also the best gift we can give -- to those we work with, to our loved ones, and to our friends. In the spirit of the season of giving, let's consider how we can be more intentional about spending quality time with others. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher challenges us to get creative. Listen as she shares ideas for making memorable experiences with others as well as examples of spending quality time with team members at work.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is spending quality time with others so important?
- How can I be more present and intentional when spending quality time with others?
- What are some things that we want to avoid that take away from quality time with others?
Recommended Resources: It's All About Relationships, Emotional Bank Account & Boost the Employee Experience Related Podcasts: Give the Simple Gifts, Be Dedicated to Being the Best, The Winning Mindset
As educators, our role is to help students learn. However, we often end up learning a lot from our students. The last 22 months have challenged us to connect with and engage with our students more intentionally, as both educators and students have all felt more stress. In this episode, Student Orchestra Director Christina Clark Frierdich joins us to share about overcoming challenges, finding creative opportunities, and staying fueled with purpose in difficult times.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can I find a fresh sense of purpose in my work when I'm feeling burned out?
- What can I do to change my perspective when I'm stressed?
- How can I successfully engage students and invite student input?
Recommended Resources: Connect to Purpose, It's All About Relationships, Stories of Purpose: Christina Clark Frierdich & Communication and Connection: Forces for Greatness Related Podcasts: How to Collect the Student Voice, Listen for Ideas, Perspective, and Connection, & Blending the 80% Emotional and the 20% Rational
For many of us, the holiday season represents time with family and friends, great food, and football. Coming off the heels of the biggest week of college football rivalries, Dr. Janet Pilcher turns her attention to her team, Florida State University and their long-standing rival, the Florida Gators. She looks to an article written about FSU quarterback, Jordan Travis, who has endured hateful commentary from the outside world, including fans. Listen as Janet shares some powerful takeaways we can put into action to help us commit to a winner's mindset and overcome adversity.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can I cultivate and maintain a winning mindset?
- What can I do to remain resilient in the face of adversity?
- What key actions demonstrate a commitment to win?
Recommended Resources: Collective Willpower to Succeed, Cultivating a Culture of Resilience, & Create Resilient Leaders Related Podcasts: Be Dedicated to Being the Best, The Winning Trait Behind the Underdog Teams, Reignite Your Passion, & Commit to Excellence: Be the Best
Student voice and perspectives isn't just a 'nice-to-have'; it's a must-have. Students have experienced a lot of change and stress over the last 21 months. As school districts plan for the future, it is essential we hear from students and include them more intentionally and deeply. As our guest, Leader Coach Gayle Juneau-Butler explains, using student focus groups for strategic planning has become a key part of the process for the partners she works with. In this episode, listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Gayle discuss how to effectively gather and use student input as well as the norms and considerations for these conversations.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do I use the voices and perspectives of students to plan for the future?
- What questions I can ask to engage students and help them feel heard?
- What are some examples of how student voice has helped shape the strategic plans of districts?
Recommended Resources: Great Leaders Listen, Let the Student Voice Be Your Guide, Creating a Strategic Plan, & Using Feedback to Prioritize Related Podcasts: Feedback is a Gift... Or is it? & How to Collect the Student Voice
We've all done it at one time or another-- felt sorry for ourselves about a situation at work that feels out of our control. Maybe it's a challenging project we've been assigned, or perhaps it has seemed like other divisions are given more resources or attention. Perhaps it's feeling sorry for ourselves because it seems that other voices at work are heard more often, and it feels difficult to get an opinion in. This kind of thinking can lead to a victim mentality if we're quick to blame someone else instead of looking inward and taking responsibility. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses what victim thinking can look and sound like and why it's toxic to workplace cultures. Listen as she shares action steps for identifying and overcoming victim thinking.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do I know if I have a victim mentality at work?
- How can I shift out of a victim mentality and take ownership?
- What can I do to take charge and change how I feel at work?
Recommended Resources: 3 Behaviors That Poison Your Culture &Victim Thinking Related Podcasts: Losing Our Way, From Problem to Solution, Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization, & Keep Those Emotions in Check
As the season of gratitude is quickly upon us, we are focused on sharing stories of purpose with our listeners. This week, Coach Support Analyst, Whitney Patterson shares how she was called upon to discover a purpose outside of work in an unexpected way. Dr. Janet Pilcher and Whitney discuss what she's learned from the experience and what others can do to find a little spark in their lives.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it so important to step out of your comfort zone?
- How can you stretch yourself this holiday season?
- What can you do to combat stress and burnout?
Recommended Resources: Stories of Purpose Videos from WRIE 2021 Related Podcasts: Find Your Pack & Find Your Voice, That 'Blah' Feeling, Small Things, Big Difference & Give the Simple Gifts
Start your week by preparing your heart and mind for the upcoming holiday season. As we get closer to Thanksgiving, it's important to focus on our connections with people and stretch ourselves to practice loving kindness. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on her recent experiences and leads listeners through a loving kindness mediation to break the barriers we feel inwardly and outwardly.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does loving kindness look like for you?
- How can you stretch yourself this holiday season?
- Why do we need to be kind to ourselves to be kind to others?
Recommended Resources: Georgia Blackmon: An Exclusive Interview, The Power of Perspective & Motivate with Recognition Related Podcasts: Small Things, Big Difference, Give the Simple Gifts, 8 Things Dogs Teach Us & The Little Things Pay Great Dividends
To become a first-choice University requires winning the hearts and the minds of young people. While this is no easy feat, Universities are filled with untapped talent and resources. That's what our guest, Dr. Tressa Kelly, the First Lady of the University of West Georgia, realized quickly after getting on campus. As a result, an incredible project was born to benefit future students and build on the history and story of UWG.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the role of UWG's First Lady and how does that create a bridge with UWG's community?
- Why is it important to have an origin story?
- How can schools increase a sense of belonging?
Recommended Resources: Wolfie Finds his Howl Related Podcasts: Embrace the Call for Transformation in Higher Ed, Innovation is Easier than Changing the World, Changing Education Through Improvement Science & What do Employees Need from Leaders?
Is it burnout? Exhaustion? Disengagement? It's a feeling people can't quite put their finger on or understand exactly why. Lately, it seems difficult to feel motivated or joyful. If you've recognized similar feelings in yourself, you're not alone. Organizational Psychologist, WorkLife podcast host, and NYT author, Adam Grant recently published an article that describes the unsettled, aimless, empty feeling many people are experiencing. Using this article, our host, Dr. Janet Pilcher, helps us name this blah feeling and provides tips to help individuals go from languishing to potentially flourishing.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is one way this blah feeling has brought people closer together?
- Why have people felt so tired and empty lately?
- How can we shift from languishing to potentially flourishing?
Recommended Resources: There's a Name for the Blah You're Feeling, From Hopeless to Champion, Collective Willpower to Succeed & Vulnerability and Teamwork Related Podcasts: When it Comes to Change, Less is More, Pay Attention to the Right Work, Powerful Practices that Build Connection & Rounding with Purpose
How can improvement help us solve complex challenges in schools? Executive education leaders from across the country came together last week to answer this very question. After an energizing What's Right in Education conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco came together to reflect on the impact of bold leaders in education. Despite a stressful year, people in districts are overcoming incredible obstacles one small step at a time. Hear about bright spots in education who are making improvement simple and sharing their work to fundamentally change education in America.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- Why is it best to approach improvement with one small step at a time?
- What does it really mean to turn input into action?
- Does a problem need to be defined before it can be solved?
Recommended Resources: Bold Leadership: A New Age of Education Leaders, Using Continuous Improvement Strategies in the Classroom to Help Students Take a Proactive Approach, How Do We Know if it's an Improvement? & Systems, Sea Otters, and Soil Recommended Podcasts: Tackle Student Learning Gaps, Do What's Right for Students, Hiring the Right Principal & Save Time with Proactive Communication
Being bold doesn't necessarily mean big, it means to consistently do the things that make the most difference. Bold leaders understand the strategic direction, big aims, and what the institution is striving to become. Bold leaders continuously strive to be at their best and help those around them be their best as well. As Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on What's Right in Education, she reminds listeners to never lose the purpose of helping students be their best.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What does it mean to commit to excellence?
- How do we put continuous improvement into action?
- What is constant throughout continuous change?
Recommended Resources: The Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence, Organizational Excellence & The Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence VideoRecommended Podcasts: Tackle Student Learning Gaps, Do What's Right for Students, Hiring the Right Principal & Save Time with Proactive Communication
Can you imagine combining the first day back to school during a pandemic with a raging wildfire threatening students, employees, and the entire community? This is exactly what Estacada School District experienced in September of 2020. As district leaders switched to a crisis response model, people found new and innovative ways to stay connected, make decisions quickly, and cascade information to community members. Listen as Superintendent Ryan Carpenter shares the most important communication tactic in times of crisis.
*Our next new episode will be released on Nov. 1, 2021. In the meantime, please join us at our annual conference,* What's Right in Education*: Oct 27-28.*
This episode answers questions such as:**
- What role do emotions play in decision-making?
- How can leaders communicate to keep those they serve informed while displaced?
- Why is listening to people even more important during a crisis?
Read Superintendent Ryan Carpenter's article: Building Resilience in an Organization
Recommended Resources: Estacada Continuous Improvement Library, Estacada YouTube Channel, The Four Most Important Questions to Ask WhenRounding, Huddle for Critical Outcomes, &Create Resilient LeadersRecommended Podcasts: How Can We Improve Employee Engagement & Communication?, Using Local Culture to Improve the Student Experience, Focus on the Fundamentals to Improve, Define Values to Guide Your Decisions & Bold Leaders, Bold Decisions and Bold Results
What about the students? What are the effects of 20 months of disruption on them? Young people are feeling more stressed than ever before. Their lives are difficult to understand for adults. We often think about how students are feeling from our adult lens, yet they don't have the adult experiences we've gained. How do we really know how our students are feeling?
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can school leaders gather input from students?
- Why do students need us to listen to their concerns?
- What can we do to teach students how to problem-solve while also paying attention to their needs?
Recommended Resources: Listening to Customer Feedback, Organizational Feedback Loop, Improvement and Innovation & Set Aligned Goals Recommended Podcasts: Listen to People to Continuously Improve, Listen for Ideas, Perspective & Connection, Break Down the Disconnect Between School Teachers and Leaders, & Bold Leaders, Bold Decisions, Bold Results
Embedding the context of local culture into classrooms results in a more successful, memorable experience for students. It's likely that your community has a rich culture and history, much like Lac du Flambeau in Northern Wisconsin. Today, we revisit an interview with Lac du Flambeau School District Superintendent Dr. Larry Ouimette. During this conversation, we discuss how the local Native American Ojibwe Tribe is an integral piece of Lac du Flambeau's history and the ties between its school system and local cultural values.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can local culture fit into our schools?
- Why is it important to understand the history of the local community?
- What do people need right now from school leaders?
Read Superintendent Larry Quimette's AASA article: Embedding Local Culture in Student Learning
Recommended Resources:Does Local Culture Have a Place in Schools?, Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture & Listen IntentlyRecommended Podcasts: Prioritizing Local Culture in Schools, Focus on the Fundamentals to Improve, Define Values to Guide Your Decisions & Bold Leaders, Bold Decisions and Bold Results
Why are teachers choosing to leave the profession at even higher rates than before? Teachers have a great passion for helping students learn, yet the stress has increased and teachers aren't feeling heard. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses why there is a disconnect between school leaders and teachers, and what administrators can do to get teachers to stay.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why are teachers leaving the profession at such high rates?
- How can we build better connections between school leaders and teachers?
- What can leaders do today to help teachers want to stay?
Recommended Podcasts: How to Ask Meaningful Rounding Questions, Listen for Ideas, Perspective, & Connection, Listen to People to Continuously Improve & Retain New Hires with 30 & 90 Day Conversations
Changing the culture of an organization doesn't happen overnight. However, when leaders focus on the fundamentals to build trust a positive culture can emerge. Today's episode revisits an interview with Dr. Pat Greco, who shares how the School District of Menomonee Falls stayed 8 months ahead of other districts. Leaders communicated the measures that matter and decision rules to all teams to ensure every employee could own their work and do what is best for students.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What fundamentals can leaders have in place to help employees feel a sense of calm during chaos?
- How can continuous improvement be viewed as part of the work rather than an add-on to the work?
- Why do clear measures motivate people and teams?
Recommended Resources: Measuring What Matters,Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture, Lead Your Work & Remain Confident Despite an Uncertain FutureRecommended Podcasts: Measures that Matter and Decision Rules, Leadership Development is a Lifeline, Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance & Improve by Measuring What Matters
Being a leader of an organization is never easy. Not to mention leading an organization that is experiencing constant change in relatively unpredictable times. Today, Janet shares three important suggestions to apply 100% of the time to best manage change.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What usually goes wrong when leaders are managing change and what should be done differently?
- How can reduce employee anxiety as change initiatives are implemented?
- Why does connecting employee's minds with their hearts help achieve results?
Recommended Resources: Remain Confident Despite an Uncertain Future, Leading Change, Guiding Your Team Through Change & Communicating ChangeRecommended Podcasts: Leading Change with Creative Tension, How Can We Build Strategic Agility for Continuous Change?, Leading Change with Empathy & Identify Barriers to Change
Our school systems, leaders and educators have role-modeled tremendous resiliency since March of 2020. Despite the challenges the pandemic has brought, there have also been bright spots and bold leaders encouraging their teams to thrive. Today, we revisit a conversation with Tea Area Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Lowery, to highlight the difference their district makes by leaning on its values and focusing on its entire community.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it so important to have values and principles as an organization?
- How can schools and businesses work together for the good of the community?
- What can bold leaders do to have confidence in their decisions at the end of the day?
Recommended Resources: Walking the Halls, Remain Confident Despite an Uncertain Future, Cultivating a Culture of Resilience & Provide Feedback that InspiresRecommended Podcasts: Powerful Practices that Build Connection, The Intersection Between Healthcare and Education, Embrace the Call for Transformation in Higher Ed & Do What's Right for Students
Bold leadership isn't about a position. Bold leaders use their hearts and minds to make a difference in the lives of others. Our profession calls on you to help young people realize their hopes and dreams - that is where educators find purpose. Bold leaders focus on the right small things that make a difference for employees, students and their communities. In this episode, hear how our host, Dr. Janet Pilcher, recommends you connect to purpose through continuous learning and improvement.
Learn more about What's Right in Education.
Recommended Resources: Build a Bold Leadership Team & The Key to Success: Continuous Leader DevelopmentRecommended Podcasts: Save Time with Proactive Communication, Hiring the Right Principal, Tackle Student Learning Gaps & Do What's Right for Students
Have you ever felt like you're running around your organization putting out fires? Today, Superintendent Ryan Carpenter, Estacada School District shares the communication tactics his team has in place that help him feel less like a firefighter. You'll also hear how these decisions were deeply rooted in data and continue to be analyzed on a consistent basis. As a result, people in Estacada are jumping ALL IN on the decisions its school district is making. Listen as Janet and Ryan discuss why his team stays laser-focused on communicating innovatively with their community and employees.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why do school districts need a communication expert to meet the needs of families and employees?
- What can Superintendents do to save time and improve their service to the community?
- How can you understand what's at the root of the data and use that information to drive meaningful results?
Recommended Resources: Accelerate Your Communication, Did that Question Catch You Off Guard?, Audit Your Communication & Continuous Improvement: Adjusting through Disruption
Recommended Podcasts: Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, Jump All-in to Improve, How Can We Improve Employee Engagement and Communication, Hiring the Right Principal, Tackle Student Learning Gaps & Do What's Right for Students
We all know that a leader's behavior has a significant influence on the employees of an organization. Great leaders are reflective, have self-awareness and are connected to the people they serve. On the other hand, bad leaders often cause employees to seek out another work environment. How can we become the type of leader that contributes to building an inspiring workplace? To answer this, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares the 5 Questions Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Ask Themselves Every Day, written by Harvey Deutschendorf.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the characteristics of emotionally intelligent leaders?
- Why is it so important to help employees achieve their career goals?
- How can we keep people excited and motivated to continuously improve?
Recommended Resources: Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence Strategies for Leaders, Sharpening Emotional Intelligence & Leading with Emotional Intelligence: Leadership Challenge Related Podcasts: Symptoms of Low Emotional Intelligence, What Makes an Employee a Productive One?, Be Dedicated to Being the Best, The Winning Trait Behind Underdog Teams & Are You a High Performer?
Hiring a High School Principal is a can't-miss situation. Due to decreases in qualified applicants for these positions, one school district found a unique way to find the best candidate. Joining Janet today is Sand Creek Zone District 49, Superintendent Sean Dorsey, who shares how to hire boldly and authentically engage staff and students through challenging times.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can organizations find top talent when hiring pools decrease?
- What characteristics do parents and students look for in a Principal?
- Why is now a great time to reconnect with and re-engage ALL employees?
Recommended Resources: Right Hiring for the Right Fit, 5 Tips for Effective Virtual Job Interviews and Hiring, Tips for Recruiting Top Talent & Onboarding for Success in a Virtual Work Environment
Recommended Podcasts: Do What's Right for Students, Tackle Student Learning Gaps & Leadership Development is a Lifeline
The northern gulf coast is home to millions of residents who are no strangers to natural disasters. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on our education partners who have suffered tremendous damage due to Hurricane Ida. The storm has brought major loss to the students, employees, and community members of Fletcher Technical Community College and Nunez Community College in southeastern Louisiana.
Should you feel moved to do so, here are some ways to donate to support the students of these two institutions. Students and families in these communities are in great need.
Nunez Community College:Cash Donations: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/23001/donations/new
Fletcher Community CollegeCash Donations: https://www.classy.org/give/355208/#!/donation/checkout
Donate any of the following items: canned food, baby wipes, diapers, baby formula, water, soap, shampoo, toiletries, cleaning supplies, pet food, or via the College’s Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/.../ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1...
You may coordinate your Amazon wish list donations or item donations through the foundation office by sending them to the following address if ordered within the next week or by calling (225) 324-6654.
Attention Fletcher Technical College Ida Relief Fund / VC Dr. LeBouef
15243 Lockett Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Thank you on behalf of Huron | Studer Education for your consideration and support of our friends, students, and families at Fletcher and Nunez.
Ensuring learning progress despite disruptions to learning has been no easy feat since the pandemic began. However, at Erwin Middle School leaders worked together to decrease student absences by over 40% and decrease the number of F's and incomplete assignments by 51%. Today, Principal Dr. Angela Bush joins Janet to share how her team continues to close the academic achievement gap and move students forward.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we tackle student learning gaps?
- What measures are most important for ensuring post-secondary readiness?
- Why are school leaders, teachers, resource officers, guidance counselors and parents all needed to close the academic achievement gap?
Recommended Resources: Improvement Cycles to Sustain Progress & Move Students Forward with a Focus on Strengths
Recommended Podcasts:Do What's Right for Students & Leadership Development is a Lifeline
The skills that students need to be successful after school ends are rapidly changing. What it means to be career-ready tomorrow, will look different in 2025. To best support students for the future, leaders and community members in Oak Ridge School District have made a collective commitment to advance their strategic plan and include a focus on college, career and life success. Listen as Dr. Bruce Borchers shares how his district aligns its Portrait of a Graduate from Pre-K to Graduation using the district's strategic plan.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can school districts discover what the community desires for its students?
- What has brought unity and clarity to strategic planning in this district?
- Why is it that adults need to change rather than students?
Learn more about the Oak Ridge Portrait of a Graduate.
Recommended Resources: Launching a New Strategic Plan, What is Bold Leadership?, Scorecard Development & The Improvement Maturity Model to Pursue Excellence
Recommended Podcasts: Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start? , Embrace the Call for Transformation in Higher Ed, Empower & Invest in Your Teams & Schools are Essential
Are you trying to find the next silver bullet solution? Or are you focused on evidence-based leadership and improvement practices? Focusing on the next shiny silver bullet will often lead to organizational chaos. Today, Janet shares another way leaders can prepare their teams for change and build leadership capabilities to improve organizational systems.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we best manage constant and continuous change?
- What are the fundamentals needed to manage and lead change?
- Why do we need to stop chasing silver bullets?
Recommended Resouces: Start With an Organizational Assessment to Make Measurable Improvement in Culture, Why Organizational Change Fails & Anticipating Change Recommended Podcast Episodes: Leading Change with Creative Tension, How Can We Build Strategic Agility for Continuous Change? , Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start? & Creating Cultures of Improvement
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. It's a saying you've likely heard before, and one that today's guest says applies to being a Superintendent. As an educator for 29 years, Deanna (Dede) Ashby, recently retired Superintendent of Hopkins County Schools joins Janet again to share how she helps others develop a vision and mission that leaves a huge impact on their community. Listen as Dede explains why it's important to have the right people around you and stay grounded as a Superintendent.
This episode answers questions such as:
- Why is it necessary to constantly evolve?
- What is the most important aspect of leading a team?
- How can we stay grounded as Superintendents and leaders in education?
Go back and listen to Dede's first interview with Janet: Education Will Never Look the Same.Recommended Resources: Leading Change, Excellent Service from the Inside Out & What is Bold Leadership?
Recommended Podcasts: Even Rockstar Leaders Need Development & How Can We Build Strategic Agility for Continuous Change?
New academic years begin with new faces everywhere you look. Whether people are new to the organization or new to their role, Janet recommends two tactics that build confidence and support employees in a new position. To be an excellent organization, we strive to apply these practices and train all of our team members to do the same.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What does AIDET stand for, and how can we use it?
- Why are the first 90 days so critical for retaining new hires?
- As a new employee, what should I be doing in the first 30 and 90 days?
Recommended Resources: Develop Your AIDET, Why You Should Be Having 30- 90- Day Conversations, 30- & 90- Day Conversations, Are Your Employees Being Heard?
Recommended Podcasts: Retain New Hires with 30- & 90- Day Conversations, What do Employees Need from Leaders? & Empower and Invest in Your Teams
Being a Superintendent can bring out the best in people, as well as highlight our most glaring mistakes and blindspots. Today, retired Superintendent, Tim Wyrosdick joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to share what he has learned from 36 years as an educator in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Listen as Tim explains why it's important to embrace new challenges and never be satisfied.
This episode answers questions such as:
- Why does leadership development need to be a focus for all?
- What is the most important aspect of leading a team?
- How can we be continuous learners as Superintendents and leaders in education?
Recommended Resources: Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture, Boost the Employee Experience, Reflective Practice, Develop Aspiring Leaders
Recommended Podcasts: Leadership Development is a Lifeline, Developing People to Become the Best Leaders, Creating Cultures of Improvement & Building an Army of Improvers
How can we tackle declining student performance? After over a year of difficult transitions and decisions, Janet shares why we need to rethink and unlearn what schools have done in the past. Most people in our educational systems want to contribute to student success - it is our purpose. Using the book, Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant, Janet explains how we can question and challenge our current thinking to prepare students to perform at the highest levels.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is unlearning more important than intelligence?
- How can we improve student performance results?
- What can we learn from scientists and apply to our practice to get the best results for students?
Recommended Resources: Move Students Forward with a Focus on Strengths, How Do We Know if it's an Improvement?, What is Bold Leadership? & Short Cycle Improvement Process Questions
Recommended Podcasts: Simple Strategies for Classroom Improvement, Connecting Operations to Student Success, Measures that Matter and Decision Rules & Being Aware of our Cognitive Biases
Leadership development is often viewed as a "nice to have" in organizations. Today's guest, Dr. Pat Greco, shares why leadership development is core to the capacity of the organization and a lifeline to everyone it supports. School systems aren't static - they are continuously changing with new students, teachers, leaders, support staff and board members. Listen as Pat and Janet discuss why building leadership capabilities across all team members is a must-do.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What are the challenges that Superintendents are currently facing?
- How can leaders manage the constant change that comes with leading a living school system?
- What is the biggest mistake young leaders make?
Recommended Resources: Where is the Noise?, Succession Plan: A Key for Sustaining Organizational Excellence, Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture & Boost the Employee Experience
Recommended Podcasts: Measures that Matter and Decision Making Rules, Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance, Creating Cultures of Improvement & Building an Army of Improvers
The words we use matter. Messages that focus on the customer's perspective build relationships and reinforce how important the customer is to an organization. Customers are always seeking to understand, 'what's in it for me?' Communication with this as the focus engages the people we serve. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares four steps to address customer questions and respond with a focus on the customer.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can the right words reinforce our relationship with customers?
- What do the words we use say about us?
- Why should we count our words?
Recommended Resources: Delta Air Lines Just Sent a Brilliant Email to Millions of Passengers. This 1 Word Mattered Most, Why the Words We Say Matter, Key Words at Key Times & Service Recovery
Recommended Podcasts: Words Have Power, Why do Words Matter?, Who Hears What When? & Focus on Service Excellence
Organizations sustain high performance when people are aligned and understand where the organization is headed. Although there will always be people who are resistant to change, the best leaders persevere through pushback to help create incredible results in our school systems. Such as, Hudson School District Superintendent Nick Ouellette, PhD, who understands that even though reaching agreement is important, so are his non-negotiables, as well as the ability to move quickly to positively impact the students we serve.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we reduce the number of initiatives implemented in our systems?
- Why is alignment so critical to helping teams focus?
- What can we do to manage resistance to change?
Recommended Resources: Measuring What Matters, The Key to Success: Continuous Leader Development, The Improvement Maturity Model to Pursue Excellence & Build a Bold Leadership Team
Recommended Podcasts: Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance, Embrace the Call for Transformation in Higher Ed, Refresh Strategic Goals to Move Forward & Now is the Time to Be Bold and Courageous
Families are a great resource for educators. They offer a unique perspective and window into the life of our students. When we approach building relationships with families the same way we approach building a team within our organization, students are more successful. Today's guest, Dr. Holly Ellis shares how leaders can invest their effort into relationships that increase student engagement and confidence.
This episode answers questions such as:
- Why is it essential for schools to engage families in relationships to support students?
- How can leaders find time to build relationships with families?
- What tools and strategies help leaders increase family engagement and confidence?
Recommended Resources: The Four Most Important Questions to Ask When Rounding, Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture, Find Harmony Between Prioritizing People and Organizational Outcomes & Build Stakeholder Trust in Uncharted Times
Recommended Podcasts: What Do Employees Need from Leaders?, What Questions Should I Be Asking Employees?, Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance, Connecting Operations to Student Success & Simple Strategies for Classroom Improvement
Leaders want employees who are happy, productive and invested in the organization's future. However, retaining these people requires leaders to become aware of what it takes to meet employee's needs in the workplace. Hear about those needs and the fundamentals we use to support confident and engaged employees from Leader Coach and employee engagement expert, Dr. KK Owen. Today, KK and Janet discuss what leaders can do to increase confidence and engagement on their team - and what we might be doing that causes employee engagement to decrease.
This episode answers questions such as:
- Why is it essential for a high-performing, successful organization to increase employee confidence?
- How are low performers demotivating high-performing employees?
- What tools and strategies help leaders increase employee engagement and confidence?
- What undermines employee confidence and engagement in our organizations?
Recommended Resources: The Four Most Important Questions to Ask When Rounding, Boost the Employee Experience & The Keys to Employee Engagement
Recommended Podcasts: What Questions Should I Be Asking Employees?, Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance, Connecting Operations to Student Success & Simple Strategies for Classroom Improvement
What can we do when an individual hoards conversation time, constantly interrupts, provides unsolicited advice and puts others down? These behaviors can be interpreted as manipulative and can damage individuals on our teams and organizations. To maintain working relationships, and be authentic to ourselves and those we lead, we have to firmly and diplomatically say no to manipulators. Today Janet shares examples of how to take control when working with a manipulator.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we deal with manipulators in the workplace?
- What "I" and "it" statements can help stop manipulators?
- How do we firmly say 'no' to manipulators?
Recommended Resources: How to Spot and Stop Manipulators, Deal with Problems, Tips for Documenting Poor Performance and Non-Compliance, & Eliminate We/TheyRecommended Podcasts: Dealing with Manipulators, What Makes an Employee a Productive One?, That's the Way it is, Handling Executive Leader Sabotage & Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization
As educators, it's our goal to help students progress, achieve, and build confidence in themselves and their learning. We are witnessing schools do so by using simple continuous improvement strategies in the classroom. To share what this looks like, we've interviewed Leader Coach, Dr. Kathleen Orapollo, an expert in designing unique adult and student learning experiences. Today, Kathy and Janet discuss why classroom improvement is critical for students and staff, simple strategies to implement, and how a middle school is actively using improvement cycles.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How does continuous improvement build the fundamentals of organizational excellence?
- What tools and strategies help teachers and students understand and implement classroom improvement?
- Why is it critical for success to keep data visible?
Recommended Resources: Improvement Cycles to Sustain Progress, Move Students Forward with a Focus on Strengths, Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture & Plus/Delta in Action
Recommended Podcasts: Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance & Connecting Operations to Student Success
Within our organizations, there are people who will do whatever it takes to be successful. Sometimes people who we believe are high performers are actually lethal employees and manipulators. To gain power, people hoard information, shut others down, avoid seeking input and insist on always having control. Saving employees from manipulators in our organizations is one of the most difficult aspects of being a leader - especially if the manipulator is an executive leader. Today, Janet shares 8 tips for dealing with manipulators on our teams.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we handle executive leaders who are barriers to teams?
- Why do people manipulate others?
- What actions can we take to cause manipulators to back off?
Recommended Resources: How to Spot and Stop Manipulators, Deal with Problems, Tips for Documenting Poor Performance and Non-Compliance, & Eliminate We/TheyRecommended Podcasts: What Makes an Employee a Productive One?, That's the Way it is, Handling Executive Leader Sabotage & Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization
What does it mean to be a high performing employee? What if we all had an athlete’s mindset at work? Today Janet closes this series about defining high performance by discussing the final 8 personality traits of high-performing athletes from the Sports Management Degree Guide. Ultimately, it takes hard work and commitment to grow ourselves to be the best we can be. Do you see that commitment on your team?
This episode answers questions such as:
- What can athletes teach us about productivity?
- Why is a strong sense of focus necessary for high performance?
- What factor is usually the difference between winning and losing?
Recommended Resources: 20 Distinguishing Personality Traits of High Performing Athletes,The Power of Perspective, Recognizing Low Will & Spotting High PerformersRecommended Podcasts: The Winning Trait Behind Underdog Teams, What Makes an Employee a Productive One?, Be Dedicated to Being the Best & Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance Accelerate Your Performance will return with new episodes on July 19, 2021.
We all want to attain excellence - some of us are just more systematic and focused on how to get there. Today's guest, Dr. JoAnn Sternke cautions, "You'll never achieve excellence if you don't have purpose, focus and alignment." In this episode, Janet and JoAnn discuss how to better align operational leaders and teams to realize their impacts in academic organizations. When we bring operational and department leaders together with school and classroom leaders, good things happen.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What obstacles stop operational leaders from getting on board with continuous improvement?
- How can we help operations employees recognize they are doing meaningful work?
- What can we do to best support department leaders in implementing cycles of improvement?
Download JoAnn's Communication Toolkit: Communicate with Greater Clarity: Leveraging the Execution Triangle
Recommended Resources: Collect the Right Data to Reflect: Results from High Performing Operations Leaders, How Well Does Your Team Focus?, Bobsled Alignment & Short Cycle Planning: 8 Tips to Help You Better Plan for the Year Ahead
Recommended Podcasts: Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance, Words Have Power, Who Hears What When? & To Innovate Focus on Value
What if we all had an athlete’s mindset at work? What would that look like? Today Janet discusses 6 more personality traits of high-performing athletes from the Sports Management Degree Guide. The best teams provide opportunities for people to feel connected to the work and each other to achieve results. It’s the responsibility of every team member to ensure that no one feels alone when we are working as a team.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What can athletes teach us about productivity?
- Why is a shared sense of belonging essential for improving employee engagement and performance?
- How can we avoid hindering our team from achieving results?
Recommended Resources: 20 Distinguishing Personality Traits of High Performing Athletes,The Power of Perspective, Recognizing Low Will & Spotting High PerformersRecommended Podcasts: What Makes an Employee a Productive One?, Be Dedicated to Being the Best & Strong Teams Don't Happen by Chance
How can we really make improvement work across an organization? What enables people to solve problems and make the best decisions at every level? We begin by helping people understand improvement is a connected, system-wide process deeply rooted in the capabilities of the people within the organization. Today, we hear from an award-winning Superintendent, and our Director of Thought Leadership, Dr. Pat Greco, who has supported an organization through hardwiring improvement from the boardroom to the classroom. Listen as Pat and Janet discuss the fundamentals of classroom improvement and the problem with viewing people as job titles in our organizations.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What obstacles stop people from getting on board with continuous improvement in classrooms?
- Why do improvement processes benefit all people in organizations?
- What are the fundamentals of improvement and why are they so important?
Read Pat's article: Learning From Wicked Challenges
Recommended Resources: Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture, The Key to Success: Continuous Leader Development, Strong Leaders Manage Change Effectively & Onboard Beyond the First Day
Recommended Podcasts: Measures that Matter and Decision Rules, Listen to People to Continuously Improve, Creating a Culture of Shared Leadership & Becoming an Improvement Organization
What if we all had an athlete's mindset at work? What would that look like? Today Janet discusses 6 personality traits of high-performing athletes and how we can use those to assess ourselves and further define high performance in the workplace. To be a high-performing team, we need all people engaging in the self-discovery work required to be their best every day.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What can athletes teach us about productivity?
- Why is optimism a necessary trait for self-confidence?
- How can we increase pride in our organizations?
Recommended Resources: 20 Distinguishing Personality Traits of High Performing Athletes,The Power of Perspective, Recognizing Low Will & Spotting High PerformersRecommended Podcasts: What Makes an Employee a Productive One?
Why is it important to align your district values to the values found in the homes of students in the community? Today, Superintendent Dr. Larry Ouimette shares how his small northern Wisconsin school district incorporates the local Native American Ojibwe Tribe into all aspects of education. Dr. Ouimette explains that public respect of local culture has a significant bearing on the success of his students. Listen to learn more about how the Lac du Flambeau School District prioritizes community values in its mission, vision and strategic plan.
This episode answers questions such as:
- Does local culture have a purpose in our classrooms?
- How can local values impact decision making and district practices?
- How can we deepen community services and support the integration of cultural artifacts into education?
Read Superintendent Larry Quimette's AASA article: Embedding Local Culture in Student Learning
Recommended Resources:Does Local Culture Have a Place in Schools?, Building the Conditions for a Learning Culture & Listen IntentlyRecommended Podcasts: Powerful Practices that Build Connection, Measures that Matter and Decision Rules, How Can We Improve Employee Engagement and Communication? & Accountability in Closely Connected Communities
To garner our high-performing team, all employees are expected to be productive - and we say all very purposefully. Chris Porteous outlines 7 Traits of Supremely Productive Employeesthat we can use to communicate expectations to everyone on our team. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses these traits and what we can do this week to be more productive employees.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How do we know when an employee is highly productive?
- How do we define productivity expectations for our employees?
Last September, one of the largest wildfires in central Oregon's history came within a mile of schools and downtown Estacada. While still navigating the ever-changing Covid-19 pandemic, all 1800 of Estacada School District's students, families, and employees were evacuated from their homes. However, Superintendent Ryan Carpenter and his team prepare proactively to respond to emergencies and were able to quickly move to action. As he joins Janet today, he shares how his team collected data to make the best decisions for their district and community.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can teams maintain resilience while navigating two emergencies simultaneously?
- Why is it so important to develop two-way communication tactics?
- What tactics can we implement to support our teams during a crisis?
Read Superintendent Ryan Carpenter's article: Building Resilience in an Organization
Recommended Resources: Estacada Continuous Improvement Library, Estacada YouTube Channel, The Four Most Important Questions to Ask WhenRounding, Huddle for Critical Outcomes, &Create Resilient LeadersRecommended Podcasts: Powerful Practices that Build Connection, Measures that Matter and Decision Rules, Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start? & Jump All-In to Improve
There is no greater compliment than trust. As educators, we have a great responsibility to do what is best for children entrusted to us. This is the foundation of the moral compass used by the Tea Area School District team led by Superintendent Jennifer Lowery. In this episode, Dr. Lowery shares how her team created a central location to connect its community and the sometimes heartbreaking burdens of leadership.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can a moral compass help leadership teams make decisions?
- What actions can we take to maintain the culture of growing teams?
- How can we manage negative employee feedback?
Read Superintendent Jennifer Lowery's article: Decision Making that Sustains People and Deepens Relationships
Recommended Resources: Define Guiding Actions to Live By, Clear Communication Template, Receiving Results&Create Resilient Leaders
Recommended Podcasts: Avoiding the Chaos, Measures that Matter and Decision Rules, Accountability in Closely Connected Communities&The Intersection of Healthcare and Education
The time has come in which organizations are thinking about how to return to work with a new perspective and understanding. As we begin to engage with each other again in person and come to work in new ways, one simple tactic will be more important than ever. Rounding with purpose results in a better culture of engaged employees and leaders working together. Today, Janet shares 8 steps to create an approach for applying rounding with purpose in your organization.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we get ahead of potential problems as we lead teams through change?
- What is rounding with purpose? How does it differ from traditional rounding?
- How do we implement rounding with purpose in our organizations? Why is it so important right now?
Recommended Resources: There is More Than One Way to Round, Key Ingredient for Success: Leader Rounding, Tailor Your Rounding Questions & From Connections to Action
Recommended Podcasts: How to Ask Meaningful Rounding Questions, Leading Change with Creative Tension, The Fragile Line Between Trust and Distrust & Blending the 80% Emotional 20% Rational
How can we engage people to become champions of improvement? Today, we share how one school district stayed eight months ahead of the national conversation by investing in the brainpower of its people to solve its toughest challenges. Listen as Dr. Pat Greco and Janet discuss how the right measures and processes support an army of improvers in the School District of Menomonee Falls.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What can leaders navigate their own stress levels to stay focused on staff and student needs?
- How can we prevent our change efforts from failing?
- What does classroom improvement look like in the School District of Menomonee Falls?
Read Pat's article: Learning From Wicked Challenges
Recommended Resources: Sample Daily Huddle, Improvement Cycles to Sustain Progress, Return to Learn: Execution and Improvement Toolkit & Continuous Improvement: Adjusting Through Disruption
Recommended Podcasts: The Ritual that Keeps People Aligned, Transform Culture with Communication, Listen to People to Continuously Improve & Schools are Essential
Change has accelerated for all of us over this past year. External demands and pressures are calling for leaders to change the way they do business. While the majority of our employees want to help the organization achieve excellence, not everyone feels this way. Our responsibility as leaders is to focus on building work environments that empower solid and high performers to be accountable and see their value to the organization. Today, Janet shares how leaders can master the ability to lead and manage with creative tension.
This episode answers questions such as:
- Where can we start as we lead and manage change in our organizations?
- What is creative tension and when does it become too much?
- How can we manage creative tension to help us lead change?
Recommended Resources: Motivate with Recognition, Empower People to do Whatever it Takes, Building the Right Conditions for a Learning Culture & Accountability: Why is it so Hard?
Recommended Podcasts:Being Aware of Our Cognitive Biases, Embrace the Call for Transformation in Higher Ed, Now is the Time to be Bold and Courageous & 5 Leadership Lessons for the Future
Leadership is a full-time job that requires relentless commitment. For leaders living in rural communities, there is an added challenge of everyone knowing you personally as well. Today, Randy Drost, Superintendent of Rice Lake Area School District joins Janet to share about leading in his hometown community, Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Listen as Randy and Janet discuss the connectedness, challenges and role school leaders play in rural communities.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some of the bright spots of leadership in a rural community?
- How do you balance being a member of a community as well as a leader who has the responsibility for holding people accountable?
- Why are school districts an important piece of rural communities?
Recommended Resources: The Hardest Decisions, Deal with Problems, Time Management Grid & Lead by Permission
Recommended Podcasts: One Team, One Purpose: Rural America, The Intersection of Healthcare and Education, Service in the Relationship Business & Move Forward by Doing the Next Right Thing
A goal of many organizations is to build an inclusive, positive workplace culture that achieves positive results. Doing so requires us to address how our individual behavior contributes to the culture. The truth is, we are all biased at times, and those biases can cause conflict and even toxicity in the workplace. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher will discuss two cognitive biases we all experience from time to time and four ways to assess ourselves.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can cognitive biases negatively interfere in the workplace?
- What is the Dunning-Kruger Affect?
- What can we do to assess our biases and challenge our own beliefs?
Recommended Resources: Dunning-Kruger Affect, Confirmation Bias, Managing Individual Change & The 3 Key Elements in the Growth Process Recommended Podcasts: Phases of Individual Change, Symptoms of Low Emotional Intelligence & The Harmful Effects of Absentee Leaders
It's no secret that higher ed hasn't worked at the speed of business. Yet the past year left institutions with no choice other than to transform - and transform quickly. This week, Georgia Southern University President, Dr. Kyle Marrero joins Janet to discuss how his institution has used its mission and values to maintain focus through the uncertainty. With accelerated communication, self-reflection and leadership transparency GSU invests in the success of people.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some of the biggest opportunities for higher ed going forward?
- Why is it important to prioritize employee engagement and transparent communication?
- What characteristics will define successful higher ed leaders in the future?
Please consider joining us virtually at our DHP Higher Education Leadership Conference where President Marrero will be a keynote presenter.
Recommended Resources: Strategies for Reflection and Planning, Transparency & Vulnerability and TeamworkRecommended Podcasts: Now is the Time to Be Bold and Courageous & Embrace the Call for Transformation in Higher Ed & Higher Ed Isn't One Size Fits All
Do you know someone who seems to be unable to control their emotions? Maybe you feel this way yourself at times. We all have varying degrees of emotional intelligence. Although it's difficult to face our challenges and shift our behaviors, it can be done. During today's episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares 9 Signs of Low Emotional Intelligencefrom Kendra Cherry via Very Well Mind as well as her own reflections about how we compensate for these behaviors. When we commit to a defined change in behavior, we make a difference in the way we interact with others.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the characteristics of people with low EQ?
- How do low EQ behaviors impact people and teams?
- Why is it important to balance traits like 'dare' with discipline?
Recommended Resources: Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Intelligence Strategies for Leaders, Sharpening Emotional Intelligence and Leading with Emotional Intelligence: Leadership Challenge Related Podcasts: The Ingredients for a Winning Team, The Harmful Effects of Absentee Leaders, Lead by Example and How Can We Stop Complaining, Comparing, and Criticizing?
How do we maintain the momentum and elevate an already outstanding higher education institution? The way we've defined transformation in the past has been put to the test over the past year. Today's guest, South Louisiana Community College Chancellor, Dr. Vincent June, explains to become the best resource for his community takes more creativity than he anticipated. Listen as he shares about leading a multi-campus organization during a global pandemic, leadership transition, and transformational change.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some of the biggest opportunities for higher education going forward?
- How can leaders in higher ed support their teams through the obstacles of transformation?
- What characteristics will define successful higher ed leaders in the future?
Please consider joining us virtually at our DHP Higher Education Leadership Conference where Chancellor June will be a keynote presenter.
Related Podcasts: Now is the Time to Be Bold and Courageous & Embrace the Call for Transformation in Higher Ed
Although there are differences between rural and urban communities, many of our problems are the same. We are all interconnected as we are solving these critical issues in America. While Janet reflects on our Strengthening Rural America event, she explains, "the quality of life in our country is dependent on our ability to connect with each other and strengthen America." Our communities are relying on professionals in healthcare and education to create places where we care and love each other - where no one problem is too big to solve.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is strengthening rural America so important for all Americans?
- What does it mean to commit to excellence?
- How do we help make our communities a better place to live, learn, and work?
Explore our Past & Upcoming Events: www.studereducation.com/events/ Related Podcasts: One Team, One Purpose: Rural America, The Intersection of Healthcare & Education, The Harmful Effects of Absentee Leaders & 5 Leadership Lessons for the Future
How can higher education transform to inspire a new generation of learning, thinking, and imaginative invention? We can start by listening to those we serve and embracing the call for diverse learning and experiences to overcome the status quo. Today, Dr. Brendan Kelly, University of West Georgia President, joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss the positive progress UWG has made despite a year of challenges, criticism, and anxiety. President Kelly shares the actions UWG is taking to position their institution for the future and his relentless commitment to making higher education better for the people we serve.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some of the biggest opportunities for higher education going forward?
- How can leaders in higher ed support their teams through the obstacles of transformation?
- What characteristics will define successful higher ed leaders in the future?
To hear more about UWG's strategic plan from President Kelly, watch: Launching a New Strategic Plan. Please consider joining us virtually at our DHP Higher Education Leadership Conference where President Kelly will be a keynote presenter.
Related Podcasts: Now is the Time to Be Bold and Courageous
Have you ever worked with a leader who is physically there, yet psychologically absent? Someone who avoids ownership, meaningful engagement, and shifts the blame to others? This type of leader can be difficult, if not impossible to please - slowly killing productivity and engagement in the workplace. While an absentee leader's behavior may not come across as toxic, it can be more harmful than it appears on the surface. Today, Janet discusses the impact of absentee leadership and how we can instead build a community of great leaders.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the characteristics of absentee leaders?
- How do organizations and teams usually cope with absentee leadership?
- Why should community members boldly draw attention to absentee leaders?
Recommended Resources: The Most Common Type of Incompetent Leader, Signs of Executive Leader Sabotage, Support-Confront-Support Leadership Challenge & Dealing with Difficult People Related Podcasts: What if Your Boss is the Problem?, Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization, Build Strong Leadership Teams & The Middle is Hard but it Doesn't Have to Be
Conversations about the need for transformation in education aren't new. However, this past year has demonstrated that transformation is possible - and at greater speeds than we ever realized. As we look ahead to the future of higher education, it's filled with both excitement and uncertainty. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher is joined by Dr. Natalie Harder, President of Coker University, to discuss leadership, transformation, and the importance of integrity and excellence in higher education.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some of the biggest opportunities for higher education going forward?
- How can leaders in higher ed support their teams through the obstacles of transformation?
- What characteristics will define successful higher ed leaders in the future?
Consider joining us virtually at our DHP Higher Education Leadership Conference where President Harder will be a keynote presenter. You can also hear more from Natalie on her past AYP episodes, #53: Building Strong Leadership Teams and #76 Move Forward by Doing the Next Right Thing.
Recommended Resources: Organizational Excellence, Culture & Strategy of Organizational Excellence & Accountability Related Podcasts: Be Bold About Action, Creating a Culture of Shared Leadership, The 5 Behavioral Traits for Sustaining Improvement & Innovation is Easier than Changing the World
Loyalty and trust go hand and hand. Great teammates have both loyalty OF the team and create loyalty TO the team. Listen as Janet shares insights from the article, Why Loyalty is Crucial to Basketball Excellenceand how we can transfer those to our work teams. A good coach can't play the game with their team, but a good coach can set the team up for success. Create winning teams with the right talent and connections to become unstoppable.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is loyalty crucial to organizational excellence?
- What behaviors indicate a lack of loyalty to the team?
- What actions do great coaches take?
Recommended Resources: Building Trust with New Teams, Looking in the Mirror: Could I Be the Problem?, Service Excellence Builds Trust & The Hardest Decisions
Recommended Podcasts: Lead by Example, The Fragile Line Between Trust & Distrust, How Can We Help Our Colleagues? & The Best Chance for Success
Strategic plans and goals are created with the best intentions to propel an organization into the future. There are also situations that require us to refresh these goals and readjust the next steps. Today, Dr. Sue Savaglio-Jarvis, Superintendent of the third-largest school district in Wisconsin, Kenosha Unified School District, joins Janet to share how her leadership team made the decision to refresh their goals with a strong focus on measures to drive success.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- When is it necessary to abandon, rebuild, or refresh strategic goals?
- How can leaders build the trust required to align goals across an organization?
- Why is it important to balance pushing the team forward with the needs of employees?
Recommended Resources: Set Aligned Goals, Setting the Right Goals Guide, Champion of the Goal & From Strategy to Success Guide
Recommended Podcasts: 5 Leadership Lessons for the Future, Blending the 80% Emotional 20% Rational, How Can We Build Strategic Agility for Continuous Change & Questions for Continuous Improvement
As leaders of teams and organizations, it is never our intent to create distrust. However, there are times when employees will observe our behavior and distrust can ensue. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher, continues her thoughts from episode 163 Lead by Example, to reflect on what leader actions contribute to the deterioration of trust.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What leader actions result in distrust?
- What leader actions build trust?
- How can employees best support their leaders?
Recommended Resources: Trust: Consistency of Leadership, Roll Out Survey Results with Employees, Leader Connection Tool & Focus on Employee Satisfaction Recommended Podcasts: 5 Leadership Lessons for the Future, Blending the 80% Emotional 20% Rational & Transform Culture with Communication
Rural communities are inspiring places to live - people are always there to lend a hand and support one another through challenges and disasters. Rural communities also face unique challenges - the outmigration of talented workers, aging infrastructures, and consolidation into larger, less local systems. A Huron senior director, Tad Hunt, who oversees the rural and critical access segment, discusses with Janet how we can collaborate to overcome the challenges facing rural America, ultimately creating stronger communities for people to live and work.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- In what ways do education and healthcare have the greatest opportunities to work together to strengthen the community?
- What makes rural communities unique?
- What best practices support cross-community collaboration?
Recommended Resources: Anticipating Change, Corporate Social Responsibility, Focus Groups and Strategic Planning & Build Strong Board Relationships
Recommended Podcasts: The Intersection of Healthcare and Education, Innovation for the Whole Child, Service in the Relationship Business & Purpose, Worthwhile Work, and Making a Difference P3
People in leadership and government roles, teachers, and sports coaches have one thing in common: their roles are positions of power. People look to leaders like these for inspiration and to provide guidance and direction. Just like leaders in society, if we say one thing and then do another, we may lose our team's trust in our organization. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the importance of organizational values and operationalizing these values into standards of excellence.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why do values and standards matter in organizations?
- What are the effects of witnessing people in power living double standards?
- How can leaders build a strong culture that inspires and guides individuals?
Recommended Resources: Why Do Values Matter?, Define Guiding Actions to Live By, Walking the Halls & Culture: The Foundation to Withstand Disruption Recommended Podcasts: Creating a Culture of Shared Leadership,How Do We Achieve Team Success?, Build Strong Leadership Teams & Can You Fix My Culture?
In rural areas and small communities, we often find health and school systems are the largest employers. These industries are more alike than different in several ways. Today, Quint Studer and Janet Pilcher discuss the intersection between healthcare and education, and how these two industries have the power to transform their communities into successful, thriving places filled with talented workers.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the symbiotic connection between healthcare, education, and communities?
- What can healthcare and education leaders do to strengthen rural communities?
- Why is it critical to support small businesses - and what is their place in this equation?
Learn more about Quint and our other Strengthing Rural America virtual conference presenters at www.studereducation.com/events. We hope to see you and connect with you on April 20th, 2021.
Recommended Resources: Vibrant Community Blueprint, The Basics: A Strategy for Whole Communities, Developing Aspiring Leaders & Collective Willpower to Succeed Recommended Podcasts: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, and Making a Difference P2, Purpose, Worthwhile Work and Making a Difference P3, People Deserve Support & Service in the Relationship Business
As we progress through phases of transitioning back into something that resembles life before the pandemic, people will need their leaders to lean into the emotional side of the workplace more than ever. This change won't happen overnight, rather we will move through stage after stage - each requiring us to build energy into our workplaces. To help teams thrive on the other side, Janet shares 5 lessons for leaders to carry into the future.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What virtual leadership lessons support the emotional needs of employees?
- How can leaders support people as we move into phases of returning to normal?
- Why is it important to use a combination of hope and honesty about the brutal facts when communicating?
Recommended Resources: Motivate with Recognition, 4 Tips to Become a More Vulnerable Leader, Anxiety & Leadership, & Drive Team Success with Consistent Communication About Results
Recommended Podcasts: Blending the 80% Emotional 20% Rational, How Can We Build Strategic Agility for Continuous Change?, The Ritual that Keeps People Aligned, Take off the Armor & Are We Energizing Others?
Inspiring an entire organization of people to commit to continuous improvement and service excellence is an admirable goal - one that will also pay off through challenging situations. Returning from episode #158, three leaders from the School District of Menomonee Falls share how a foundational culture of shared leadership and consistent communication empowered people to collaborate and transform their school system.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it look like when people are deeply committed to service?
- How can we strengthen the culture of our organizations?
- What matters most for organizations practicing continuous improvement?
To hear the first part of this interview, listen to episode 158: Listen to People to Continuously Improve.
Recommended Resources: Why Service Excellence is our Most Important Value, Use Standards of Service Excellence, Excellent Service from the Inside Out & Cascading the Building Blocks of Service Excellence
Recommended Podcasts: Listen to People to Continuously Improve, Transform Culture with Communication, The 5 Behavioral Traits for Sustaining Improvement & Service in the Relationship Business
Change is continuous, and in our organizations, leaders have the responsibility of balancing employees' emotions with the rational side of work. This past year has taught us that it's easier to lead with agility to manage change when we hardwire leadership fundamentals in our organizations. Today, Janet shares the foundational tools and tactics to advance our leadership and provides the framework we use to do just that - the Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence give teams an opportunity to thrive and truly accelerate performance.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What tools and tactics support the emotional needs of employees?
- What tools and tactics support the rational needs of employees?
- What tools and tactics blend the emotional and the rational needs together in the workplace?
Recommended Resources: Motivate with Recognition, Rounding: The Most Important Questions to Ask, Measuring What Matters & Drive Team Success with Consistent Communication About Results
Recommended Podcasts: Transform Culture with Communication, The Ritual that Keeps People Aligned, Questions for Continuous Improvement & Words Have Power
What happens when an organization committed to improvement has to transform everything they do in 5 days? People let go of being perfect and rely on their relationships, values, and communication to achieve results. Joining Janet today are three leaders from the School District of Menomonee Falls; Casey Blochowiak, Tina Posnanski, and Sue Lee. Listen as they share how their team has remained agile, aligned, and committed to SDMF's values, from the district, school, and classroom perspective.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important to create a culture of problem-solvers?
- What can leaders do to empower people to overcome barriers?
- How can teams stay committed to accountability during disruption?
- What is the first step towards improvement?
Recommended Resources: Listening to Customer Feedback, Organizational Feedback Loop, Improvement and Innovation & Set Aligned Goals
Recommended Podcasts: Emotional Bank Account of Trust, Make Decisions that Sustain People and Build Relationships, Building an Army of Improvers & Continuous Improvement: Where do you Start?
As the world continues to change at a rapid pace we need to help people in our organizations more than ever hardwire leadership fundamentals. To do so, we focus on the Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence. The best organizations continuously transform and review their practices to identify opportunities to improve, because we are only at our best when we strive for excellence in everything that we do. Today, Janet shares a preview of the Destination High Performance West Coast virtual experience over the next two days.
Learn from successful organizations who have achieved positive results while facing incredible challenges, including an expert panel from the School District of Menomonee Falls, recognized for their improvement work by the Carnegie Institute for the Advancement of Teaching. Our goal is to be an intellectual resource and thought-partner on your journey to excellence. When we network and learn together, we build a workplace experience that impacts the lives we serve in education: our students and our communities.
Recommended Resources: Organizational Excellence, The Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence, Decision-Making Confidence & If-Then Recommended Podcasts: Improve by Measuring What Matters, Developing People to Become the Best Leaders, Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start? & Jump All-In to Improve
What makes employees engage, commit, and connect with their organization? Leaders that listen and use feedback to transform the culture of the organization. Today's guest, Tim Hire, Superintendent of Schools, Tulare County Office of Education reminds us that there will always be plenty of work to do - make sure it's the right work. If your organization doesn't live by its values - that's a great place to start. Listen as Tim shares the process their team used to develop core values and break down silos to truly engage employees.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we increase organization-wide commitment to our core values?
- What work is the right work for leaders to prioritize?
- How do feedback and communication play a powerful role in defining values?
Recommended Resources: Lead Your Work, Why Do Values Matter?, Are Your Employees Being Heard? & The 4 Most Important Questions to Ask While Rounding Recommended Podcasts: Shifting Workplace Culture, How Can We Build Strategic Agility for Continuous Change?, Employees are Waiting to Hear from You & The 5 Behavioral Traits for Sustaining Improvement.
How can we leave our workdays feeling less stressed and exhausted? This is a common question for many leaders. After days filled with meetings and unexpected interruptions, there is often little time left over for deep-thinking or other critical tasks that contribute to our organization. In today's episode, Janet reflects on this challenge, sharing her own exhaustion and desire to manage time efficiently and productively. With gratitude for the advice from Mark Murphy, Janet shares the research and technique behind "time batching" to help us balance our lives and feel energized.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the effects of time management on mental wellness?
- How can we manage our time to reduce exhaustion?
- Why does time batching increase efficiency?
Recommended Resources: If You Haven't Tried Time Batching You'll Be Shocked at How Quickly it Improves Productivity & Happiness, Time Tracking Tool, Time Management Grid & This Script Will Nicely Stop People From Interrupting You When You're Trying to Concentrate
Sports and athletics have offered many of us an opportunity to develop critical leadership and life skills. Today's episode features a special guest who faced a unique set of circumstances requiring him to remain agile and authentic throughout his childhood and young career. His focus on being persistent and developing personal relationships recently paid off as he was selected in the 2020 NFL draft. Listen as New Orleans Saints Rookie, Zack Baun, shares his take on leadership, a few of his goals, and inspiring messages for us all.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- What does it mean to be successful?
- How can we overcome moments of adversity?
- Is there space for more than one leader on a team?
Recommended Resources: Leading with Vulnerability, From Hopeless to Champion, Building Trust with New Teams & Develop Aspiring Leaders
Recommended Podcasts: Inspire Others to Achieve, Connecting with Young Professionals, Hitting the Wall & Leaders Don't Whine
What are the signs of a workplace culture in need of shifting? Are you noticing a disconnect between what leaders are trying to accomplish and what employees are internalizing? Do your employees continue to ask questions about what the organization can do for them, rather than speaking to how their lives are better because they work there? Today Janet provides 6 actions to stop doing and 6 actions to start doing to positively accelerate your culture.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Is your culture on track?
- What do people expect their organizations to do for them?
- How can we make life better for employees?
Recommended Resources: Cultivating a Culture of Resilience, Culture & Strategy of Organizational Excellence, Boost the Employee Engagement & The Keys to Employee Engagement Recommended Podcasts: Can You Fix My Culture?, Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization, Addressing Poor Performance & Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition
Dale Shaver returns from epsiode #151 to share the biggest challenges their data reveal and key takeaways for all leaders willing to collaborate to find creative solutions to community wide problems. Waukesha County Government was no stranger to partnering with schools, however, this pandemic brought about an opportunity Dale refers to as, "Snow days on steroids." Through their collaborative community effort, Waukesha County has safely returned students to in-person learning and put 13 thousand people back to work.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it mean for an organization to think outside of its swim lane?
- Why does a consistent meeting cadance impact trust?
- How can we work in collaboration across our communities to solve problems?
Recommended Resources: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in K12 Schools, CDC Says it's Safe to Reopen Schools - with Proper Precautions, Measuring What Matters, & Plan Strategically to Make a Lasting Impact Recommended Podcasts: Monitoring Covid Transmission in Schools Part 1,Focus on the Positive, Empower and Invest in Your Teams, Make Silos Disappear & Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization
Recently we've been hearing conversations around data demonstrating that with certain approaches to safety, students can return back to school in classrooms. Dale Shaver from the Waukesha County Government returns to the podcast to share the strategic efforts their county has applied to connect public health and k12 education. The results of this high-performing, collaborative community effort reveal incredibly positive outcomes for their surrounding school districts in Wisconsin - one we can all learn from and model in our regions.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What do the data say about the rates of in-person school covid transmission?
- What are the benefits of communities working together to collect data?
- How do business owners play a role in the county's decision-making?
Recommended Resources: CDC Study Wood County WI, Measuring What Matters, Implementing PDSA Cycles & Plan Strategically to Make a Lasting Impact Recommended Podcasts: Focus on the Positive, Empower and Invest in Your Teams & Make Silos Disappear
A leader's most important challenge is to keep the organization from falling. To remain good, or even great depends on how we roll strategy, people, and service into how we approach leadership in the next decade. As change becomes ongoing and more complex, a traditional strategic plan will no longer suffice. To continuously improve and continuously adapt to change we need a fluid, dynamic, agile strategy and a workplace focused on continuous learning. Listen as Janet shares 5 ways to lead and work differently as learning organizations of the future.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What will it take to create the right learning organizations of the future?
- Why is traditional strategic planning no longer effective?
- How do we revolutionize our ways of doing business to continuously change and evolve?
Recommended Resources: Anticipating Change, Why Organizational Change Fails, Think Like a Customer & HBR: Speeding Up Team Learning Recommended Podcasts: 3 Changes to the Major Role of Leadership, The 5 Behavioral Traits for Sustaining Improvement, Becoming an Improvement Organization & Are You a Curious Leader?
Some topics are easier to approach in the workplace than others. Conflicting issues and viewpoints often leave leaders stuck between a rock and a hard place. Discussing topics like diversity and inclusion can feel risky for leaders who don't know how their teams will react. With these leaders in mind, Dr. Gayle Juneau Butler and Dr. Janet Pilcher collaborated to develop a 3-stage framework to have positive, inclusive conversations. Listen as Gayle joins Janet to walk us through that approach.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the biggest barrier for leaders who are trying to address conflicting issues and viewpoints in the workplace?
- How do we create a space people can trust and engage within?
- What communication tactics can we use to approach inclusive conversations?
Recommended Resources: Valuing All Voices, Connections in Times of Challenge, Key Words at Key Times for Resilient Leaders & How to Talk with Your Team About the Violence at the U.S. Capitol Recommended Podcasts: Employees are Waiting to Hear from You, The Little Things Pay Great Dividends, Connecting to Purpose Gives Us Courage & Strive for Equity and to Serve the Most Vulnerable
Reflect on the last time someone gave you constructive feedback... did it feel like a gift? That likely depends on the intent of the person providing the feedback. Within our own teams and organizations providing constructive feedback to one another is a necessary step in the improvement process. Yet feedback that is littered with generalizations does little to help others improve. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher describes how to provide feedback as a gift, instead of an insult.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Can constructive feedback feel like a gift?
- How can we productively provide feedback when actions need to be improved?
- Why is feedback a two-way street?
Recommended Resources: Feedback that Inspires, Three Positives for Everyone One Constructive Feedback, Agility and Pulse Survey Success & Send the Right Message Recommended Podcasts: Do People Really Want Feedback? & Deliver Productive Feedback
To have any chance at alleviating the growing number of teacher shortages, traditional and nontraditional institutions responsible for educating teachers have to consider new business models that meet potential teachers where they are in their lives, careers and educational journeys. It’s time for a wholesale rethinking of how we recruit, educate and support teachers for the workforce of the future. Today, Janet shares how she brought this vision to life, and how other leaders can approach innovative solutions to meet people where they are.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How do we plan and act differently in higher education?
- What does it really mean to provide a service that meets peoples' needs?
- Why should we strive for greater collaboration and flexibility in our education organizations?
Recommended Resources: The Future of Education: Modernizing the Learning Pathways of New Teachers, TeacherReady, Listening to Customer Feedback, & Think Like a Customer
Recommended Podcasts: Transforming TeacherReady & Embracing the Customer Experience
Routines provide structure and comfort within our teams. Rituals go beyond providing structure to instill a deeper meaning behind a sequence of actions. As we continuously navigate change, we need structure to reduce people's anxiety and increase their confidence. People need to know their work has purpose and is worthwhile in helping an organization achieve results. Today, Janet shares one of the most important rituals we can instill in our teams along with 6 suggestions to consider.This episode answers questions such as:
- What behaviors and actions do we need to include in our work environment to move routines to rituals?
- How can we keep everyone in our organizations informed and aligned to achieve the goals?
- Why is the daily huddle a critical ritual for our team?
Recommended Resources: Motivate with Recognition, Sample Daily Huddle, How Focus Leads to Results, It's All Great Until I'm on a Call, & 5 Critical Employee Needs
Recommended Podcasts: Execute Well, Building Trust in the Workplace, Leading Change with Empathy & Make Complex Work Simple
What skills do we need to cultivate now to lead our organizations into the future? In this episode, Janet challenges the solution of reorganizing the hierarchical structures within our organizations and recommends we focus on increasing agility to manage through consistent and continuous change. As leaders our most important job is to develop and coach employees to work across boundaries, transforming people into leaders.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How do we advance our skills as the leader of the team?
- Which relationships at work are most important for employees to prioritize?
- What gets in the way of breaking down silos and building cross-boundary teams?
Recommended Resources: Cross-Silo Leadership, Busting Through Barriers, Identify Barriers in Action & Cultivating a Culture of Resilience
Recommended Podcasts: The 5 Behavioral Traits for Sustaining Improvement, The Behavior that's Holding Leader's Back, Be Bold About Action & That's the Way it is
Politics, violence, hate... These topics aren't often discussed in our workplaces. Yet people on our teams are feeling pain, disbelief, fear, anger, confusion, and frustration. As leaders, our teams are looking to us to lean in and provide support to manage these feelings. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares an approach she created and followed to encourage inclusive conversations on her team.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we address the types of events like our nation experienced on 1/6/21 with our teams?
- What can we do to create safe spaces for people to express how they feel?
- Why is it important to support our teams through these difficult events in our nation?
Recommended Resources: How to Talk with Your Team About the Violence at the US Capitol, Valuing All Voices, Leading with Vulnerability, & Pause Perspective Process
Recommended Podcasts: Are We Energizing Others?, How Can We Help Our Colleagues?, Connecting to Purpose Gives Us Courage & Manage Disruption: Adjust Quickly & Communicate Transparently
Continuous improvement is a process, a mindset, and a set of tools. It's organization-wide and specific to each individual. At its core are the people who do the work. Through sustained, system-wide improvement, teams can deeply understand and solve problems, while thriving through crises. Two experts in continuous improvement, Dr. John Toussaint and Dr. Christina Dixon join us again to discuss the biggest obstacles to sustaining improved results over time, and how to prioritize improvement as the real work to be done. This episode answers questions such as:
- How are organizations using continuous improvement to eliminate gaps and disparities in student achievement?
- Why is an improvement culture so beneficial during a crisis?
- Should organizations start an improvement journey now?
To hear the first part of Janet's interview with John and Christina, listen to episode #142: The 5 Behavioral Traits for Sustaining Improvement.
Recommended Resources: Busting Through Barriers, Where is the Noise?, Short Cycle Scorecard Tool & How do We Know if a Change is an Improvement?
Recommended Podcasts: Becoming an Improvement Organization, Questions for Continuous Improvement, Continuous Improvement: Where do you Start? & Building an Army of Improvers
There is a lot of information out there about continuous improvement and lean thinking. But, do we know what is really at the core of those methodologies? Dr. John Toussaint and Dr. Christina Dixon join Janet today to dig deep into the core of improvement work. It is no secret that many systems struggle to sustain improvement work beyond isolated occurrences and leaders. In this episode, experts Christina and John reveal the necessary ingredients to help organizations over these obstacles and build the right conditions to sustain performance over time. This episode answers questions such as:
- What does it mean to be a lean thinker?
- How can we welcome uncertainty when the risks are high?
- What conditions are necessary to generate real improvement?
John and Christina will be back in episode 143 to share more about their experience using continuous improvement to eliminate gaps in student achievement and their recommendations for leaders who are struggling to prioritize improvement.
Recommended Resources: Becoming the Change, Develop Aspiring Leaders, Boost the Employee Experience, Vulnerability and Teamwork & Be the Model
Recommended Podcasts: Becoming an Improvement Organization, Are You A Curious Leader?, Questions for Continuous Improvement & Positioning Problems as Opportunities
In this ever-changing climate, continuous improvement is more vital than ever, and it's something today's guest, Dr. Ed Manansala, County Superintendent of Schools at El Dorado COE, and the President of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association are deeply committed to. Listen as Janet and Ed discuss how to engage people in continuous improvement, 5 bold steps for implementation, and why it makes a difference in critical times.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we embrace the practice of continuous improvement?
- When is the best time to start continuous improvement work in an organization?
- How can we remain hopeful and optimistic despite obstacles and uncertainty?
Recommended Resources: If-Then, What High Performers Look Like, How Do We Know if a Change is an Improvement? & Short Improvement Cycles Recommended Podcasts: Building an Army of Improvers, Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, Jump All-In To Improve & Bringing an Executive Team Together
Have you ever felt a particular duty or aspect of your work was insignificant, small, or maybe even meaningless? No matter how small, every action has a ripple effect and contributes to the greater good for our organizations and teams. In this episode, our host Dr. Janet Pilcher shares a story that exemplifies this-- the humble beginnings that led to Kyle Johnston becoming the head athletic trainer for the Miami Dolphins. Listen as Janet shares key takeaways from Kyle's journey to success.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What four attributes can help us be excellent no matter how small or big the task?
- Why is it so important to pay attention to detail?
- What small actions can we take to impact our organizations?
Recommended Resources: The Power Of Perspective, Create Resilient Leaders, Motivate with Recognition & Connect to Purpose Recommended Podcasts: Execute Well for Better Results, How Can We Help Our Colleagues?, How Do We Achieve Team Success? & Make Recognition a Habit
2020 has been the kind of year where we've all felt more stress and anxiety due to continuous change and uncertainty. As we turn our heads to 2021 now is a good time to reflect and self-assess. Has the stress we've understandably felt led us to be impatient with others? What kind of energy are we bringing home and to our workplaces? Do we drain energy from others, or do we energize others? In this episode, listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher dives into this topic.
This will be our last episode of 2020. We will take a break and resume releasing episodes beginning on Thursday, January 7th. We wish you all a wonderful holiday season!
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we help creativity flourish in the workplace?
- Why can negative energy be so detrimental in our organizations?
- How can we inspire members of our teams to find solutions?
Recommended Resources: Reward & Recognize, Improvement & Innovation, Motivate With Recognition & How Do We Know If It's An Improvement?
Recommended Podcasts: Eight Things Dogs Teach Us, Increase Employee Engagement With Recognition, Make Recognition A Habit, Creating Cultures of Improvement, What Questions Should I Be Asking My Employees?We would love to have your feedback. If there is a specific question or topic you would like Janet to answer on an episode, please send an email to janet.pilcher@studereducation.com
"When you shut down vulnerability you shut down opportunity"-- the words of Brene Brown challenge us to get honest with ourselves and self-reflect. What does vulnerable leadership look like? We know it involves opening up and being real, but how do we approach vulnerability in our organizations? In this episode, Janet shares characteristics of vulnerable leadership and practical tips for leading with vulnerability.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What are four things leaders can do to lead with vulnerability?
- What does vulnerable leadership not look like?
- How do we establish trust within our organizations?
Recommended Resources: Leading with Vulnerability, Vulnerability and Teamwork, Why Do We Avoid Vulnerability? & Be An Owner
Recommended Podcasts: Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service Excellence, Lead With Courage, Becoming An Authentic Leader, & Be Bold About Action
Great leaders are curious leaders. Curiosity makes us more aware, opens our minds to new possibilities and solutions, and leads to better communication between people and teams. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses why curiosity is critical in our workplaces and what we can do to increase our curiosity.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can curiosity transform our leadership?
- What do curious people do that sets them apart?
- What are key characteristics of curious leaders?
Recommended Resources:Emotional Intelligence, Vulnerability and Teamwork, Why Do We Avoid Vulnerability? & The Power of Perspective
Recommended Podcasts:Developing People to Become the Best Leaders, Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service Excellence, Ask the Right Questions & Becoming an Authentic Leader
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best, let's rate ourselves for each statement: I make a difference on my team, I'm refreshing to work with,and I'm always willing to lend a hand. Now, how would your coworkers rate you? When it comes to relationships with colleagues, every interaction counts. In this episode, our host Dr. Janet Pilcher shares tips for managing good working relationships with our colleagues.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What can we do when someone asks us for help?
- What might we want to avoid saying or doing when a coworker asks for our help?
- How do we key message a response to manage a good working relationship with our coworkers?
Recommended Resources: Building Trust with New Teams, Tips for Effective Listening in Teams, Emotional Bank Account & Welcome New Team Members
Recommended Podcasts: Small Things, Big Difference, Building a Bank Account of Trust, Building Trust in the Workplace & People Deserve Support
The end of a year is a great time to reflect. How far have we gone over the year? Did we hit our goals? If not, what kept us from achieving them? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher describes a process that engages employees in reflective conversations to keep our organizations moving in the right direction.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we give our team members a chance to meaningfully contribute in reflective discussions?
- Why is this process a non-threatening way to gain insight from employees?
- How can we use reflections in our one on one monthly meetings?
Recommended Resources: Plus/Delta, Plus/Delta Process, Plus/Delta Leadership Challenge & Monthly Meetings
Recommended Podcasts: Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, Improve by Measuring What Matters, Identify Barriers to Change & Creating Cultures of Improvement
While the holidays are often times of joy, they can also be difficult times for some, and this year has sure brought challenges for all of us. With this in mind, let's consider how we can recognize the people in our lives and how we can effectively express our appreciation. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares tips for practicing gratitude and creating an environment where people feel valued.This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we be better listeners?
- Why is it important to express our appreciation to our colleagues?
- How can we create a culture of gratitude?
Recommended Resources: Anticipating Change, If-Then, Guiding Your Team Through Change & Listen Intently
Recommended Podcasts: How to Ask Meaningful Rounding Questions, Give the Simple Gifts, Education Will Never Look the Same & Identify Barriers to Change
Since March, we've all understandably felt more stressed at times. Research shows gratitude can help balance out the impacts of uncertainty on our wellbeing. In this episode, listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher shares ideas for how we can cultivate more gratitude on our teams after weathering a long year of living in a constant state of uncertainty.
This episode answers questions such as:
- Why should we consider emotions and gratitude in the workplace?
- How can we deliver feedback focused on growth?
- What 4 things can we do in our interactions to cultivate gratitude?
We will not release a Thursday episode, but we will be back on Monday with a new episode. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Recommended Resources: Expressing Gratitude, Emotional Bank Account, Remembering to be Grateful & Three Positives for Every One Constructive Feedback
Recommended Podcasts: Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition, Make Recognition a Habit, Inspire Others to Achieve & What it Really Means to be Thoughtful
When challenges seem numerous or even insurmountable, it's important we stay connected to our purpose and that we help our teams do the same. It is the fuel that will keep us going and infuses meaning into our work. Having a sense of purpose calls us to growth and to step out of our comfort zones. Staying connected to our purpose is so vital, we've chosen it as the theme of this year's What's Right in Education virtual conference. During this free conference, you'll have the opportunity to hear stories from leaders and partners who are living out their purpose and making a difference. In this episode, listen as our host Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how we can cultivate a fresh sense of purpose in our work.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we find and maintain a sense of purpose in our work in the face of obstacles?
- What kind of mindset is required to stay fueled with purpose?
- How can we help our team members find purpose and meaning in their work?
We will not release a Thursday episode, but we will be back on Monday with a new episode.
Recommended Resources: Connect to Purpose, Finding Purpose at Work, Using Purpose to Inspire Action, & Connecting the Heart and Mind is Connecting to Purpose
Recommended Podcasts: Can You Fix My Culture?, What Questions Should I Be Asking My Employees?, Identify Barriers to Change & Increase EmployeeEngagement with RecognitionJoin us virtually for our 9th Annual Education Leadership Conference: What's Right in Education 2020. As we look back at the year so far, we see a community of educators who are stronger and more resolved than ever to make sure that students have every opportunity to succeed, despite the obstacles ahead. It takes courage to face uncertainty and willingness to unlearn some of our most successful practices and define new practices. Individually, we don’t have all of the answers, but together we can accomplish more, lay new ground and forge ahead.
When humans are faced with change, we often deny, rationalize, and negotiate before we accept our newly found situation. Within our organizations, change can amplify stress and hinder productivity. Our goal as leaders is to build relationships and help individuals move through their anxiety. We do this by asking meaningful questions that connect our organization's standards of behavior to the work people are engaged with daily. Today our host, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares her framework for connecting with employees.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can leaders support team members to embrace change?
- What are the phases we often go through as we are faced with change?
- How can we have conversations with employees that are more meaningful?
Recommended Resources: Leader Connection Questions, 3-2-1 Leader Connection Summary, Boost the Employee Experience & Defining Service Excellence
Recommended Podcasts: Can You Fix My Culture?, What Questions Should I Be Asking My Employees?, Identify Barriers to Change & Increase Employee Engagement with RecognitionJoin us virtually for our 9th Annual Education Leadership Conference: What's Right in Education 2020on November 17th & 18th. As we look back at the year so far, we see a community of educators who are stronger and more resolved than ever to make sure that students have every opportunity to succeed, despite the obstacles ahead. It takes courage to face uncertainty and willingness to unlearn some of our most successful practices and define new practices. Individually, we don’t have all of the answers, but together we can accomplish more, lay new ground and forge ahead.
Children who experience a strong early education are more likely to be successful in life. This is why today's guests strive to support families and seek out innovation for children and early childhood education. In this episode, Rina Irwin, CEO of Child Development Centers (CDC) in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Scott Cartwright, Director of Medical Services share about how they do things differently to lead a change in culture and mindset within the CDC.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How can we communicate in a way that builds and maintains trust?
- What can we do to change our culture?
- How can we build a task force to overcome barriers?
Recommended Resources: Creating the Best Executive Team, It's All About Relationships, Busting Through Barriers & Improvement & Innovation
Recommended Podcasts: Creating Cultures of Improvement, Cultivate a Can-Do Culture, Building an Army of Improvers & Strive for Equity and to Serve the Most VulnerableJoin us virtually for our 9th Annual Education Leadership Conference: What's Right in Education 2020.
As we look back at the year so far, we see a community of educators who are stronger and more resolved than ever to make sure that students have every opportunity to succeed, despite the obstacles ahead. It takes courage to face uncertainty and willingness to unlearn some of our most successful practices and define new practices. Individually, we don’t have all of the answers, but together we can accomplish more, lay new ground and forge ahead.
When we are faced with change we have an opportunity to respond with creative solutions. Today, our guest shares how her organization is inspired to navigate change by the vision: one team, one mission, one community. Superintendent of Hopkins County Schools, Deanna Ashby explains, "our mess has become our unified message together." Listen as Deanna and our host discuss how this district has become more than just a part of their community, and the deeper connections they've made as a result.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What can we do to move forward steadily during uncertain times?
- How can we build a high level of accountability for students and employees?
- Why is it so important to utilize partnerships in our communities?
Recommended Resources: Accelerate Your Communication, Accountability, Practice Accountability & Busting Through Barriers
Recommended Podcasts: Service in the Relationship Business, Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service Excellence, Schools are Essential & From Problem to Solution Join us virtually for our 9th Annual Education Leadership Conference: What's Right in Education 2020.
As we look back at the year so far, we see a community of educators who are stronger and more resolved than ever to make sure that students have every opportunity to succeed, despite the obstacles ahead. It takes courage to face uncertainty and willingness to unlearn some of our most successful practices and define new practices. Individually, we don’t have all of the answers, but together we can accomplish more, lay new ground and forge ahead.
Building relationships with people is more important than ever as we shift to more virtual environments. Not only are relationships key, they also help us all get through obstacles and challenges. In this episode, we are joined by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Chris Hartly, and Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Colby Smart, from Humboldt County Office of Education in Northern California. Listen as they discuss overcoming the challenges that come with improvement work and how they're developing relationship capacity within their organizations.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What must first happen before an organization can improve?
- How can organizations build the capacity for leadership growth?
- How can leaders successfully build ownership and allegiance to the mission among team members?
Recommended Resources: Lead Your Work, Trust: Consistency of Leadership, Use Clear Expectations to Bring Teams Together & Always Be Recruiting
Recommended Podcasts: Anticipating Community Fear & Building Trust, Listen for Ideas, Perspective & Connection, Manage Disruption: Adjust Quickly and Communicate Transparently & Vulnerability is at the Heart of Service ExcellenceJoin us virtually for our 9th Annual Education Leadership Conference: What's Right in Education 2020.
As we look back at the year so far, we see a community of educators who are stronger and more resolved than ever to make sure that students have every opportunity to succeed, despite the obstacles ahead. It takes courage to face uncertainty and willingness to unlearn some of our most successful practices and define new practices. Individually, we don’t have all of the answers, but together we can accomplish more, lay new ground and forge ahead.
To deliver exceptional service we need to embrace vulnerability and courage. When leaders model this behavior in organizations, employees are encouraged to take risks and know that it's okay to fail. Today, Jon Malone, Director and CEO of Northwestern Illinois Association discusses his organization's commitment to service and how vulnerability impacts trust and accountability on his team.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What does it look like to provide unmistakable value to those you serve?
- How can we integrate vulnerability into our team's culture?
- How can we build a team that chooses character over comfort?
Recommended Resources: Creating Unmistakable Value, Am I a Perfectionist Leader?, Cascading the Building Blocks of Service Excellence & Culture: the Foundation for Withstanding Disruption
Recommended Podcasts: Unmistakable Value, Brene Brown: The Courage to Be Vulnerable, Focus on Service Excellence & The Behavior that's Holding Leaders BackJoin us virtually for our 9th Annual Education Leadership Conference: What's Right in Education 2020.
As we look back at the year so far, we see a community of educators who are stronger and more resolved than ever to make sure that students have every opportunity to succeed, despite the obstacles ahead. It takes courage to face uncertainty and willingness to unlearn some of our most successful practices and define new practices. Individually, we don’t have all of the answers, but together we can accomplish more, lay new ground and forge ahead.
Quint Studer has joined us as a guest on our podcast throughout 2020, sharing his stories and experiences from his career that we can learn and grow from. In this episode, we have collected highlights from these interviews and we revisit some of Quint's top tips and advice for leaders who want to be their best.
This episode answers questions such as:
- What is really getting in our way?
- How can we build the courage it takes to make decisions that stem from character, not comfort?
- What driving factor can help take us across the finish line when leading change?
Recommended Resources: Notice What's Right, Courageous Conversations, To Increase Motivation Show More Appreciation & Deal with Problems
Recommended Podcasts: Be Bold About Action, Reinvent the Organization: Increase Efficiency While Reducing Costs, The Middle is Hard but it Doesn't Have to Be & Facing Community Resistance to Change You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Is your workplace culture vibrant? Is it a place where people want to stay and work? Is it a place that attracts top talent? In this episode, Quint Studer is back to share more about his experience in education and healthcare, and his current focus -- communities. Listen as our host Dr. Janet Pilcher asks Quint about lessons learned in his work to make communities vibrant places to live work and play.
This episode answers questions such as:
- How do we continue to keep the flame burning inside of us in our work and throughout our lives?
- What are the key ingredients of creating a culture where people love to work?
- What keeps talented individuals in our communities and organizations?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: About Quint, Quint Studer is the Man with a Vision, Map Your Career Ambitions & Navigating Career Phases
Recommended Podcasts: Purpose, Worthwhile Work & Making a Difference P1, Purpose, Worthwhile Work & Making a Difference P2 & Facing Community Resistance to Change
How did Quint advance his career from a High School Special Education Teacher to a Hospital President to a Founder and CEO? In this episode, we continue Quint Studer’s story from episode #122 and hear about one of his major life transitions-- a key moment when he took a risk and followed his heart. Listen as Quint and Janet discuss the part of his journey that fueled the creation for some of his greatest accomplishments.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How can we navigate our careers by following our heart?
- Why are training and development so critical to an organization's culture?
- Who should superintendents focus on hiring?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: About Quint, Quint Studer is the Man with a Vision, Map Your Career Ambitions & Navigating Career Phases
Recommended Podcasts: Purpose, Worthwhile Work, and Making a Difference Part 1, The Middle is Hard but it Doesn't Have to Be, Facing Community Resistance to Change, Innovation is Easier than Changing the World & The Advantage of Being Yourself
2020 has been a psychologically challenging year for leaders and employees across all organizations. At the same time, disruption can be our greatest innovator, and we've all learned important lessons from this year that will stick with us. In this episode, Ocean Springs School District Superintendent, Dr. Bonita Coleman and Janet discuss balancing the burden of keeping people safe with the responsibility for student achievement.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does communicating transparently better support employees, students, and families?
- What is key for leaders to be successful in this environment?
- How can we handle disruptive situations more thoughtfully?
Dr. Bonita Coleman will also join us to present at our upcoming virtual conference, What’s Right in Education, on November 17th and 18th. You can learn more about our upcoming events by visiting our events page.
Recommended Resouces: Transparency, Huddle for Critical Outcomes, Key Words At Key Times for Resilient Leaders & Create Resilient Leaders
Recommended Podcast Episodes: Move Forward by Doing the Next Right Thing, Improve by Measuring What Matters, Who Hears What When? & How Can We Manage Indefinite Despair?
We all want to make a difference in our work. Whatever the path maybe that has brought us to this point in our careers, our experiences along the way are valuable and have shaped us into who we are. In this episode, we take a look at Quint Studer’s path—from his childhood to his journey in education and healthcare. Listen as our host Dr. Janet Pilcher asks Quint about his journey, stories about those who impacted him along the way, as well as valuable lessons he learned.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How did Quint's education prepare him for healthcare and leadership?
- What does it take to turn something people perceive as a weakness into a strength?
- How can we help someone embrace the discomfort of learning something new?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: About Quint, Quint Studer is the Man with a Vision, Map Your Career Ambitions & Navigating Career Phases
Recommended Podcasts: The Middle is Hard but it Doesn't Have to Be, Facing Community Resistance to Change, Innovation is Easier than Changing the World & The Advantage of Being Yourself
How do we speak our truth, while deepening our connection with others? Executive leader coach and author, Terre Short joins us to discuss more mindful, communication that comes from the heart. In episode 120 Janet and Quint discussed Terre’s book The Words We Choose: Your Guide to How and Why Words Matter. Today, listen as Terre shares tools from her book focused on how we can elevate our communication at work—making it more values-based and intentional— while remaining true to who we are.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some key areas we can grow in to improve our emotional intelligence?
- What does it mean to be connected to our values in our communication?
- What are some words we may want to avoid in order to have better communication?
Subscribe to Terre's website to download the first chapter of her book and learn about the latest learning content available.
Recommended Resources: "Just" - A Form of Self-Sabotage, Values Guide Resilience, Communication & Connection & Leader Always Actions
Recommended Podcasts: Why Do Words Matter?,How Can We Stop Complaining, Comparing, and Criticizing?, Words Have Power & Who Hears What When?
Words help us get where we want to go. Our words can make others feel better, or worse. Our words can diffuse difficult situations, or escalate them. This is why effective communication is so vital in every workplace. In this episode, listen as Quint Studer and our host Dr. Janet Pilcher discuss what leaders should avoid when it comes to communicating, and examples of ways words can be used effectively in a variety of workplace situations.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we converse with people in a way that draws them to lean forward and not pull back?
- What should we avoid at all costs when it comes to what we say?
- What simple statement can be a game-changer in improving your relationships with others?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: Why the Words We Say Matter, Key Words at Key Times, Feedback that Inspires, Pause Perspective Process & The Power of Perspective
Recommended Podcasts: Words Have Power, The Behavior that's Holding Leaders Back, Who Hears What When? & Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition
Hurricane Sally recently impacted our local area in Pensacola, leaving thousands with damage, flooding, and even the loss of an essential bridge between our communities. But what left the greatest impression on our host, Janet Pilcher was the small, yet powerful acts of thoughtfulness that emerged among the mess. Striking acts of thoughtfulness were not only seen within our team but across our city. Being thoughtful is so much more than being nice, it requires more reflection and consideration. In this episode, listen as our Host Janet Pilcher discusses how being thoughtful can be a real difference-maker in our organizations.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it take to be authentically thoughtful?
- How can we show gratitude in specific and meaningful ways?
- How can we respond to others when they’re feeling anxious?
Recommended Resources: How Good Leaders Manage Anxiety, Values Guide Resilience, The Impact of One & Expressing Gratitude
Recommended Podcasts: Small Things: Big Difference & Eight Things Dogs Teach Us
How can our teams reach the goals we set out to accomplish? What does it mean for our teams to be successful? Using the right metrics to track progress and engaging in conversations to problem-solve are keys to helping us get there. In this episode, listen as our host Janet Pilcher discusses tools and tactics to help our teams reach our goals and be successful.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we apply a system to continuously review our progress?
- What are the key ingredients for implementing a short cycle improvement process?
- What questions can we ask our teams to help reach our goals?
Recommended Resources: Return to Learn: Improvement & Execution Toolkit, 90-Day Action Plan for Improvement, Keeping Score: What Can We Learn from Using Our Scorecards, & Building Trust with New Teams
When we think of micromanaging, we typically think of it as a negative thing. But the reality is, extra supervision and coaching are sometimes necessary before some individuals are ready to leave the nest. In today's episode, Quint Studer and Janet dive into the topic—discussing what micromanaging is, when it’s necessary, and how leaders can communicate effectively with employees who may need extra support and supervision.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we have productive conversations with our supervisor if we feel micromanaged?
- Why is micromanaging not always a bad thing?
- What can leaders do to help employees feel supported, not micromanaged?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: Challenge Your High Performers (Then Step Away), Low Solid Performer Support, High Solid Performer Support, & Leader Connection Questions
Recommended Podcasts: How Can We Stop Complaining, Comparing, and Criticising?, The Behavior that's Holding Leaders Back, Do People Really Want Feedback?, & Addressing Poor Performance
2020 has intensified the need for a partnership to exist between teachers and parents. While parents are appreciating the role of teacher now more than ever, today's guest explains, the role of learning coach has always belonged to parents. In today's episode, listen as Dr. Erica Karr and Janet discuss practical tips that will help leaders build parent confidence and support for students in these uncertain times and beyond.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can education leaders help build confidence in parents?
- What are some practical ways to support and strengthen communication with parents?
- How can we help reduce anxiety for parents this school year?
Recommended Resources: Return to Learn: Organizational Excellence and Improvement Toolkit & Will Our Daily Actions Keep Students Learning?We know you already have what it takes to coach your child’s learning. You just need a few tips, a few answers, and some good encouragement along the way. Subscribe to our new podcast: School House - The Place Where School & House Meet
- Ask us your question and it might be featured on the School House podcast. Email questions to schoolhouse@studereducation.com
What kind of impact does the energy we bring to work have on others? There are three things leaders will want to avoid in order to inspire positive attitudes and productivity on their teams. In today's episode, Quint Studer and Janet discuss seemingly harmless, yet dangerous patterns of thinking that can be destructive to our organizations. Listen as we share practical tips that will help us frame our messages and take ownership.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why are the three C’s dangerous in workplace cultures?
- Is our constructive criticism really constructive?
- What is the best gift you can give your boss?
Hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, from Quint’s Busy Leader’s Handbook, and Day 2 will focus on the role we all play in building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: Are the 3 C’s Holding You Back?, Model the Way by Managing Up, Victim Thinking & The Power of PerspectiveRecommended Podcasts: The Behavior that’s Holding Leaders Back, What if Your Boss is the Problem?, Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization& Lead with Courage
"Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity." — Nat Turner
That’s how our guest, Leader Coach Dr. JoAnn Sternke started today’s episode. Due to uncertainty and a rapidly changing external environment, leaders are being bombarded with questions. It's critical for us to respond with messages that are well-framed to enhance clarity, build trust, and reduce anxiety. On the other hand, poor communication can result in the exact opposite. Listen as JoAnn Sternke and our host Dr. Janet Pilcher discuss how we can deploy communication that’s consistent and reliable.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we instill confidence when we don’t have the answers?
- What are three keys to delivering a message that leads to execution?
- Where do we often go wrong with our communication?
Recommended Resources: Crisis Communication Toolkit, Key Words at Key Times for Resilient Leaders, Why Start with Why, & Model the Way by Managing Up
Recommended Podcasts Who Hears What When, Intentional Communication Starts with Why, Execute Well & Building Trust in the Workplace
We all have preconceived notions of what a CEO should look like, or act like. But the truth is, the best leaders have a variety of qualities and no two are the same. There is one thing successful leaders have in common: they are true to themselves. We have to know who we are as leaders, and most importantly, we have to know who we are not. In this episode, listen as Quint Studer and our host Dr. Janet Pilcher discuss why leadership is an inside job and how we can develop greater self-awareness to remove the baggage preventing us from becoming great leaders.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we figure out who we aren't?
- What three tactics can we use to overcome self-doubt?
- What is really getting in our way as leaders?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: Be Yourself Everyone Else is Taken, Trust Consistency of Leadership, Collective Willpower to Succeed, Take a 360 Look, Strengths Reflection & Looking in the Mirror: Could I Be the Problem?
Related Podcasts: Inspire Others to Achieve, Listen for Ideas, Perspective, and Connection, The Behavior That’s Holding Leaders Back, Building Strong Leadership Teams & Developing People to Become the Best Leaders
Feeling depleted is something many of us have probably experienced at some point during 2020. Maybe you’ve heard others you work with say they feel tired or burnt out. Can you relate? In the midst of COVID-19, a Presidential election, and racial tensions we face an ambiguous loss. We are not in control. There have been drastic changes to our way of life and what was familiar to us. In this episode, our Host Janet Pilcher shares reflections inspired by a recent article in Elemental, “Your Surge Capacity is Depleted—It's Why You Feel Awful” by Tara Haelle. Listen as Janet shares her candid thoughts and ideas to help leaders and their people to keep pressing on when it’s hard.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we move our minds to constructive thoughts when we feel depleted?
- What perspectives can help us manage feelings of despair?
- How can we strengthen relationships despite the challenges of social distancing?
Recommended Resources: Anxiety and Leadership, From Hopeless to Champion, “Your Surge Capacity is Depleted—It's Why You Feel Awful” & How Good Leaders Manage Anxiety
Recommended Podcasts: Leaders Don't Whine, Get Up Before You Fall Too Far, From Problem to Solution, & Identify Barriers to Change
It’s not easy when employees leave. Sometimes people leave to advance their careers in another organization. Sometimes they leave because we are forced to make layoffs. Other times, it may be because it's time to let a low-performer go. Whatever the reason, people are watching how leaders treat those who exit. In this episode, our Host Janet Pilcher and Quint Studer discuss how we can support people who leave and why it is so critical to set the right example for those who stay.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are some perspectives leaders should let go of around team members who leave?
- How should we handle letting a low-performing employee go?
- What are some ways we can help to maximize the potential of employees who seek opportunities for growth?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: Develop Aspiring Leaders, Low or Solid Performer?, The Hardest Decisions, & Looking in the Mirror: Could I Be the Problem?
Recommended Podcasts: The Behavior that’s Holding Leaders Back, Invest in and Empower Your Teams, Developing People to Become the Best Leaders & Be Bold About Action
We've finally reached the start of a new school semester and with that comes the execution of new plans. On today's episode, Studer Education Coach Dr. Melissa Matarazzo, and Studer Education Coach Dr. KK Owen, join Janet to discuss their perspective around returning to learn based on their experiences with school leaders across the country. While it will be essential to build confidence that students and employees are safe, we have to get back to our core business: student learning.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What can we do to get students back on track to a positive learning trajectory?
- When changes occur quickly, how will we monitor and adjust?
- How can we stay focused on our goals and not get distracted?
Recommended Resources: Return to Learn: Organizational Excellence Execution and Improvement, Measuring What Matters, How Do We Know if it's an Improvement?, & Leader Action Planning with 30- 45- 60-Day Huddles
Recommended Podcasts: Improve by Measuring What Matters, Who Hears What When?, Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start? & Make Complex Work Simple
At the beginning of any academic year, students, families, and school personnel experience an array of emotions. However we all know by now, 2020 has come with a unique set of challenges and emotions to manage. Today, Principal MaryJo Raczkowski-Shannon, describes the excitement students and teachers are feeling during their first week of re-opening Hunt Elementary School. In this episode, Janet and MaryJo discuss how her team built parent confidence and prioritized student and employee safety.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we communicate with help parents to help them feel confident as children return to classroom learning?
- What actions can we take to build an engaged faculty, student, and parent culture?
- What are some ways we can show parents that safety measures are in place, to help build confidence?
Recommended Resources: Leading a Successful Reentry, Return to Learn, What the Best Leaders do to Communicate with Employees During Critical Times & Creating Unmistakable Value
Recommended Podcasts: Don’t Keep Your Customers in the Dark, Bringing an Executive Team Together, Transform Your Workplace, Who Hears What When? & Managing Fears to Build Momentum
It seems right now there are no easy decisions. It's uncomfortable for us as leaders to be living in a place of uncertainty. But as today's guest explains, leadership isn't comfortable. When faced with a crossroads of choosing character over comfort, most leaders will say they choose character however, subconsciously we are often choosing comfort. In order to create better communities, we’ll need to embrace the discomfort of doing what’s right. Listen as Quint Studer and Dr. Janet Pilcher discuss examples of the subtle behavior of choosing comfort and what it takes for us to overcome it.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Where are some common areas that we get stuck choosing what’s comfortable?
- How can we build the courage it takes to make decisions that stem from character, not comfort?
- What’s at stake if we aren’t willing to embrace the discomfort of making the right decisions?
You can hear more from Quint at our upcoming 2-day virtual conference, Destination High Performance Pensacola 2020. Day 1 will focus on leadership tips, tools and considerations, and Day 2 will focus on building a vibrant community. The event is scheduled for October 28th and 29th. Register for free now.
Recommended Resources: The Hardest Decisions, Decision-Making Confidence, Spinach in Your Teeth Messages: The Art of Giving (and Receiving) Honest Feedback & Eliminate We/They
Recommended Podcasts: Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization, Low Performers: Who Are They?, Deliver Productive Feedback, Identify Barriers to Change & Be Bold About Action
When Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents work together, every child has the best chance to be prepared for their future. In this episode, we hear a story that testifies the powerful role school personnel play in students’ success. Enga McClendon, a former teacher at N.B. Cook Elementary School, shares how two students overcame personal challenges and went on to graduate. Studer Education Leader Coach, Dr. KK Owen, Principal of N.B. Cook at the time, also joins us to share the impact this family had on her and how their experience taught KK to become a better leader.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it necessary to be courageous and bold during difficult situations?
- How can we be more empathetic toward employees and those we serve?
- What does it look like to focus on what's best for families?
Recommended Resources: Why Service Excellence is Our Most Important Value,Connect to Purpose, The Impact of One & Improve Performance with Leader Led Conversations
Recommended Podcasts: Stories of Purpose P1, Stories of Purpose P2, Stories of Purpose P3, Lead with Courage, & Be Bold About Action
As we start to welcome students back to school, leaders are focused on how to help ease the anxieties of students and families. Dr. Michelle Rodriguez and her team at Pajaro Valley Unified School District have built systems and processes to do just that. This school district exemplifies how a heart service can help lead to swift, decisive action. Listen as Michelle and Janet discuss how a strong commitment to service has helped the district get ready for fall, enabling teachers and administration to serve their most vulnerable students.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders make decisions with confidence among uncertainty?
- How can we serve and advocate for our most vulnerable students?
- What does a relentless commitment to service excellence look like in times of crisis?
Recommended Resources: Conversations with the Superintendent and Ask Dr. Rodriguez,Excellent Service from the Inside Out, Cascading the Building Blocks of Excellent Service, Exceed with Delight, & Accelerate Your Communication
Recommended Podcasts:Turn Ideas into Action,Start Talking to People, Intentional Communication Starts with Why, & Focus on the Positive
Some leaders may find themselves agonizing over decisions that will impact students, families, and communities this fall. This is a time where there are no easy choices or decisions. Yet, when we collaborate with others, we can help ease the weight and also discover victories worth celebrating. In this episode, Dr. Tim Dilg, Superintendent of Valley Park School District in Missouri, shares how the district is accomplishing more by working together and stimulating positive thoughts and workplace culture.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we initiate conversations with team members that convey empathy?
- What are some ways we can use technology to cope with the stresses brought on by COVID-19?
- What is a key ingredient for implementing a strategic vision that inspires and aligns individuals across an organization?
Recommended Resources: Tips for Effective Listening with Teams, Listen Intently, Celebrate Wins that Matter, & Reward and Recognize
Recommended Podcasts: Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition, Make Recognition a Habit, & Leading Change with Empathy
School leaders are facing multiple angles ahead of the fall semester. Strategies for instruction, how to screen students, and manage transportation are just some of the decisions being made right now as leaders plan for multiple scenarios amid uncertainty. Today’s guest represents a school district planning for four scenarios ahead of reentry this fall. Dr. Matt Hillmann, Superintendent of Northfield Public Schools, shares how the district is getting ready for reentry and what has helped make communication around reentry successful for them thus far.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders effectively communicate around decisions being made amid uncertainty?
- What happens when schools use feedback from families and employees to make decisions?
- How can we respond with grace if we get it wrong when communicating?
Recommended Resources: Leading a Successful Reentry, What the Best Leaders do to Communicate with Employees During Critical Times, Why Start with Why & Communicate What Matters to the Board
Recommended Podcasts: Intentional Communication Starts with Why, Who Hears What When? & Leading Change with Empathy
People may come to work for a paycheck, but they’re motivated to work where they feel valued. As we're working with others, overcoming obstacles we've never seen before, we must remember to recognize our people. Studer Group Flame Award winner, Paige Bindi, joins Janet on today’s episode to discuss what recognizing success means for employees and why it’s an important practice for leaders to master.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is reward and recognition so significant in the workplace?
- How does recognition relate to responsibility and accountability?
- What 3 recommendations would you give to leaders in organizations to reinforce positive recognition?
Recommended Learning: Emotional and Rational, Ideas for Recognizing Your Employees, What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated, & The Power of Employee RecognitionRecommended Podcasts: Increase Employee Engagement with Recognition, Make Recognition a Habit
In our work and personal lives we all want to feel that what we do matters. Staying connected to our purpose can infuse meaning into all that we do. Giving, serving, leaning into our values, and thinking about others can all help fuel us with a sense of purpose, as our guests today share. In this episode, listen as Leader Coach Nannette Johnston, Digital and Software Analyst Basil Kuloba, and TeacherReady Director of Enrollment and Relationship Management Dr. Sarah Miller, share what drives them and brings meaning to the work they do.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can our values help fuel a sense of purpose in our work?
- What simple practice can help individuals stay inspired in their work?
- What actions can we take to find purpose both in our work and personal lives?
To hear our host and Studer Education Founder, Janet Pilcher, share her connect to purpose story, visit episode #100 Stories of Purpose Part 1.
Recommended Resources: Connect to Purpose, Finding Purpose at Work, Set Aligned Goals, & The Keys to Employee Engagement
Recommended Podcasts: Small Things, Big Difference, Inertia: A Force for Change, Inspire Others to Achieve & Stories of Purpose P2
We often hear about purpose talked about it in a singular way. For many of us, this may resonate—we know beyond a shadow of a doubt what drives us and why we find meaning in our work—but that’s not always the case for everyone. Perhaps we have many interests and our work roles have evolved and taken many different forms over the years. This rings true for today’s guest, Casey Kuktelionis, our Strategic Communication associate and podcast producer. In this episode, Casey shares how a broader purpose can still drive us and bring us meaning to our roles both in and outside of work.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What simple practice can help us see purpose and meaning in what we do at work?
- What questions can I ask myself or ask others to help bring clarity around purpose?
- How can negative or bothersome situations or tough times from the past help reveal our purpose?
To hear our host and Studer Education Founder, Janet Pilcher, share her connect to purpose story, visit episode #100 Stories of Purpose Part 1.
Recommended Resources: Connect to Purpose, The Impact of One, The Power of Storytelling, & Maximize Happiness at Work
Recommended Podcasts: Inspire Others to Achieve, Reignite Your Passion, Find Your Path and Pay it Forward, & The Fire in the Belly
In uncertain times, it’s more important than ever that we stay connected to our purpose. Connecting to the meaning behind our work keeps us going. Purpose keeps us motivated and fulfilled in our work, despite the obstacles that come along. As leaders, we can encourage individuals to find meaning to invigorate their work and demonstrate they are valued. In this episode, listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher shares how she is staying connected to her purpose and inspiring others to do the same.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we stay focused and connected to purpose at work?
- How can we help our team members find purpose in their work?
- How often should we connect to purpose?
Recommended Resources: Connect to Purpose, Finding Purpose at Work, Boost the Employee Experience & Maximize Happiness at Work
Recommended Podcasts: Three Ways to Stay Inspired at Work, Find Your Path and Pay it Forward & Inspire Others to Achieve
With many schools re-opening in a few weeks, school leaders across the country are busy finalizing reentry plans and making decisions. Change often comes with pressure and stress, but as today’s guest points out, change also brings opportunity for creativity. In this episode, listen as Sergio Mendoza, Superintendent of Burton School District, shares about the difference that Evidence-Based Leadership℠ has made since the district first implemented it in March.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is a daily huddle beneficial for team members?
- How can we find time to continue growing and learning while balancing other priorities?
- How can leaders make decisions with confidence during these times?
Recommended Resources: Keep the Complex Simple, Leading a Successful Reentry, Huddle for Critical Outcomes, Measuring what Matters, Improvement and Innovation & How Focus Leads to Results
Recommended Podcasts: Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?, Jump All-In to Improve, & Inspire Others to Achieve
Establishing a system of continuous improvement doesn’t have to be complicated. Our partner, Ryan Carpenter shares how the Estacada School District started slow to go fast while implementing Evidence-Based Leadership℠. Hear how their team improved results by developing deeper relationships and including community voices. While there is no playbook for leaders right now, in this episode, Ryan discusses how you can be the best for your team and reflects over his district’s first year using an improvement framework.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the value of practicing conversations and using data before holding people accountable for measures?
- Why is it so important to fail?
- How can we start using an evidence-based leadership framework?
To hear the first part of Ryan's interview, go back and listen to episode 97: Continuous Improvement: Where do you start?
Recommended Resources: An Organizational Scorecard, Build Accountability, Measuring What Matters & Huddle for Critical Outcomes
Recommended Podcasts: Be Bold About Action & Continuous Improvement: Where Do You Start?
Most would agree adopting a continuous improvement effort is good for a team or an organization. However, after implementing improvement science, many leaders find themselves wondering if they are in fact making any improvements and find it difficult to define and sustain progress. In this episode, Superintendent Ryan Carpenter, Estacada School District, discusses why his team made a commitment to adopting a continuous improvement mindset and implementing Evidence-Based Leadership℠ framework across the school system, and the difference it has made a year later. Ryan’s approach to starting small and putting people first not only transformed their lives and work environment, it also prepared them to collectively face the challenge COVID-19 would bring to their community.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can organizations build a foundation for continuous improvement work?
- What is the impact of Evidence-Based Leadership℠ on an organization’s culture?
- Why is it critical for leaders to put people first?
Recommended Resources: 90 Day Action Plan for Improvement, Busting Through Barriers, Eliminate We/They, Organizational Excellence, Maximize Performance, & Huddle for Critical Outcomes
Recommended Podcasts: Stop the Subconscious Behavior Infecting Your Organization, Pursue Performance Excellence, Building an Army of Improvers
As fall quickly approaches we are seeing that school leaders are in various stages of planning and communicating to their communities. Some are still waiting for answers and guidelines from local agencies and organizations, some have begun announcing plans for the 2020-2021 school year. In this episode, Dr. JoAnn Sternke, Studer Education Senior Director and Leader Coach, reminds us, it’s not just the message, but how the message is communicated that matters. We want to make sure we build trust through communication using empathy. Listen as JoAnn shares how you can use the Communication template from our free Re-entry Toolkit to help you achieve clear and simple communication.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we artfully respond when we’re asked questions but don’t have the answers?
- What can we do to build high confidence with our community that we’re on the right path?
- When the inevitable happens – someone within the organization or school tests positive for COVID-19 – how can leaders respond?
Recommended Resources: Leading a Successful Reentry to Achieve Organizational Excellence, Start with Why, Cascading Communication, & Transparency
Recommended Podcast Episodes: 72 Intentional Communication Starts with Why, 73 Leading Change with Empathy, & 83 To Innovate Focus on Value
Leading through challenges requires honest conversations, resiliency, and a positive outlook. Currently, leaders are facing pressure to make difficult decisions regarding the health and safety of their communities. Recommendations are uncertain and ever-changing. In episodes 93 and 94 we heard Waukesha County Government leaders explain how they’re collaborating with schools in their community. This week, Superintendent Corey Golla, who leads a school district in Waukesha County, joins us to discuss how his team is managing the urgency and uncertainty around returning to school. Listen as Corey describes how his team incorporates Lean thinking and reviewing key questions to reduce risk and avoid the check-off.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders plan to successfully collaborate with other organizations?
- What metrics are important to measure right now?
- How can leaders feel confident in their decision-making despite what the future will hold for schools in 2020 and beyond?
- What characteristics are necessary for leaders to overcome community resistance?
Recommended Resources: Leadership Short Cycles, Short Cycle Action Plan Tool, Create Resilient Leaders, Stoplight Report
Recommended Podcast Episodes: 68 Focus on the Positive, 70 Cultivate a Can-Do Culture, 93 Make Silos Disappear, & 94 Empower and Invest in Your Teams.
Reentry is top of mind for school leaders across the country. Many of these leaders are struggling with how to move forward with little guidance. They’re preparing for best- and worst-case scenarios. As we work to keep employees and students safe, collaboration across communities is key. In this episode, Waukesha County Executive, Paul Farrow, and Waukesha County Director of Parks and Land Use, Dale Shaver are back to discuss how the county collaborated in their response to the pandemic. They’ll discuss their commitment to data-driven decisions, the importance of empowering people, and why culture is more important than ever in crisis times.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What can we do to keep the momentum ahead of reentry without getting stalled?
- Why is it so critical to invest in your people and your culture?
- What are some practical actions leaders can take to empower those they lead?
To hear the beginning of our conversation with Paul and Dale, listen to episode #93 Make Silos Disappear.
Recommended Resources: Leading a Successful Reentry to Achieve Organizational Excellence, Why Start with Why?, Always Be Recruiting, & Organizational Excellence
Crisis times expose who we are and what we’re made of. For those who have committed to relationships and the process of improvement work, crisis times can be an opportunity for an organization’s strengths to shine through. Our partners in Waukesha County exemplify this—having a foundation that has helped them thrive despite disruptive circumstances. Our guests today are Waukesha County Executive, Paul Farrow, and Waukesha County Director of Parks and Land Use, Dale Shaver. Listen as they discuss how their county has collaborated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and how their commitment to data-driven decisions has been essential to managing their team’s response.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
* How can we find the right balance when it comes to communication— and not go overboard with it?
* How can leaders work with their people to identify silos in the organization that should be eliminated?
* How can partnerships with other organizations help leaders in their re-entry planning?
To hear Dale Shaver discuss how his team rapidly responded to closures in their county, remained engaged, and leaned on their culture while making the best decisions possible despite the uncertainty that remains, go back and listen to episode #68 Focus on the Positive.
Recommended Resources: Breaking Down Silos, Busting Through Barriers, Identify Barriers in Action & Prioritizing Processes to Improve
Recommended Podcasts: That’s the Way It Is & Identify Barriers to Change
As schools and organizations across the country prepare for reentry, leaders are feeling the pressure to be decisive. We are facing a wide variety of scenarios—many unprecedented. Due to the uncertainty, emotions at the forefront for both leaders and their people. Dr. KK Owen is one of our coaches helping partners create a plan moving forward for reentry. In this episode, listen as KK shares about how we’re helping leaders manage fears while moving forward to get ready for reentry—and how leaders listening can benefit.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What can leaders do to engage with and tend to the emotions of their people ahead of reentry to help make it a success?
- What is a Fear to Opportunities assessment and how does it work?
- Why are we hosting Reentry Roundtables and how will those help prepare leaders for a successful return to schools?
Download the free toolkit: Leading a Successful Reentry ToolkitJoin the conversation at our free Reentry Roundtables: Register
We’re in changing, challenging times, and the emotions that go along with that are very real. Our people are feeling them and need our support in order to thrive. That’s why it’s more important than ever for leaders to be intentional in how we support and serve our team members. In this episode, listen as Studer Education coach Dr. Melissa Matarazzo shares some game-changing practices that have helped her best support the coaches she leads as well as valuable tips leaders can put into action right now to help grow and develop their teams.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What practices can be game-changers for supporting the individuals you lead?
- How can we help grow and develop people on our teams?
- Why is it more important than ever to spend time and resources developing individuals in our organizations?
To hear the beginning of this conversation, listen to episode #90 Developing People to Become the Best Leaders, where Dr. Matarazzo shares the valuable lessons she has learned since becoming a leader.
Recommended Resources: Monthly Meetings, Preparing for Conversations with Your Team Members, Leader Led Conversations, New Leader Development
The best leaders are always learning. They are curious. They seek to better understand. That hunger to constantly grow is crucial in order to lead at the highest level, and a focus on relationships is a critical part of that. In this episode, Studer Education coach Dr. Melissa Matarazzo weighs in on this topic, sharing the valuable lessons she has learned as a coach while supporting leaders and partners around the country. Her approach focuses on aligning powerful leader development with effective systems of internal accountability. Listen as Melissa reflects over key lessons she has learned over the years—and how those can help leaders today lead at the next level.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders establish connections with new employees and begin to start building strong relationships?
- What is something leaders should not miss when it comes to relationships with their people?
- What are the hallmarks of the best leaders you have worked with over the years?
Recommended Resources:
Empowering Mid-level Leaders, Feedback that Inspires, Three Positives For Every One Constructive Feedback, Develop Aspiring Leaders
The work of improvement creates the backbone for real change where it matters. Focus on continuous improvement yields valuable results and radically changes outcomes in a number of fields, but in education, momentum has struggled. In the words of today’s guest, the education field hasn’t hardwired the deep skillset of improvement and we have more work to do. In this episode, Dr. Pat Greco joins us to continue the conversation around improving school systems and organizations so leaders can accelerate results and sustain success over time.
Pat will also share about the chapter she contributed to in Tony Bryk’s book, Improvement in Action.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are the most important measures to look at when it comes to improvement work, and why?
- What tools or tactics can have the greatest impact when it comes to transforming a struggling organization?
- How can leaders improve their organizations despite resistance from other executives or members of their community?
Recommended Resources: Plan, Do, Study, Act, Implementing PDSA Cycles, Are We Just Documenting or Improving Processes? & Keep the Complex Simple
Recommended Podcasts: What’s Under the Rock?, Creating Cultures of Improvement & Building an Army of Improvers
Improvement work in organizations is not easy, but it’s essential for good organizations that strive to be great. Engaging in effective improvement work entails learning the basics of improvement—but also—learning from how others are doing it, as our guest in today’s episode, Tony Bryk, explains. Tony is the ninth president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and his contributions to improvement science as a whole make him one of the greatest educational professionals of all time. Listen as Tony discusses his newest book, Improvement in Action, where he offers a look at what actions six organizations have taken as they move through improvement work—with advice for leaders ready to commit to this process.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is collaborating with other organizations an essential part of improvement work?
- What should we keep in mind as we commit to the process of improvement work?
- What should we be cautious of as we engage in improvement work?
To hear the beginning of Janet's interview with Tony Bryk, listen to episode #87: Improvement to Accelerate Learning - Part 1.
Learn more about Anthony S. Bryk's extensive research influencing continuous improvement in schools across America by reading his books: Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement, Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago, Learning to Improve: How America's Schools Can Get Better at Getting Better, and his newest release:Improvement in Action: Advancing Quality in America's Schools.
In organizations where employee engagement and productivity is high and turnover is low, you’ll likely find trust is the foundation. But the reality is most employees don’t trust their leaders. According to Gallup data, only one in three employees trust their organization’s leadership. Trust is essential for organizations to thrive and continuously improve. This was a key finding in the research of this episode’s special guest. His contributions to the American Education Research Association and to improvement science overall make him one of the greatest educational professionals of all time. Listen as Tony Bryk, the ninth president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, shares about the role of nurturing relationships to sustain improvement in school systems at scale.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is trust at the heart of improvement work?
- How can we continue spreading improvement work in schools at scale?
- What is important for leaders to remember about improvement work?
Learn more about Anthony S. Bryk's extensive research influencing continuous improvement in schools across America by reading his books: Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement, Organizing Schools for Improvement: Lessons from Chicago, Learning to Improve: How America's Schools Can Get Better at Getting Better, and his newest release: Improvement in Action: Advancing Quality in America's Schools.
Recommended Resources: The Neuroscience of Trust, Implementing PDSA Cycles, Building Trust with New Teams, Learning Comes from Reflection
Recommended Podcast Episodes: Building an Army of Improvers, Bringing an Executive Team Together,Pursue Performance Excellence, Move Forward By Doing the Next Right Thing
Currently, many of us are feeling the strain of change and transition. Doing improvement work in organizations is always important, and in times of disruption, we can’t let this work slip. Improvement work is more important than ever as funding is being cut in many organizations and systems are stressed. In this episode, Dr. Pat Greco joins us to discuss how leaders and their team members can keep an improvement-mindset, despite the challenges of this crisis.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
* What are the most important aspects of improvement work leaders should know?
* Why is investing in your people so important when it comes to improvement work?
* How do leaders build a team of improvement-focused individuals?
Recommended Resources: Improvement and Innovation, Where’s the Noise?, Implementing PDSA Cycles, & BenchmarkingRelated Podcasts: Creating Cultures of Improvement, Start Talking to People, & Move Forward by Doing the Next Right Thing
Times of disruption bring opportunities to innovate. And innovation is easier than you may think. The reality is, it’s a matter of looking at doing things effectively and more efficiently. In this pandemic, Quint Studer says this is an ample opportunity to innovate that leaders should not miss. We often get paralyzed by thinking innovation needs to change the world. Listen as Quint shares his perspective on playing small ball and the innovative thinking that leads to the creation of a sense of place and a vibrant community.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What can we do to have a creative breakthrough when we feel stuck?
- What kinds of questions can we ask to help spark innovation?
- How can we tackle solving upcoming challenges creatively?
To obtain a copy of Building a Vibrant Community you can contact Quint directly at Quint@quintstuder.com.
Recommended Resources: Building a Vibrant Community, Questioning for the Positive, Improvement & Innovation, & Busting Through BarriersRelated Podcasts: Turn Ideas into Action, Move Forward by Doing the Next Right Thing, Be Bold About Action, Reinvent the Organization: Increase Efficiency While Reducing Costs, & The Middle is Hard but it Doesn’t Have to Be
We’re right in the middle of changing, challenging times, and most industries are feeling it. Change often comes with resistance in both our professional lives and our personal lives. Change is rarely comfortable. When the Blue Wahoos baseball stadium was built in downtown Pensacola about a decade ago, Quint Studer, who led the effort, faced tremendous resistance to change. Ultimately, the stadium and baseball team became a true catalyst for positive change in our community. Listen as Quint shares the lessons he learned while leading his organization through community resistance to change.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What key actions can leaders take to manage resistance to change among their teams?
- How can leaders get buy-in as they communicate change to different groups of people?
- What driving factor can help take leaders across the finish line when leading change?
Recommended Resources: Leading Change, Factors of Change Inventory, Leading Change with Empathy, Change Audit
Innovation is a topic we hear a lot about in the workplace, but it’s often misunderstood. Being innovative means more than just coming up with cool things to do. Innovation doesn’t have to be big and different, and it’s not something only geniuses do. Innovation comes as we look at who and how we serve as an organization and where we can improve on the value we deliver. Innovation comes as we look at our organization’s results. In this episode, listen as Dr. JoAnn Sternke discusses how true creativity and innovation can emerge as we focus on adding value—and how leaders can do this in crisis times.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
* How can leaders help foster a spirit of innovation among team members?
* What kinds of questions can leaders ask to help bring about innovative solutions?
* What should leaders focus on in order to inspire innovation that leads their organization from surviving to thriving amid COVID-19?
Recommended Resources: Improvement & Innovation, Busting Through Barriers, Identify Barriers in Action
Recommended Podcasts: Pursue Performance Excellence, Transform Your Workplace, Reinvent the Organization: Increase Efficiency While Reducing Costs, Move Forward by Doing the Next Right Thing,
As organizations and schools prepare to re-open, the safety and wellbeing of employees is a top priority. With many anxious about returning to work and school, we need to think about how we can create spaces that reduce these tensions—to help our employees and students do their best work and be successful. In this episode, Rich Bluni shares recommendations for making work environments safer and more peaceful.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can a peaceful, relaxing work environment benefit employees?
- Why is it important for leaders to support employee wellbeing in the workplace?
- What questions can leaders ask to connect with individuals to help bring meaning to their work?
Recommended Resources:
Meet 5 Critical Employee Needs, Emotional Bank Account, From Hopeless to Champion, The Power of Perspective, Leader Connect Questions, & Inspired Nurse
In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve seen a heightened appreciation for teachers and nurses. Now quite often, we see love and gratitude and appreciation for them shared publicly on social media, in the news, in commercials, and on billboards. In our conversations, we talk about them and we share their stories. This pandemic has helped us all see even more the heroes they truly are—and really, have always been. Both the nursing and teaching professions are filled with servants who want to make a difference. While their work is rewarding, it can also be tiring and challenging. In this episode, listen as Rich Bluni shares tips from his book Inspired Nurse that both teachers and leaders can put into action to stay inspired at work.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What actions can we take to help foster peaceful environments at work?
- How can we shift our perspectives to stay energized and passionate about work?
- What can teachers do to stay inspired as they get ready for the fall semester?
Recommended Resources:
Connect to Purpose, The Power of Storytelling, The Benefits of Being a Mentor, The Power of Perspective, Inspired Nurse
All leaders face challenges, but women in leadership roles experience unique obstacles. Our guest today, Jackie Gaines, who has more than 40 years of leadership experience, explains the importance of mentorship for women leaders. That’s why Jackie decided to write a book with “rules of the road” for women who aspire to be great leaders in business. Her bestseller, The Yellow Suit: A Guide for Women in Leadership, offers women a simple guide on how to be a highly effective leader in today’s world. In this episode, Jackie shares her story behind the “yellow suit,” how to find what brings you joy, and why any of us can be a leader.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important for women and men to collaborate in the workplace?
- What is the difference between authentic professionalism and the perception of professionalism?
- How can leaders maintain their integrity?
Recommended Resources: Wearing the Yellow Suit, The Importance of Mentorship, Choosing Your Path, Are You Leading Your Work?, Connect to Purpose,
Leading from the middle is not easy. In the words of Quint Studer, middle managers have the “toughest job anywhere.” If you’re a mid-level leader who can relate to this feeling—good news—you don’t have to stay stuck here. In this episode, Quint shares practices from his book, The Busy Leader’s Handbook, to help guide leaders with the unique challenges they face.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are three key actions for middle leaders to execute during times of disruption?
- What can leaders do today to become a great leader?
- Why is self-awareness critical to leadership?
You can contact Quint directly at Quint@quintstuder.com or purchase the Busy Leader Handbook online.
Recommended Resources:
Mid-Level Leaders: Who Are They?, Take a 360 Look, Three Positives For Every One Constructive Feedback, The Busy Leader's Handbook
As schools and organizations across the country prepare to re-open, it won’t be business as usual. Safety will be front and center. While learning remains a priority, the safety, health, and well-being of students, teachers, and staff will be just as important. So what will it take to successfully transition back into schools after COVID-19? In this episode, Sabrina Hebeler—Chief of Staff with Infrastructure Planning and Facilities at Michigan State University—explains how asking the right questions to the right people has been an important key—not only in the university’s successful transition to virtual—but in getting ready for a very different fall semester.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can organizations learn from this pandemic to prepare for a successful Fall 2020 semester?
- What steps can leaders take now to prepare for making schools and campuses safe and healthy learning environments this fall?
- How can leaders effectively communicate changes for the fall semester?
Recommended Resources: Change Audit, Leading Change, Five Tips to Use Data to Action Plan, Building Trust with New Teams
Related Podcast Episodes: Leading Change with Empathy, Intentional Communication Starts with Why
During times of uncertainty, it is easy to get caught up in feelings of chaos and confusion. The rapid spread of COVID-19 across our countries has forced organizations and leaders to adapt quickly and make tough decisions. Tea Area School District leaders, Dr. Jennifer Lowery, and Dr. Tonia Warzecha join Janet on today’s show to share how their district took action to stay focused and communicate clearly with their teams and the rapidly growing community they serve.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What are two or three actions leaders can take to keep people moving in a positive direction?
- How can we stay focused on our priorities during times of chaos?
- How can organizations learn from this pandemic to advance their services?
Recommended Resources:
Communicate the Right Way, Anticipate a Continuously Evolving Future, 9 Tips for Leader Communication During Disruption, & Intentional Communication Starts with WhyRelated Podcast Episodes: Intentional Communication Starts with Why, Move Forward By Doing the Next Right Thing, & Anticipate a Continuously Evolving Future
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented change for schools all over the country. Education has been forced to transform before our eyes. Our schools are rising to the challenge, serving as a model for change and transition, despite the obstacles. Casey Blochowiak shares how leaders in her district made decisions that prioritized service and learning to support their quick and successful transition to virtual learning and work.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What learning practices were implemented that prepared leaders and employees to transition to virtual work and learning?
- How can school districts use data and measure success now that learning has gone virtual?
- How can leaders make decisions that sustain relationships during difficult times?
Recommended Resources: Leading and Managing Change, Why Organizational Change Fails, Phases of Individual Change, Leading Change with Empathy, & Where Are You Now, and Where Are You Going?
Times of crisis often come with tough decisions for leaders, like the pressure to cut costs. And while budget cuts are something no leader wants to have to do, Quint Studer points out there’s an opportunity here organizations will want to seize. In this episode, Janet and Quint discuss how leaders can cut costs in practical ways and the unique opportunities we can glean from crisis times.
This episode will address questions such as:
- What advice do you give to leaders as they face declining budgets and resources?
- What are the practical ways leaders can cut costs?
- What opportunities should leaders take advantage of in the wake of crisis-related budget cuts?
Recommended Resources:
Be Bold About Action, What the Best Leaders Do to Communicate with Employees During Critical Times, Improvement & Innovation, & Anticipating Change
As a leader, authenticity increases the likelihood that those we lead will believe us and follow our requests. Becoming an authentic leader is not necessarily easy, but the concept is simple. People can be committed to and passionate about something, but this by itself is not enough. Authenticity is more than when we believe in what we say or act in a way that is consistent with our beliefs. We may stand up and say what we truly believe without being authentic if our actions are self-serving. Sometimes people who lead with strong beliefs can be inauthentic when they always see their way as the right way. During this episode, Janet connects to the foundation of authenticity: self-awareness and offers 6 actions to practice if you want to become an authentic leader.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it really mean to be authentic?
- Why is self-awareness work necessary for authenticity?
- How do self-serving actions negatively impact the team?
Recommended Resources: Expressing Gratitude, Emotional Intelligence, Leading with Emotional Intelligence: Leadership Challenge & True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership
Nothing stays the same. In fact, if we keep doing things the same way we’ve always done them, it’s likely our performance will decline. Change is the only constant in our organizations and in life, and for most, change is uncomfortable. For organizations to stay relevant and innovative, teams must work through fears quickly, and to do so, leaders must make decisions and communicate these decisions by connecting the mind and the heart. On today’s show, Janet discusses 3 leadership characteristics necessary for managing continuously changing organizations.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it mean to be an authentic leader?
- Why does connecting the mind and the heart motivate teams?
- How do we move conversations back to the point?
Recommended Resources: Communicating Change, Guiding Your Team Through Change, Phases of Organizational Change, Why Organizational Change Fails
Dr. JoAnn Sternke returns from episode #35 Pursue Performance Excellence, to reveal the most common questions she is hearing from our education partners and share her expertise and experience around how to effectively communicate during difficult times. JoAnn explains in situations like we are currently facing, no one has all of the answers, leaders can be most impactful by focusing on what needs to be communicated most and be very intentional about that. She also shares a message from the perspective of a former Superintendent to the community, and her key words for leaders in all organizations right now.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does using Key Words at Key Times help during a crisis?
- What message can we send as Superintendents to communities at this time?
- Why is it so important to focus on finding a hero right now?
Recommended Resources: Accelerate Your Communication, Key Words at Key Times, Cascading Communication, & It’s All About Relationships
Quint Studer joins us on the podcast today to share his insight and talk about a recent article he wrote, What Churchill Can Teach Us About Defeating Coronavirus. Quint explains why leaders like Churchill are able to inspire and motivate their teams to keep going, even when the challenge they face seems impossible. From history to communication, Quint provides valuable leadership advice for those leading teams during uncertain times.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we learn from Winston Churchill to face our current circumstances?
- What are the positive characteristics of role model leaders in a crisis?
- What are Quint Studer’s leadership tips for our listeners?
Recommended Resources: What Churchill Can Teach Us About Defeating Coronavirus,The Power of Perspective, Accountability, & Finding the Right Communication Method
As parents, students, and employees within the School District of Menomonee Falls began preparing for the effects of COVID19, Superintendent, Corey Galla, reflects on the remarkableness of his entire staff to come together and accept the challenges they were facing. Rather than focusing on their anxieties, teams across the entire school system got together to identify problems, solutions, and use their guiding principles to make decisions with student safety as their number one priority. Under Corey’s leadership, SDMF saw a culture of people that stepped up to write a beautiful story in a difficult time. But even Corey will tell you, there was no way they could have accomplished what they have if they were only reliant on their leadership team, the culture of their organization has been foundational for serving in times of rapid change and uncertainty.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does establishing a mission and a vision for the moment provide clarity and direction for your teams?
- What are the effects of establishing a can-do culture?
- Why is leadership more than a title?
Recommended Resources: Standards and Values, Transparency, Stoplight Report, A Time Sensitive Situation Analysis, Ownership of Organizational Goals, Are You Leading Your Work?
Healthcare professionals across the country and the world are maintaining a “Warrior Mentality” as they head to the frontlines of the COVID19 pandemic. On today’s episode, Rich Bluni, with more than 25 years of nursing, risk management, and leadership experience, shares his perspective on the frontline professionals who are committed to a heroic service during a very challenging time. Whether you work in healthcare, are close to someone who does, or are just feeling a little anxious about today’s environment, Rich shares his experience and honest advice for dealing with fear and anxiety.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How are healthcare workers coping with the current conditions?
- What can people do to deal with their anxieties?
- Why is it important to focus on stories and gratitude to lift others up?
Recommended Resources: Expressing Gratitude, The Power of Storytelling, Inspired Nurse Community & Inspired Nurse by Rich Bluni
How engaged is your workforce in times of crisis? Have you helped them define what success looks like? Have you defined what customer success looks like? In this episode, Dale Shaver, Director of Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land, reveals how his organization’s investment in culture has paid dividends during the uncertainty surrounding COVID 19. While people are feeling anxious and overwhelmed by change, Dale encourages leaders to be empathetic, trust your team, and make the best decisions you can.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
* How can you make decisions when you don’t have all of the information?
* Why was customer service and employee engagement a priority? How did that help people prepare for the impacts of COVID 19?
* How can you avoid communication fatigue?
Recommended Resources: Cascading the Building Blocks of Service Excellence, Leader Connection Questions, Boost the Employee Experience, Analyze the Employee Experience
As we all began to experience the COVID 19 pandemic, Dr. Natalie Harder and her team at South Louisiana Community College sprang into action. SLCC was able to have 95% of their courses online and ready for students within 48 hours and enabled 90% of their staff to work remotely within 24 hours. Natalie joins us on the podcast this week to discuss how her team was able to make the necessary shifts to support students and staff in the most efficient way.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
* What helped make the transition to online work and instruction successful?
* How did people come together while transitioning to virtual work?
* What effect do values and culture have on leading in times of uncertainty?
Recommended Resources: Use Standards of Service Excellence, Why Do Values Matter?, Key Words at Key Times At a Glance, Leadership Challenge: Leader Connection Questions
Basil Kuloba used his experience with math and science to develop a much-needed nonprofit organization, INERTIA, which has quickly become the largest after school program in Escambia County Florida. Basil joins Janet on the show today to share his story of blending his passion and entrepreneurial skills to start a successful organization.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do interaction and connection improve learning outcomes?
- What was the biggest obstacle Basil faced while building a successful organization?
- What qualities or skills create a successful entrepreneur?
Recommended Learning: UWF Stories of Impact: Basil Kuloba & The Strengths Advantage: Using Work Strengths
As we close the first quarter of a new decade, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on the past decade before planning for the next ten years in front of us. Are you where you thought you would be right now? As the decades keep passing by, what can we do to ensure we achieve the goals that will matter to us most in life? How do we know we are living a life we will one day look back on and be proud? Today, Janet Pilcher focuses on what to consider as we set goals for a meaningful life.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we ensure we achieve the goals that will matter most to us in life?
- What should we consider as we set goals for ourselves?
- Why should you push yourself to set more challenging goals?
Recommended Learning: 11 Questions to Help You Set Meaningful Goals for The Next Decadeby Scott Mautz, & Set Aligned Goals
While attending a company event, Janet Pilcher had the opportunity to sit down with Jim Roth, co-founder, and CEO of Huron Consulting Group, to discuss how we prepare clients for their future. Jim’s leadership positions Huron to be highly committed to hiring talented people, building an engaged work environment, and serving clients with the highest level of service. Jim is a trusted advisor to many organizational CEOs around the world, and many of us at Huron.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders prepare their teams for an ever-changing future?
- What does Huron do to prepare its clients to own their own future?
- Why is it important to expose yourself to a variety of people, cultures, and perspectives?
Recommended Learning: The Future is Dodgeball by: Andy Kessler, Execute Well for Better Results, What’s Under the Rock, and Boost the Employee Experience
In a world where we no longer view human connections as natural, and instead, insist on using technology, even in the presence of others, Dr. Janet Pilcher encourages her listeners to get off their devices and start talking to people. Research tells us that people in general feel worse and less connected when they mix face-to-face communication with digital socializing compared to solely socializing in person. When we intentionally create ways to engage with each other, learn from each other, and laugh with each other we are better able to build an innovative future together.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does relying on digital communication affect our happiness?
- What can we do to intentionally communicate with those around us?
- Why should we intentionally engage in situations to talk to others and learn something new?
Recommended Learning: The Future is Dodgeball by: Andy Kessler, & Digitally Connected, Socially Disconnection: The Effects of Relying on Technology Rather than Other Peopleby: Kushlev, Proulx, & Dunn & Networking, & Tips for Attending a Networking Event
Utilizing social media platforms is a natural way to enhance transparency. On a personal level, people use social media to connect with others and stimulate conversations. In time, organizations have recognized the many benefits of using social media to humanize their brand and connect with their communities. If you’re wondering why using social media is critical for organizations, research reveals a lack of transparency on social media leaves 86% of people likely to choose a competitor. On the show today, Charleigh Kennedy joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss how organizations build relationships with their community using open, honest, and authentic communication on social media.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does an organization decide what they want their personality or brand to be?
- What does it look like for organizations to be transparent on social media?
- What does lack of transparency from an organization look like on social media?
Recommended Learning: Using Social Media to Increase Transparency, & #BrandsGetReal: Social Media & the Evolution of Transparency
Every day we are customers to someone we do business with. We buy groceries, fill our cars with gas, dine at restaurants, engage with retail services, and do business with professional service firms. We often remember the negative interactions more than the positive ones, and it may only take one negative interaction for us to shift to another brand or company. As you listen to this episode and reflect on services you’ve received, ask yourself, how do our experiences as customers influence the work we do each day? What can we learn from those experiences to provide excellent customer service to those we serve?
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does employee engagement affect the customer experience?
- What are 3 powerful must-dos for providing excellent customer service?
- Why should managers approach customer complaints with compassion and empathy?
Recommended Learning: 5’ – 10’ Rule, Use Standards of Service Excellence, Service Recovery, Compassionate Empathy: From Feeling to Action
The way people learn today is continuously evolving, and with the rise of technology people expect answers at their fingertips. The life of a professional skill is much shorter today than it was in the past. Mandy Gagliardi, the Senior Media Manager on our team joins Janet today to share the way she focuses on the customer experience to guide her work. As we design our digital learning system, Mandy listens to our partners and develops solutions for us to make their lives easier. Our team understands we are not only meeting the needs of today’s learners, but we are also anticipating the needs of tomorrow’s learners as well.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What has changed about the way people want to learn?
- How did we overcome barriers and shift our approach in response to customer demands?
- How do we anticipate customer learning needs as we plan our future system adjustments?
Recommended Learning: Customer Experience vs. Customer Service vs. Customer Care & Improvement and Innovation
Does the path you are traveling have a heart? Courage is the quality that distinguishes great leaders from excellent managers. In this episode, Janet discusses why courage is vital to a leader’s success, what can happen when a leader lacks courage, and what we can do when we find ourselves on the wrong path.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How does courage influence our ability to lead?
- What does it mean to be a courageous leader?
- Why is courage in leadership important?
Recommended Learning: Courage: The Defining Characteristic of Leaders by George Bill & What's Courage Have to Do With Leadership? by Dagmar Meachem
John Maxwell’s Law of the Lid explains that leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. Today’s guest, Nannette Johnston, believes it’s true; people can only rise as high as the lid of their leader. Not only does she recognize the importance of professional development for herself, she knows the importance of building leadership in others. Nannette is an award-winning, retired Superintendent from Hardin County Schools in Kentucky. She was awarded Superintendent of the Year and continues to provide expert training and support through on-going leadership development programs. Under her leadership, the district developed and implemented the Work Ethic Certification Program which serves as the state model.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What three leadership skills are most important for executives to have to help their teams achieve results?
- When you work with new leaders, what do they reveal as their most pressing leadership development needs?
- How has Nannette achieved the success that has led her to be recognized as an outstanding leader?
Recommended Learning: How Focus Leads to Results & Be the Model
We all have our favorite brands, but what makes them our favorite? Is it because we place value in the organization? Is it the way we are treated by the company? How do we know if the company is accountable? More and more organizations have been making it a priority to increase connection and invite customers to take an inside look. Why? Because increasing transparency between an organization and its customers build trust and credibility increasing customer loyalty.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do organizations serve their customers well?
- What can organizations do to increase transparency?
- Why should transparency be a core value for organizations?
Recommended Learning: Transparency & 5 Examples of Companies Succeeding Through Transparency & Operational Transparency & Interpret Top Box Percentages
How can school districts and school boards work together to achieve the goals of the schools and the surrounding community? Faith VanderHorst, School Board President from the School District of Menomonee Falls, joins Janet on this episode to talk about how the relationship between the superintendent and the board significantly contributes to the success of the district.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What’s most important for superintendents to understand when working with the board to have the greatest opportunity to be successful?
- How do goals and measures help build relationships between boards and superintendents?
- We focus our work with organizations using an improvement framework and mindset? What does that mean to boards?
Recommended Learning: Build Strong Board Relationships & Rounding with the Board, & How to Run a Great Board Meeting Part II: Setting the Perfect Agenda, & Communication & Connection: Forces for Greatness
Sabrina Hebeler, Michigan native, and Chief of Staff at Michigan State University for the division of Infrastructure Planning and Facilities joins Janet Pilcher to discuss one of the key tenets of Sabrina’s role; to help everyone understand and follow the strategic direction of IPF. This comes from her passion for helping people feel successful, feel valued and love their job. Using specific tactics Sabrina supported the breaking down of silos on the executive team to help MSU do the most important things to achieve success.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How is an executive leadership team essential to building a good organization?
- What are the core actions MSU IPF has taken to advance the executive leadership team and move the organization to excellence?
- What is Sabrina’s most important advice for organizations focused on continuous improvement and performance excellence?
Recommended Learning: Leader Connection Questions, & Celebrate Wins that Matter & Pause, Perspective, Process & It’s All About Relationships
As you get ready to put 2019 to rest and welcome in 2020, Dr. Janet Pilcher reminds you to reflect on the moments of joy, and the moments of sorrow over the last year. It’s during those difficult times you can often learn the most about yourselves. This holiday season take a moment to appreciate and celebrate life and start the new year with great strength. If you don’t know where to start, you can’t go wrong with these 8 things dogs teach us!
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we transfer the joys and sorrows we’ve experienced to become better people?
- What can we learn from the most friendly and loyal species; the dog?
Recommended Learning: The Power of Perspective & Pause, Perspective, Process
Executive leaders are the role-models of an organization, responsible for establishing the culture and leading teams to be successful. During this episode, Dr. Natalie Harder, Chancellor of South Louisiana Community College joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to share her story and her secret for building kick-ass leadership teams. Dr. Harder has led her team through a historic merger with multiple campuses, successfully blended cultures, systems, processes, programs, and students all while maintaining a focus on making education available to everyone.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it mean to build strong leadership teams?
- How do you get executive leaders on board and aligned?
- What advice does Dr. Natalie Harder have for other executive leaders?
Recommended Learning: Trust: Consistency of Leadership & Creating the Best Executive Team & Ownership of Organizational Goals & Differentiating Staff Performance
As individuals strive for growth in their professional and personal lives, there is often a gap between where people are and where they want to be. While individuals are excited for growth and opportunities, this excitement can lead to anxiety and tension. These feelings can cause people to give up and ignore opportunities to grow, or instead for motivation to work through the personal discomfort to achieve their goals. In this episode, Janet discusses how to do this difficult improvement work by focusing on the 4 phases of individual change as we face creative tension.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders manage their team members through the phases of individual change?
- How can we turn emotional tension into creative tension?
- What is the critical learning point for individuals?
Recommended Learning: Navigating Career Phases & Change Management V. Change Leadership & Looking in the Mirror: Could I Be the Problem?
When we establish recognition systems in our organizations or on our teams, we focus on employees by understanding what makes them shine and what keeps them engaged. Focusing on expressing appreciation for the contributions people make to our organizations motivates individuals to continue their hard work. Sincere appreciation changes the culture of the organization. It takes little time and has a tremendous impact on others. A culture of recognition is powerful and contagious.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we set up a system for recognizing employees to build a positive culture of appreciation and gratitude?
- What can I do to incorporate recognition as a habit for our team?
- How can I reward and recognize my team without blowing my budget?
Recommended Learning: Reward & Recognize & Ideas for Recognizing Your Employees & What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated &Thank You Notes Matter
Rewarding and recognizing the right behaviors and excellent performance isn’t just a nice thing to do. Lack of employee recognition is a top reason for employees leaving an organization. With recognition we are able to engage, retain, and motivate most employees to sustain high performance. Recognition is so important to an organization’s success, it’s our ninth principle and the glue that holds all of our principles together. Recognizing others takes little time and pays great dividends.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we get recognition to stick in our organizations?
- What is the value of recognition to our employees and organizations?
- How does recognition encourage high performance?
Recommended Learning: Reward & Recognize & Ideas for Recognizing Your Employees & What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated & What’s 1 Tip Reason for Employees Quitting Their Jobs?
Several years ago, the decision was made to transform TeacherReady, a Studer Education online self-paced teacher certification program, to meet students where they are today. Transforming TeacherReady wasn’t something the organization took lightly, Dr. Julie Kunselman was instrumental in helping to review significant data and research to revolutionize this program for the future. As with any organization, they had to work through barriers to change to realize this incredible opportunity to serve more of their customers. Dr. Kunselman joins the show today to uncover how TeacherReady meets people where they are, rather than where it’s most convenient for them.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important to meet your customers where they are today?
- What effects does transformational change have on an organization?
- Why revolutionize a standard practice within your organization?
Recommended Learning: How Leaders Can Solve the Dual Transformation Equation And Turn Disruption Into Growth & Innovator’s Challenge: Get Comfortable with Change
Organizations are facing more pressure than ever to transform their practices in order to improve their outcomes. Competition is fierce. The speed of information and higher demands from consumers forces leaders to shift the way change is approached. Commonly, there is much anxiety attached to change, people like to do things, “the way they’ve always done it,” but that’s not the attitude that will achieve success in today OR tomorrow’s world. Individuals, leaders, and organizations need to view change as a positive opportunity to take their mission to a higher level. Focus on the goal, not the barrier.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does change look and feel like?
- How do we shift the way we think about change?
- Why must organizations adapt to continuous change rather than episodic change?
- What are the 3 most common barriers to organizational change?
Recommended Learning: Anticipating Change&Building the Case for Change&How Do We Get Better at Change?
At some time in your professional or personal life, you have probably experienced the let down of an empty promise. It’s also likely you’ve promised a friend or a colleague something you’ve let slip through the cracks at least once or twice. These empty promises, no matter how small, erode trust and jeopardize relationships with others. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher digs deep into what causes us to make these empty promises and how we can choose our words and commitments carefully in the future.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why don’t people live up to their promises and commitments?
- Why do people make empty promises?
- How to empty promises from leaders affect team outcomes and trust?
Recommended Learning:7 Reasons Why People Tend to Make Empty Promises by Jessica Grover & Trust: Consistency of Leadership
How do you turn passionate employees and leaders into people who have the ability to make a difference not only in their work, but in their communities? Janet is joined by Dr. Pat Greco today to talk about continuous improvement. Pat is an award-winning retired superintendent who served 38 years in public education and has been a champion of Evidence-Based Leadership℠. She shares her advice and experience on executing the process of improvement within organizations.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- If leaders want to start building an improvement mindset in their organization, where should they start?
- How do you actually make the difference, and how do you help people make the difference in the organization?
- How do you make continuous improvement stick over time?
Recommended Learning:Systems, Sea Otters, and Soil & Leading Change & PDSA Model & Phases of Organizational Change
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As a leader do you tell your teams, “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.”? Or maybe as an employee you’ve worked for a leader who believes in this philosophy. While presenting solutions to problems is ideal, it’s not always possible. So, what can leaders do to create safe environments for teams to bring problems forward, while avoiding being bombarded by complaints? In this episode, Dr. Pilcher encourages team members use key words, take ownership, and bring complex problems to their leaders for guidance.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can you raise a valid concern without complaining?
- What do we do with people who think their job is to complain?
- How can teams bring solutions forward proactively without depending on their leader?
Recommended Learning: The Problem with Saying “Don’t Bring Me Problems, Bring Me Solutions”By Sabina Nawaz & Leader Connection Questions
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Changes in an organization can occur that team leaders may have little control over. What we can control is how we adapt and react to the change in our daily business. When we utilize team meetings with structured, thoughtful discussions, and analysis, someone will propose a winning solution or solutions for the team to agree on. Using a problem-solving agenda, conversations stay focused and teams can avoid falling into a pit of negativity and conflict.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we shift from unproductive meetings to meetings where we can solve problems with our teams?
- What can you do when a team meeting has turned to arguments and negativity rather than problem solving?
- How do you keep teams focused on finding a solution?
Recommended Learning:Improve Your Meetings & Guidelines for Effective Meetings & Tips for Effective Listening with Teams & Leading Effective Meetings
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For the first time in history we are operating with five generations co-existing in the workforce, and there are more young professionals joining every day. Dr. Pilcher talks with Ruthie Speight, the Executive Director of Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP) about their mission and impact in our community. PYP provides young professionals with a community where they can make a difference, connect with like-minded individuals, and learn new skills. Ruthie also reveals the top three skills young professionals want to develop and the top three things they’re looking for in their work environments.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the purpose of Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP)?
- What leadership skills do young professionals want to develop?
- What do young professionals want from their work environments?
Contact Ruthie Speight, the Executive Director of Pensacola Young Professionals at ruthie@pensacolayp.com
Recommended Learning:Enhancing Engagement in the 5-Generation Workforce & Boost the Employee Experience
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Service excellence is more than just being polite or being ready to offer the unsatisfied customer a discount. Join Donna Kirby and Janet Pilcher this week as they conclude their conversation about the value of service excellence. Donna Kirby reveals her top 3 tactics for applying customer service excellence within your organization and how to treat your organization like a living room.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can leaders build a culture around service?
- What 3 tactics does Donna Kirby recommend for applying service excellence in your organization?
- How are the employee experience and customer experience intertwined?
Recommended Learning:Hiring for the Right Fit, Ideas for Recognizing Your Employees, What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated
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Service Excellence differentiates your organization from others in your industry. Great leaders place importance on how to become the best service provider for what they do. Donna Kirby returns this week to discuss why prioritizing service excellence is necessary for success and what core drivers keep her focused on service excellence.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why is it important to focus on service excellence?
- How does customer experience drive finance?
- What keeps 96% of Blue Wahoo’s employees returning there for work year after year?
We will continue the conversation with Donna Kirby in episode #42 by revealing 3 tactics you can use to build a culture around service.
Recommended Learning: Service Excellence Standards, Reward & Recognize, Actions of Excellence
Donna Kirby, the Vice President of Operations at the Pensacola Blue Wahoo’s AA Baseball team, joins Janet Pilcher this week to talk about Donna’s journey to becoming a leader of best practices in minor league baseball. Donna and her team at the Blue Wahoo’s stadium are sought after as an example for creating the ultimate fan experience.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the passion behind Donna Kirby’s work?
- How can a focus on customer service improve life in your community?
- What creates loyal fans of an organization?
We will continue the conversation with Donna Kirby in episode #41 by discussing the value of great service.
Recommended Reading: Exceed With Delight
Recommended Watching: Defining Service Excellence
Many successful, hardworking Americans experience burnout more than once during their careers, even people who are passionate about what they do. High performers can be obsessed with achieving excellence and exceeding results to the point of exhaustion. And when the candles are burning at both ends for too long, we do ourselves, our clients, and our team a disservice. Begin reducing stress by taking small steps to prevent overload burnout.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is overload burnout?
- How does being overly stressed affect our teams and productivity?
- What can we do to monitor our burnout levels?
Recommended Reading: From Hopeless to Champion & Is it Really Urgent?
The way we provide feedback makes a difference in how people receive and act on the feedback. If our goal is to provide feedback to change behavior for the right reasons, we need to message our feedback in the right way. Dr. Pilcher dissects real-life situations where feedback was given that wasn’t asked for, or that hurts the receiver, and offers solutions and tips to improve the interaction.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we provide feedback that changes behavior?
- What happens when we send emotionally charged responses?
- How does aggressive language negatively affect the receiver?
Recommended Reading: Three Positives for Every One Constructive Feedback & Provide Feedback that Inspires& Key Words at Key Times & Plus/Delta
There’s a fine line between giving feedback for improvements and leaving an employee feeling criticized and deflated. Few of us respond well to someone telling us what to do or how to fix ourselves. Yet when feedback is provided in the right way, individuals are motivated to learn and improve. To create excellent organizations providing others with feedback is necessary. Reshape your feedback conversations to focus on achieving a positive outcome.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the most productive way to give feedback?
- How does feedback fuel the achievement of excellence?
- How can leaders use feedback to inspire a change in behavior?
Recommended Reading: The Feedback FallacyBy Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall
Recommended Learning: Three Positives for Every One Constructive Feedback
Making intentional connections with employees is especially important when the employee is within the first 30 and 90 days. Research shows that up to 22% of turnover takes place within an employee’s first 45 days of employment. 30-day conversations reinforce that leaders are committed to retaining the new employee and provide leaders with a fresh perception of the organization. This week Dr. Pilcher dives into what a 30-day conversation is and then provides a real-life example with Studer Education℠ new hire Beka Padilla.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can I build a relationship with my newly hired employees?
- How can I ensure new employees are engaged and connecting with the organization’s culture?
- How can I understand the challenges new hires are facing?
Recommended Reading: 30-Day and 90-Day Conversations, How to be Intentional and Most Effective with 30/90-Day Conversations
Additional Resources: 30-Day and 90-Day Conversations Tracking Form
Why is a commitment to excellence important as a leader and as an organization? Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award recipient, Dr. JoAnn Sternke, to get her perspective on what it takes to pursue performance excellence. As a superintendent of Pewaukee School District, JoAnn led the organization to receive a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. In this episode, she reveals the key to seeing results and getting the entire group of leaders moving forward.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What do great leaders focus on?
- How can you approach the organization’s goals more systematically?
- What has the greatest impact on moving the organization forward?
- What is the significance of using the Baldridge Framework along with the Nine Principles®?
Recommended Reading: Case Study: 10-Year Quality Journey Leads to Baldridge Honor for Wisconsin School District
Recommended Learning: Leading Change
It’s difficult to become a great organization, and even more difficult to sustain that success. This week, Dr. Pilcher explores the 5 stages of defeat as identified in Jim Collin’s book ‘How the Mighty Fall’ and what you can do as a leader to get up before you fall too far.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Why do successful organizations fall?
- How can you get up before we fall too far?
- How do you lead your team to work with relentless resolve every day to achieve results, manage through difficulties and come out better at the other end?
Recommended Reading:How the Mighty Fall by: Jim Collins
Recommended Learning: Reflective Practice – Do More of What’s Working
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How can organizations set themselves apart and provide their stakeholders with unmistakable value? It all starts with effective leadership and a culture focused on purpose. Dr. KK Owen joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss how she helps organizations mold a culture around unmistakable value in real life.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is ‘unmistakable value’?
- How do organization’s mold a culture around unmistakable value?
- What leadership characteristics make an effective leader?
- How do you start a culture change?
Recommended Reading:Improve Performance with Leader Led Conversations
Recommended Learning: Executive Leader Reflection
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Are you really listening to your employees? Many employees don’t think so, in fact, more than half of employees say their company fails to act on good ideas, and a third of employees feel their ideas are ignored. Why? Because leaders demand action without input, receive feedback and avoid making changes, and lack a clear process for managing ideas. It’s crucial for leaders to let employees speak and pay ridiculous attention to what they are saying so teams are motivated to collaborate towards a solution and action plan.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can you support an employee to change their behavior?
- Why is there a disconnect between leader and employee perceptions of quality communication?
- How does listening foster team collaboration?
- Why do some team members have deep convictions to their ideas?
Recommended Reading: To Change Someone’s Mind, Stop Talking and Listen By Nilofer Merchant
Recommended Learning: Conduct a Listening Tour
One of a leader’s greatest responsibilities is to ensure teams are engaged and productive. People are motivated to increase productivity when leaders take time to get to know them personally, make them feel comfortable, and help remove barriers in the workplace. When we connect with employees in ways that are meaningful to them, they become more engaged, productivity and profits increase, meanwhile, turnover, absenteeism, and shrinkage decrease.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we gather feedback from our employees?
- Is there a way to establish genuine relationships with others at work?
- Is it important to have a good relationship with coworkers and subordinates?
- How do I prioritize which processes in the organization need improving?
Recommended Reading: Meet 5 Critical Employee Needs w/ Leader Connection Questions
Recommended Learning: Leader Connection Questions
Thriving workplaces depend on trust to continue to grow and excel. However, most of us can recognize; trust isn’t given, its earned. Building positive relationships in the workplace lays the groundwork for trusting teams that can perform and adapt at high levels. When leaders start prioritizing trust in the workplace, their teams will follow.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do you create a trusting workplace?
- How can you build positive relationships?
- Why should you be interested in learning more about your team members?
Recommended Learning:Trust: Consistency of Leadership. 3 Ways to Build Trust
Recommended Tool: Emotional Bank Account: Deposits Vs. Withdrawals
Receiving feedback is an emotional experience, it’s often difficult to take in. Whether the feedback is positive or negative, we humans are quick to respond emotionally, sometimes overreacting, even to the point of denying the data is accurate. Feedback is also a powerful gift, it helps organizations understand what they are doing well, and areas in which they’re falling short. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher coaches us to work through useful feedback to honor the information that is helpful, without losing our cool.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we use feedback to help us improve?
- What types of feedback should you pay attention to, and what can you ignore?
- How can you gain additional input after feedback was previously provided?
Recommended Learning: Receiving Results
Recommended Video: Emotional Reaction to Results
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Organizations perform at different levels, some are poor, others good, and very few are excellent. What makes an organization excellent? It’s their relentless commitment to continuous improvement. Great organizations are willing to get their hands dirty and face the brutal facts to improve, even when things are going well.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is an improvement mindset, and how can I adopt one?
- How is good the enemy of great?
- What keeps people from facing the brutal facts to create actions for change?
Recommended Reading:Good to Great Fast Company Article By: Jim Collins
Recommended Learning:Are We Just Documenting or Improving Processes
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Is it really enough to provide good, or even, very good customer service? When your organization treats service recovery as just another refund, it misses a valuable growth opportunity. Excellent service recovery turns people with a poor experience into your biggest brand advocates. Listen now to hear the 4 steps to customer recovery.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is the difference between good service recovery and excellent service recovery?
- What steps can you take to recover from a bad customer experience?
- How can your organization own a customer complaint, gain insight to improve, and keep its reputation intact?
Recommended Reading:Turn Those Upset Customers Around: Best Practices for Customer Service Recovery
Recommended Learning: Build A Culture Around Service
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Despite best efforts, sometimes we fail at providing the outstanding service our customers deserve. During these times, a service recovery process can turn a negative customer experience into an opportunity to satisfy the individual and for the organization to improve. Using a real-life example, Dr. Pilcher identifies six actions to sincere service recovery your customers will thank you for.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can organizations recover from less than outstanding service?
- What are the best practices of high-level service recovery?
- How can we use customer feedback as a training opportunity for the organization?
Recommended Reading:Turn Those Upset Customers Around: Best Practices for Customer Service Recovery
Recommended Tool: Service Excellence Self-Assessment
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Why do leaders need to address toxic behavior immediately? Because negative behavior drags the entire organization down. 66% of employees who deal with a toxic team member said their performance declined in a recent HBR Study. In this episode, we reveal an approach you can use to support low-solid performers, the 8 types of toxic employees, and 4 steps to dealing with toxic employees.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we support a low-solid performer to help them move up the performance curve?
- How do we have difficult conversations with toxic employees?
- What can we do with low performing employees who don’t change their behavior?
Addressing Poor Performance is the final episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Reading:Harvard Research Proves Toxic Employees Destroy Your Culture and Bottom Line By: Marissa Levin
Recommended Tool: Conducting a D.E.S.K. Conversation & Action Plan
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It’s the leader’s responsibility to provide a structure within the organization to help people know when they’re not performing at their best. When the right system is in place, leaders can support their employees in owning their own performance. Sometimes that support may appear in the form of transitioning someone to a different role or out of the organization. In this episode, we address actions leaders can take to provide every opportunity for employees to be successful.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What can we do when someone works hard with a good attitude and is not able to achieve results?
- What actions should leaders be taking to help employees gain the best opportunity to succeed?
- When is it time to shift someone to a new position or shift them out of the organization entirely?
The Best Chance for Success is the ninth episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Tool:Performance Plan Template
Recommended Learning: Correct Because You Care
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How do the varying human performance levels affect the overall organizational results? What happens when leaders avoid managing employee performance levels? We achieve higher performance with less variation when we tighten the performance curve. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher addresses how leaders have an important role in managing performance to keep results moving in a positive direction.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is a performance wall, and why do organizations hit it?
- Who are the only people who can do something about low performers and keeping the organization from hitting the wall?
- How do I get everyone on board?
- What happens when our high and solid performing employees get tired of carrying low performers?
Hitting the Wall is the eighth episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Tool: Performance Plan Template
Recommended Learning: Correct Because You Care&Pushing Through the Wall
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60 – 70% of individuals in our organizations are solid performers, making them the backbone of every organization. When we give them our best, they will give their best to us and our organizations. This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses how to connect with your solid performers. When you give solid performers feedback the right way, a relationship is built that will retain, motivate, and inspire your direct reports.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can I help develop and provide support to my solid performing employees?
- How do I retain the majority of my direct reports?
- What is the best way to provide feedback to my solid performers?
Connecting with Solid Performers is the seventh episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Reading: The Feedback Fallacy By: Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall
Recommended Learning: What High Performers Look Like – How to spot them & not them &
High Solid Performer Support
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Are you a high performer? Do you want to retain your high performing team members? This week, Dr. Pilcher offers an approach for connecting with your high performers and Erica Callaway joins her as a guest to model what this connection should sound like. Meeting with high performers the right way, so they know they are valued, moves the organization to achieve results.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we retain our high performing employees?
- What should a conversation with a high performer sound like?
- What are high performers looking for from their leaders?
Connecting with High Performers is the sixth episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Tool:High Performer Re-Recruitment Conversation Template
Recommended Learning:Re-recruit High Performers
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Low performers take up the majority of our time as leaders and cause their better performing coworkers stress. Today we address the types of low performing behaviors and what happens if we ignore them.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we enable low performers?
- What are low performer behaviors?
- What about mean employees?
Low Performers: Who Are They? is the fifth episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Tool: Differentiating Staff: Leadership Challenge
Recommended Learning: Low Performer Conversation
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While we navigate through work and life, we may occasionally find ourselves in over our heads. The harder we try to fight, the deeper we fall. For leaders Dr. Pilcher recommends 4 ways to help your solid performers avoid the quicksand and an additional 3 ways to avoid stepping into the quicksand yourself.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we guide our teams to perform and persist during challenging times?
- What can you do if you’re in over your head, trapped as if you’re stuck in quicksand?
- How can you help team members who are having trouble?
Don't Fall in the Quicksand is the fourth episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Reading: Helping a Coworker Who’s Stressed Outby: Liane Davey
Recommended Learning: Low Solid Performer Support& Low Solid Performer Conversation Guide
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Middle solid performers make up half of our organization and have a lot to offer. It’s important for leaders to give them direction and opportunities to grow. Today we focus on 5 actions you can take to best support middle performers.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What do middle performers want from their leaders?
- How can you help middle performers progress up the performance curve?
- How can you provide middle performers with the right feedback?
Solid Performers: Who Are They? is the third episode in a series describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Reading: The Power of Moving the Middle: Transforming Middle Performers Into High Achievers by: Jack Spartz
Recommended Learning: Differentiating Staff Performance
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When we speak of performance, we think of both an individual’s will and their skill. Do the members of our teams have the desire to do their best work and continue to get better? Today, we focus on the tremendous impact we can have on organizations when we have strong will or fire in our belly.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What does it mean to have a ‘fire in the belly’?
- What do I do with a high performer who poisons the work environment with negativity?
- What is more important than passion?
The Fire in the Belly is the second episode in a series of episodes describing the performance curve and performance conversations, beginning with Ep. #16 High Performers: Who Are They?.
Recommended Reading: The Power of Moving the Middle: Transforming Middle Performers Into High Achievers by: Jack Spartz
Recommended Learning: Recognizing Low Will
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What are the 5 characteristics of high performers and why they are crucial to keep on your team? High performers do their best and their best makes a difference; they deserve for us to give our best to them. Learn how to identify your high performers, and how to retain them using the 3 techniques provided this week.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do high performing employees act?
- How do we retain our highest performing employees?
- What do high performers want for from their leaders?
High Performers: Who Are They? is the first episode in a series of episodes describing the performance curve and performance conversations.
Recommended Reading: The Irreplaceables: Uncovering the Real Retention Crisis in America’s Urban Schools
Recommended Learning: Themes of High Performing Employees
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Dr. Pilcher explains what an emotional bank account is, and why it’s necessary to maintain a positive balance with your teams and coworkers in this week's episode. Master how you can provide feedback for improvement without damaging your relationships and find out 7 ways to nurture an emotional bank account with your team.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can I develop positive relationships with my team?
- How do I provide constructive feedback to my team without ruining our relationship?
- How do you balance completing tasks with maintaining relationships?
Recommended Reading: Leadership: The Emotional Bank Account by: Lucas Pols
Recommended Learning: Emotional Bank Account
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Through kindness we have a greater opportunity to achieve higher results. Individuals who combine their skills with kindness and drive can’t be stopped. Studies even show leaders who project warmth are more effective than leaders that lead with toughness. This week, Dr. Pilcher provides you with 8 quick actions you can do immediately to accelerate kindness. Practicing kindness is one small thing, that has really big results.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do kindness and warmth accelerate trust?
- How can we intentionally practice kindness?
- How can you change people’s attitudes and beliefs?
Recommended Reading: Connect, Then Lead by Amy J.C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, & John Neffinger via HBR
Recommended Learning: Exceed with Delight
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Can you recall a time when you’ve been frustrated with another department in your organization, and you were told nothing can be done to solve the problem? Are leaders fighting about who is supposed to be responsible for something and blaming others when things don’t get done? The best solutions come from the people doing the work day in and day out. This episode focuses on breaking down barriers to improve workplaces. Learn how can you utilize your people to improve processes and systems that aren’t working.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we shift away from a silo thinking mindset in our organizations?
- How can we solve problems that cross multiple departments within an organization?
- How can you improve business or functional processes within an organization?
- What is a Barriers Team?
Recommended Reading: Breaking Down Silos By: John Kotter via Forbes
Recommended Learning: Are We Just Documenting or Improving Processes?
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This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses the common job we all come to work to do each day: Execute Well. Do we take quick decisive, meaningful actions every day? Or do we find ourselves waiting for our next assignment, redoing our work, or missing deadlines? Executing well plays a critical role in moving organizations forward and exceeding results. Dr. Pilcher recommends four actions for executing well in this week’s show.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we own the job, overcome obstacles, and meet deadlines?
- How can we stop focusing on what’s urgent and do what’s important?
- Who really needs to be involved in a meeting or decision?
- How is perfection the enemy of execution?
Recommended Reading: The Great Employee Handbook By: Quint Studer - Ch. 2 Execute Well
Recommended Learning: Disciplined Quarterly Cadence
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How can you avoid the trap of negative thinking? Overcoming obstacles is never easy, but when we don’t let shortcomings get (and keep) us down, we become more resilient. This week, Dr. Pilcher exposes how to eliminate this behavior from the workplace. This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How do we change our frame of mind to break this habit?
- How can we look beyond obstacles to press on towards goals?
- How can we take specific actions to stop this line of thinking?
Recommended Reading: The Great Employee Handbook By: Quint Studer
Recommended Learning: Victim Thinking
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This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses being an owner versus a renter. Pride in our organizations occurs when we take ownership of our roles, cultivating a positive environment so strong, it is no longer susceptible to negativity. This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What do leaders who take ownership look like?
- How can leaders create an environment that promotes ownership?
- How can you confront renter behavior?
Recommended Reading: Take Ownership of Your Actions by Taking Responsibility By: John Coleman
Recommended Learning: Be an Owner
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‘It’s not me, it’s them!’ – We’ve all heard it before, the blame game. But seriously, if they could just get their work done, I wouldn’t have to bring it up right? This default communication has lasting negative effects on team performance and results. Dr. Pilcher advises how to eliminate we/they behavior in the organization, and your life, for good. The results can be dramatic, imagine a positive culture where people take ownership. This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What is we/they and how does it affect our culture?
- How can we avoid pointing fingers?
- What are alternative ways of communicating a message?
Recommended Reading: Results That Last – Hardwiring Behaviors That Will Take Your Company to the Top
Recommended Learning: Eliminate We/They
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56% of American workers claim their boss is mildly or highly toxic. We all deserve to work for high performing leaders, but what can you do if this isn’t your experience at work? Do you grin and bear it? Quit? Confront the boss? To continue the discussion from episode 7 on poor work behavior, this week Dr. Pilcher addresses low performing leaders, from the employee’s perspective.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- What if your boss is a low performer?
- How can you be sure your boss is really the problem?
- How do I have tough conversations with a superior?
Recommended Reading: How Do You Know If You Work for a Toxic Manager? They Will Do Any of These 8 Things Daily by Marcel Schwantes
Recommended Learning: What if Your Boss is the Problem? & Know the Boss’s What
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How do you handle leaders who say they’re on board, but act like they’re not? Leadership team alignment is vital for high performing organizations to be successful. This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses how to address leaders who choose to deviate from strategy. Leaders who exhibit negative behaviors are noticeable by all employees and as a result are actively eroding the company culture.
This episode answers questions, such as:
- How do I confront negative attitudes in my executive team?
- What tactics won’t get leaders on board?
- When our leaders say they’re on board, how do we really know they’re on board with us?
Recommended Reading: Straight A Leadership: Alignment, Action, Accountability By: Quint Studer
Recommended Learning: Executive Leader Sabotage
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You’re probably familiar with the saying, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” but how is it that organizations cultivate a positive, inspired culture? And possibly more difficult, how can leaders turn a negative culture around? Dr. Pilcher explains the steps necessary to begin shifting the culture in the right direction. Our people determine our culture, it lives and evolves inside of us every day.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- Are your values walking the halls?
- Are your leaders living the values?
- Is your organization committed to excellence?
- What do employees envision to be the “right culture”?
Recommended Reading: A Culture of High Performance: Achieving Higher Quality at a Lower Cost By Quint Studer
Recommended Learning: Walking the Halls
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All of us are energized by something. It’s up to us to dig deeper within ourselves to stay connected to our passions as we live through new experiences. Dr. Pilcher returns to her tennis days from episode 4 Losing Our Way to show how she worked through her temporary loss of passion. She addresses the role leaders play to support team member’s passions.
This episode addresses questions, such as:
- How can we re-engage our passion?
- How can leaders identify a need for reigniting passion in their teams?
- How can leaders help their employees reengage and stay engaged at work?
Recommended Reading: Path to Success: 4 Ways to Reignite Your Passionby Lewis Howes
Recommended Learning: Connect to Purpose __________________________________________________________________
Anyone can fall victim of losing their passion at some point or another. Results from Gallup’s State of the American Workforce reveal disengagement at work happens to over 50% of employees. Yet organizations with higher employee engagement perform at higher levels, so what can leaders do to keep teams engaged. Dr. Pilcher refers to her days as a tennis enthusiast to demonstrate the struggle to maintain passion and how to help each other from losing our way.
This episode address questions, such as:
- What does it mean when we lose our passion?
- How do we reengage at work?
- How can leaders help employees reengage?
Recommended Reading: Gallup: State of the American Workforce
Recommended Learning: Connect to Purpose
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This episode is the final part of a three-part series. It introduces and gives a brief overview of Principles 7-9 of the Nine Principles®. These Principles are:
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Align Behaviors with Goals and Values.
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Communicate at All Levels.
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Recognize and Reward Success.
Recommended Reading: Hardwiring Excellence By: Quint Studer
Recommended Learning: Set Aligned Goals, Communicate What Matters, What Gets Recognized Gets Repeated
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This episode is part two of a three-part series. It introduces and gives a brief overview of Principles 4-6 of the Nine Principles®. Principles 4-6 are:
- Create and Develop Leaders
- Focus on Employee Engagement
- Build Individual Accountability
Recommended Reading: Set Up: Timeless Leadership Skills for your Success
By: Mark A. Noon, USAF (Ret.)
Recommended Learning: Conducting A Listening Tour, Leader Connection Questions, & What does Ownership Mean?
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This episode in one in a three-part series. It introduces and gives a brief overview of the first three of the Nine Principles®. The first three principles are:
- Commit to Excellence.
- Measure the Important Things.
- Build a Culture Around Service.
Recommended Learning: Commit to Excellence & Measuring What Matters & Why Do Values Matter?
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Dr. Janet Pilcher explains why she wanted to host a podcast, and what you can expect from the Accelerate Your Performance show.
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