Culture
Growing Resilience with Mindfulness
We were fortunate to host Shannon Speaks, MSSA, LISW-S, ACC on the Digital Leadership Academy webinar. Enjoy this guest blog on the topic "Growing Resilience with Mindfulness". In case you wondered if resilience is something you can grow, I gave it away in the title. It’s true! You can grow resilience. Consider this resiliency equation by Army Veteran & scholar Elizabeth Stanley: Stress + Recovery = RESILIENCE If you think about your life, it’s likely that one part of this equation is already covered…the stress part! A critical part of resilience is stress. But stress alone does not a resilient ...
Why is appreciation important in the workplace?
In our latest Digital Leadership Academy webinar, we explored the importance of appreciology within an organization or team. Why is appreciation so needed – and often so neglected – as a leadership skill? Let’s dive into the insights shared, including how to intentionally cultivate appreciology from the top-down, so your organization can thrive. Why One-Size-Fits-All Appreciation Falls Short Imagine this scenario: Lauren walks into work on her 40th birthday and finds a coffee mug emblazoned with the company’s logo and a small note inside. The mug is from her manager, acknowledging her birthday. Realizing she received the same gift on ...
Empowering Student Voices: Shaping School Culture and Community
In our recent Digital Leadership Academy Webinar, we explored the dynamic interplay between student voices and school leadership. Let’s dive into the insights shared, including why student voices matter, how to involve them in school decisions, and tips to better capture their perspectives. The Vital Role of Student Voices Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that students are primary stakeholders in the education system. Their experiences, needs, and points of view directly influence the effectiveness and relevance of a school district’s policies, programs, and practices. Moreover, their unique insights into their learning environments can offer valuable feedback for administrators; after all, ...
The Art of Having Difficult Conversations
As a leader, it's inevitable that you'll find yourself in challenging conversations from time to time. These can involve delivering tough news, giving constructive feedback, or addressing problematic behavior. But no matter the situation, it's crucial to approach these conversations with empathy and a calm and composed tone. For superintendents, managers, directors and leaders, the ability to handle difficult conversations gracefully and professionally is expected. In this blog post, we'll dive into the art of having difficult conversations. We'll explore different strategies and provide practical tips to help you navigate these challenging dialogues with confidence, empathy, and effectiveness. By mastering ...
Appreciating the Often Unnoticed
Creating a Culture of Appreciation in Your Workplace Have you heard of the “Magic Coffee Table”? A woman comes home from work, and the man asks her if she is going to make dinner tonight. Frustrated, the woman says she can’t always do everything for him! The man assures her that everything will be OK, he has something to show her. He gestures to a laundry basket and says “I don’t know how it happens, but any dirty clothes you put in this basket end up clean and folded in a pile on your bed.” The woman turns to him ...
What Does it Mean to Lead?
When I step back to really think about it, I’ve been intrigued by the concept of leadership for as long as I can remember. I can vividly recollect asking myself why I wanted to listen to and engage with certain adults (or even other kids for that matter) while others couldn’t come close to grasping my attention. I secretly wondered why select teachers and coaches could get my best efforts while others couldn’t motivate or captivate me in the least. While I couldn’t define it at the time, I knew I would follow these special people anywhere and intuitively understood ...
Moral Purpose: Understanding Why You Do What You Do
We’ve all heard someone say, “It took me forever to finish this,” or “I worked overtime last night.” We often share details about what we’ve done, but we rarely talk about the meaning. The first step to understanding the meaning behind your work is to define your moral purpose. A moral purpose is defined as “a value that, when articulated, appeals to the innate sense held by some individuals of what is right and what is worthwhile.” Increasingly for younger generations of people, it’s essential to have a moral purpose in the workplace. Why do you do what you do? ...
The Ultimate Metaphor for Personal Growth: The Bamboo Tree
Do you have a goal set for yourself, but others cannot see it? Do you have something that matters to you, but others cannot comprehend its depth? Are you striving for something, but aren’t seeing results? If you answered “YES” to any of these questions, you are likely striving to forge a path for personal growth – and you’re not alone. The personal development industry generates over $1 billion in annual revenue and has grown in sales every year since 2008. Although the foundations of developing your goals may seem like common sense, not everyone knows how to make constructive ...