Still on vacation. Something to share with you, though: This woman has a fantastic blog that is great reading for anyone who cares about public education. Check it out: Expected freedoms.
No original thoughts from me this week, as I’ve been ill and have focused my energies only on 1) family needs , 2) current clients, and 3) getting myself well [that is, sleeping a lot!]. Thanks for understanding; I’ll be committed to the … Read More
If, as research has shown, people are motivated by autonomy, then there is a class of words we ought to avoid, as they can crush autonomy. These may include “ought,” or “must,” but let’s focus on the one that seems to pass judgement:
“SHOULD”
Came across this — another take on that same topic: Kindness At The Office – Forbes.com.
Thought evolves, the world changes, and research keeps on happening.
Are you going to “stick with what works” or “change with the times”? Neither solution is right all the time, of course, so how do you decide?
Stay well-read, and keep thinking, and talking, and networking, and make up your own mind.
I am super busy this week, and confess to taking the easy way out on a weekly blog. This is a quick read, with big pictures! 14 Management Dos And Donts To Motivate Employees. Tomorrow morning, I get to have … Read More
For the last two or three years of my career as a teacher, I was able to finally be somewhat effective with those students who were so very different than me.
This affirms two huge things:
One, effective communication and leadership are behaviors that can be learned and practiced behaviors.
Two, DiSC is powerful.
I have become an Inscape Publishing authorized distributor of DiSC products; not because it adds to my “bag of tricks” as a consultant, but because it can make a profound, immediate, actionable difference in the lives of the people who grow to understand it, even at the most rudimentary level; all I did was hear about it and learn a little bit about it and it made a powerful difference. It changed my life, and that is why I use it and recommend it to everyone.
Sometime, when people are urged to take a positive approach to leadership, there is some push-back. Some people seem to equate “positivity” with being super-nice, but being kind is much deeper than a spewing of empty compliments like “good job” or “nice work” or “super!”
An approach that upholds high standards and is very specific about behavior is positive, but not soft. Be rigorous, not ruthless.
Much of what I write and teach about servant leadership comes, frankly, from a moral, “do good”, outlook. This may sound cheesy, but I’m a cheesy guy; servant leadership from all leaders and teachers and coaches and managers and parents, everywhere, would make the world a much better place for everyone. But there is a utilitarian way of looking at this also. Keeping people engaged insures a much greater likelihood that the goals of the organization will be attained.
So many believe that leaders are “visionary”. It’s true – but a problem is this:
The concept of vision is “out there”, esoteric, hard to grasp. Aren’t visionary leaders somehow “special” in that regard? How can you “teach” vision?
A working definition of “Vision” as it applies to leaders:
Vision is a two-fold ability:
1) the ability to accurately see the current reality of the organization/situation, and
2) the ability to creatively see the possibilities of the organization/situation.