Accelerate Your Performance

By Studer EducationBusiness Education Government Management

Accelerate Your Performance episodes

January 31, 2022Balance the Heart and Mind to Thrive at Work
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
15 min
January 27, 2022Essential Components of Healthy Workplace Cultures
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
15 min
January 24, 2022How to be Proactive at Work
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
8 min
January 20, 2022Lead Boldly and Authentically
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
16 min
January 17, 2022Be Happy at Work
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
10 min
January 13, 2022Strategic Moves for Impact
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
20 min
January 10, 2022Be Curious
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?
18 min
January 06, 2022New Year, Positive Mindset
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
12 min
December 13, 2021The Best Gift We Can Give
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
6 min
December 09, 2021Getting the Groove Back
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
15 min

About Accelerate Your Performance

From the publisher's feed

Accelerate Your Performance is a weekly podcast hosted by Dr. Janet Pilcher, Managing Director of Studer Education and author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Every week, Janet…