Accelerate Your Performance

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 Recognition

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.

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 Recognition


Join us virtually for our 9th Annual Education Leadership Conference: What's Right in Education 2020 on 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 Vulnerable

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.

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 Excellence

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.

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 Back


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.

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