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

• 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?

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 Toolkit
Join 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