Before we get started, I have two quick announcements

1.     I’ve been hearing a strong interest in how to support beginning teachers. I went into some key practices last year in episodes 214 and 215, so if you are in the mode to think about how to support your BTs (and ECTs), give a listen to episodes 214 and 215

2.     The July 22 episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast we feature a panel discussion with myself and five assistant principals. Some are national/state AP of the Year awardees and others are just wrapping up their first year as assist principals. The focus of our discussion is being a first year AP! We would love to hear from you. If you have questions, topics, advice, or stories, please consider sharing. Please email them to me at [email protected]. I would love to be able to name contributors but will only do so if you explicitly give permission for us to include your name and affiliation. We are recording on July 15, so don’t wait.

Okay, now onto the episode…

Five for Friday Outline

Hello colleagues and welcome to the Assistant Principal Podcast. I’m your host Frederick Buskey. The goal of this podcast is to help improve the life and leadership of assistant principals. Today’s episode of Five for Friday recaps the strategic leadership emails for the week of December 12-16, 2022. 

Imagine setting a leadership intention at the beginning of each day. That’s what many readers of the daily email do. For some, it has become a ritual: Pour a cup of coffee, open your email, read the Strategic Leader Daily, and set one intention to be aware of or execute for the day. The daily email is a powerful leadership practice so if you aren’t already a subscriber, I hope you’ll consider joining the list. It’s just one more way to include me on your leadership journey, and that would bring me joy. You can find a link on my homepage at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

Recap…

Monday: If you can’t do the whole project, just do the A-B step.

This week I was banished.

Writing my book has been the quadrant 2 (important, not urgent) task that I have been putting off for two (three? 🤔) years.

So, colleague, consider:

• What important quadrant 2 project have you been putting off for far too long?
• Is there someone who can help keep you accountable?
• Is there an A-B step (not the whole manuscript) that you can find a few hours to focus on?
• Is there a safe place you can go where nobody can interrupt you?

Tuesday Listening to others describe their journeys from urgent to strategic leadership is a good investment of your time.

Maria shares lots of practical advice, but what stands out most is that she has consistently invested in and prioritized her own growth! 

Being a strategic leader is simple, but it is also hard.

If you can’t invest in yourself, you can’t be a strategic leader.

Today’s intention: Reflect on your journey. Are you stuck in the black hole of urgency? Are you a strategic leader? Or are you somewhere in between?

Wednesday Accountability partners

I am passionate about writing a book. The entire thing is outlined. I had 1/3 of it written two years ago. I want to write this book. I have already sold 400 copies!

And yet, it keeps getting pushed aside.

I can’t explain it.

What I can explain is that accountability works. I’m in a cabin writing because I have the best accountability partner in the world! Thank you, Dr. Pam Buskey!

I have two challenges for you to today. Choose one.

Option A: Think about someone who needs support and offer to be their accountability partner.

Option B: Identify an A-B step of a priority that keeps getting pushed off. Identify someone who can help hold you accountable. Ask them and set a follow up time to meet with them. If you want to do this but have nobody, you can choose me, and I will be your accountability partner. Seriously, I will. If more than one of you tags me, we can meet as a group. It just will have to be after New Year’s. I am serious though. Email me.

Today’s intention: Choose option A or B and execute!

Thursday three stages to becoming a strategic leader

I hope you had a chance to listen to Maria Werner talk about her leadership journey on Tuesday’s podcast (link).

She described three stages, and between each stage was a mindset shift.

Stage one is being caught in the blackhole of urgency.

Then there is a mindset shift.

Stage two is becoming strategically reactive, which helps you find precious minutes to begin investing.

Then there is a shift.

Stage three is being strategic and routinely focusing on quadrants 1 and 2, which allows you to develop the people that power your organization.

Which of these stages are you in?

Or are you in the midst of a shift?

Today’s intention: Be mindful of your actions today. Are you spending time or investing it? What stops you from being in quadrant 2? Do you see a path forward?

Friday Share your goals to add public accountability.

I worked with a principal who wanted to implement 5-minute coaching (link).

She told her staff that her goal was to improve her ability to support them by doing 5-minute coaching each morning.

Over the course of a week, her staff began inviting her and asking her to do a session with them!

One way to have accountability for your goals is to have an accountability partner.

There is another way is to make our goals public.

Takeaway

Accountability comes in multiple forms:

• Self
• Mentors, coaches, peers
• The public we serve

If you are struggling to finish something important, identify the level of accountability you need and take the A-B step of talking with someone.

“When we model productive failure, we reposition adults and we reposition students to see their reality in terms of the ways they contribute to the community. That is what students are seeking. They’re seeking their place, they’re seeking their tribe, they’re seeking their group, they’re seeking those people who are like-minded to them, and adults are the same way.”

So says the incomparable Dr. Mary Hemphill on next week’s ...