Principal Matters: The School Leader's Podcast with William D. Parker

Because one good deed is worth more than a thousand good intentions, you can never overestimate the power of showing others they are appreciated. In episode 11, learn seven simple ways to show appreciation to teachers, build confidence in your team members, and encourage high expectations school wide. Check out the companion blog post to […]

The post PMP:011 Tips for Showing Appreciation for Teachers appeared first on Principal Matters.

In episode 10 of Principal Matters Podcast, we dive into some of the practical ways to make school leadership more effective. Dealing with difficult people is often one of the hardest and most frequent challenges you will face, but you don’t have to be overwhelmed. No one can learn to manage difficulties perfectly, but you […]

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In episode 9 of Principal Matters Podcast, we jump into the “nuts and bolts” of school leadership by talking about how to manage requests. School leaders can easily be overwhelmed with the number of fires they are asked to put out on a daily basis. In this episode, I share three quick tips on ways […]

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In episode 8 of Principal Matters Podcast, I continue a conversation on the importance of understanding your motivations for why you lead. Based on an original blog post, 3 Tips for Making Each Day Count, I share some insights inspired by Robert Smith’s 20,000 Days and Counting–the lessons of a 50 year old when he […]

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Your deepest motivations determine whether you will lead effectively or not. In this podcast episode, I explore how fear and pride are both counterproductive motivations for school leadership. So what is a healthier motivation? Listen in for a conversation that school leaders often never have with one another, but one that may prevent you from […]

The post PMP:07 Motivation by Wonder & Purpose appeared first on Principal Matters.

School leadership is not for the weak-kneed or thin-skinned. But no matter how long you are in leadership, it is still easy to feel overwhelmed. In this podcast episode, I share some of the more difficult moments school leaders face. Then we explore specific actions you can take to keep perspective on the positive elements […]

The post PMP:06 Focusing on the Positives appeared first on Principal Matters.

In Episode 5 of Principal Matters Podcast, I share “Caution Lights For Your Leadership Journey.” Learn lessons from my earliest years in school leadership and how burning out almost led me to abandoning the profession. Discover ways to refocus your priorities so that you can lead with effectiveness and fulfillment–without burning out! Here are the […]

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In Episode 4 of Principal Matters Podcast, I share some of my own background growing up in rural West Tennessee. Learn how your own story can inform and influence your leadership today, and how thankfulness is a powerful motivator for giving back through helping others. Here are the shownotes for Episode 4: Listen to the infamous […]

The post PMP:04 How Your Story Influences Others appeared first on Principal Matters.

In this podcast episode, I share some helpful research on how business strategy is more profitable when you understand the meaning in your product. How does this relate to education? And how can school leaders benefit when you take a closer look at your own motivations? This audio post was originally based on my blog […]

The post PMP:03 Purpose-Driven Leadership appeared first on Principal Matters.

In the 2nd episode of Principal Matters Podcast, I share an inspiring story from a world-record swimmer and discuss the essential elements leaders need for serving others. Then I run through a typical day in the life of a principal. This is a great introduction for aspiring school leaders or for seasoned ones who want […]

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