SWOT
***Free SWOT and STCC tools available for download here: https://adept-experimenter-3588.kit.com/0cd1576fe5
Teaser:
We are half-way through May and hopefully you have begun thinking about next year. A couple weeks ago I took several district leadership teams through a simple process to facilitate conversations around next year. We did two activities – the SWOT analysis and the Stop-Start-Continue-Consider process. These are meant to be high level starters for discussion of priorities. I think the two activities work well together as the SWOT identifies the what and the SSCC focuses on the how. In today’s show, I’ll walk you through the process we went through and I’ll try to be explicit enough that you’ll be able to facilitate the activity with your team if you so desire. This also might be a show you want to pause or save for a time when you can think and write, but of course that is up to you and your individual context.
Sponsor Spot 1:Before we get to the meat of the show, I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. In your leadership role, you’re responsible for the thousands of details it takes to make your school function like a well-oiled machine! So when it’s time for the school trip, let someone else do the heavy lifting! Kaleidoscope Adventures has been planning exceptional travel experiences for more than 30 years. They handle ALL the details from start to finish so that you don’t have to worry about a thing. Online registration and payments, convenient crowdfunding options, impeccable customer care, and an expert team make planning your school’s student trip so easy! Get in touch with the pros at Kaleidoscope Adventures at the link down in the show notes and cross one more thing off your never-ending to-do list!
Show Intro
Celebrations: Pam retired!
Key Points Part 1
Way to supercharge this: engage stakeholders!
SWOT
● Overview of quadrants
● What it’s good for:
o Remembering what’s going well
o Confronting gaps
o Thinking about external resources
o Being mindful of what could go wrong
● How to:
o Do individually and then discuss
o Discuss through as a team
● Three reflection questions
● Can also be used as an individual planning tool
Sponsor Spot 3:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast… Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions. And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit http://ixl.com/assistant to get started.
Key Points Part 2
SSCC
● Overview
● Considerations:
o Do less (more stops than starts)
o Consider ways to improve current things rather than beginning new ones
o Strategic abandonment
o Pay special attention to processes
o Addition by subtraction
o Leverage strengths
o Mind the threats
● Probably do this as a team
● Can also be used by individuals
● Can be done for each other (e.g. Will and I)
Following up
● Stakeholder participation
● Facilitated discussion
● Strategic action cycles – root cause, incremental change
SponsorAdministrators, you walk through classrooms, take notes, and you plan to follow up… but how much of that feedback actually reaches teachers in a meaningful way?With digiCOACH, you don’t just observe—you coach in the moment. Provide clear, specific feedback instantly and track progress over time. No more forgotten notes or lost opportunities—just real conversations that drive real change.With digiCOACH, you’re not just giving feedback—you’re building a system for growth. Track trends, measure progress, and give teachers the real-time feedback they love. Ready to make coaching more impactful? Start today at digiCOACH.com.
Summarizing (The big takeaway)
● Less is more
● Stakeholders (they should drive change)
● Process over product
● Where do we need more data?
● Strategic daily action
Sponsor Links:
IXL: http://ixl.com/assistant
Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/
DigiCOACH: digiCOACH.com
Close
● Leadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.
● You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/
● I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
● If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html
● Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
● Remember the secret to good leadership...
