The Assistant Principal Podcast

Show title and release date: The Motivation Equation

Note on Sponsorships:

• Help cover the cost of producing the podcast
• Motivate me to produce a better product
• Give you access to some beneficial services
• I will work to keep sponsorship ads under 3 minutes total
• If you are interested, using the affiliate links in the show notes helps the show

Teaser:

Are students really lazy and unmotivated?When teachers resist implementation of a new initiative, what are they telling you?Any time people aren’t doing what we want them to do, we tend to see them as lazy, unmotivated, cantankerous, or “not a team player.”But there is another explanation, and it is, at its essence, an issue of economics. Today, we dive into the motivation equation.

Sponsor Spot 1:Before we get started, I would like to thank Summer Pops Math Workbooks for sponsoring today’s show. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to https://summerpopsworkbooks.com/sample-request-page/ to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes.

Show Intro

Celebrations: 4 days, 60 miles, 12,000 feet of elevation gain

Sponsor Spot 2:As a loyal listener to this show, you know I am a big advocate for short, targeted observations, so I’m excited about digiCOACH sponsoring this podcast. digiCOACH makes it easier to follow up on observations with meaningful feedback. I love that you can focus on specific elements and that there is a ready-made bank of items to use for telling teachers what they are doing well! You can learn more about digiCOACH at https://digicoach.com/ or click the link in the show notes.

Key Points Part 1

• Thank you Cathy Lacey, Professional Learning Leader at Richland 1 in SC and founder of Blazers, LLC.
• Defining the formula
  • The verbiage
  • Example: $$$
  • Real versus perceived
  • Each individual’s unique context
  • Shifting the perspective from blame to challenge
• Ways to increase value
  • Immediacy of benefit
  • Relevance: solving their problem
  • Priority of need (think Maslow)
• Ways to decrease effort
  • Smaller chunks (A-B)
  • Skill development
  • Safety (to take risks)
  • Community and collaboration
  • Streamlining
  • Scaffolding (SOP)
  • Differentiating (leveraging others’ expertise)

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

Example 1: Student and tardiness to math class

Example 2: Teacher not implementing classroom procedures

Example 3: Change initiative - resisting new computer-based assessment program

Sponsor Spot 4:Before we wrap, I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.

The Big Idea

• Empowers leadership
• Get’s us out of the judgement game
• Let’s us view resistance through a positive lens
• Help’s remind us to ask “why?”

Thank you to our sponsors!

• IXL: https://www.ixl.com/assistant 
• SummerPops: https://summerpopsworkbooks.com/sample-request-page/ 
• Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/
• digiCOACH: https://digicoach.com/ 

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

(Teacher) Team Leadership with Dr. Chad Dumas

Description:

If you’ve been listening to me or following my daily email, you’ve heard me talk about 5-minute coaching, the series of three questions we can ask teachers to help them become more reflective practitioners. The value leaders provide during the process is I creating space by NOT talking. Today’s guest helped me learn how to make 5-minute coaching even more powerful. But that’s not all. Today’s show is packed with practical tips to help you immediately become a better communicator – without saying a word! Before we get started, I would like to thank Summer Pops Math Workbooks for sponsoring today’s show. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to https://summerpopsworkbooks.com/sample-request-page/ to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Chad Dumas is a Solution Tree PLC at Work, Assessment, and Priority Schools associate and international consultant, presenter, and award-winning researcher. His primary focus is collaborating to develop capacity for continuous improvement. With a quarter century of successful leadership experience, Chad has led significant improvements for both students and staff. He shares his research and knowledge in his three books on PLCs, and his upcoming Teacher Team Leader Handbook, Chad’s consulting and training includes research, stories, hands-on tools, useful knowledge, and practical skills. He most recently was the executive director of elementary education in the Ames Community School District, a preschool thru grade 12 district of 5,000 students in central Iowa. Before this he was the director of learning for Hastings Public Schools in south-central Nebraska for nine years. Dr. Dumas' new book, The Teacher Team Leader Handbook has just been released!

Warmup questions:

·      We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?

·       Let’s celebrate your new book!

·      Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?

·      What’s the story behind the book?

Questions/Topics/Prompts

·      Who did you write the book for?

·      What problem were you trying to solve?

·      What should the reader know and be able to do after reading the book?

Closing questions:

·      What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?

·      If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?

·      Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?

·      Where can people learn more about you and your work…

Sponsorship:

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.

I hope you got as much out of today’s show as I did. If we were together right now, I would pause there to let you reflect…

Remember, in addition to the three magic moves (pause, paraphrase, 3rd point) you can get seven sweet strategies by clicking on the “3 and 7” link in the show notes.

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 so consider email me at [email protected] or connecting with me on LinkedIn.

·      My book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose, is now 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.

·      Have a great rest of the week, be present for others and, more importantly, take time to reflect and recover so you can continue to live and lead better.

·      Cheers!

Chad’s links:

Website: www.NextLearningSolutions.com

3 and 7: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1liaCOU9bE28ubqPGjdnviozQ0dIa1a3U/view

Purchase the book from Solution Tree: https://www.solutiontree.com/teacher-team-leader-handbook.html?utm_source=ST&utm_campaign=1261110&utm_medium=online

Purchase the book from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Teacher-Team-Leader-Handbook-Collaboration/dp/1960574981

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

Today I’m digging into some questions I received from participants in my recent GAMSP training on moving from Fires to Fulfillment.  Podcast episode 242, released two weeks ago, is an edited audio of the presentation and you can find the full presentation on a hidden website page at frederickbuskey.com/gamsp25. The themes I address in today’s show should be familiar to you, but I think the value add comes from the context. I think by the end you will have more insight into how 5-mc fits into different aspects of your leadership. Okay, let’s go!
Before we get started, I would like to thank Summer Pops Math Workbooks for sponsoring today’s show. The team at Summer Pops are educators with a passion for preventing the backwards summer slide in math, and Summer Pops is a unique and engaging approach to summer enrichment. I encourage you to connect with Summer Pops for free workbook samples. Go to summerpopsworkbooks.com to get your free copy and of course, the link is in the show notes.

Celebration: The luxury of time

Questions:

• How would the 5 min coaching strategy work from adult to student 
• How this extends to the central office level
• How to pivot/Leadership time management
• Other ways to grow teachers/More coaching tips
• How to delegate
• More info on how to dig out negatives when asking what went well and it goes dark.
• Effective Assistant Principalship mindset
• How to balance tasks and people/ How to decide what does get done

Sponsorship:

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.

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:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

Today’s show is high energy with lots of thoughts and concepts that will grab your attention and your intention. My guest and I talk a lot about the power you have as a leader to transform your reality, and I want to be clear – it’s tough out there right now, some of us are working in more challenging situations than others, and some of us have fewer opportunities than others. I say that to temper the sense that maybe today’s discussion is a bit too optimistic. I don’t think it is, but I recognize our context vary and those contexts matter. I will do a wrap up with some additional thoughts after the interview, so keep listening to the end. Let’s go!

Guest Bio:

Please welcome a true pioneer in leadership development and emotional intelligence, Joe Pettit. With over two decades of hands-on leadership experience, Joe has not only authored the impactful book 'Seeds to Success,' which has sold thousands of copies, but he has also personally impacted the lives of over 10,000 leaders in the past four years. His unique approach is grounded in real-world application, and his sessions are renowned for their activity-based, tangible takeaways.

Warmup questions:

• We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?
• Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?

Questions/Topics/Prompts

Show 1:

• We were discussing relationships on a previous call. Frequent listeners to this show know I view relationships as having four phases: learn, empower, support, and grow. You shared that you begin from a very different space and it has caused me to reflect critically on my own model. 
• I’d like for us to dig into your thoughts about relationships, where we begin, and where we go.
• First (or most important) step in relationships (self)

Closing:

• Relationships begin with the inner work
• Understanding how your lived experience colors your assumptions and judgement
• Understanding what you feel, and why you feel that way
• Being curious – seeking to understand more than to be understood
• Being vulnerable – share your feelings and the why – I wonder, maybe, one of the strongest connection points is around our common fears and challenges

Sponsorship:

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.

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:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Joe’s links:

Website: https://joepettitinspires.com/event-planners/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoePettitInspiresWW/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSjvOK6r5RPbbAr6VNGo65A/featured

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-pettit-9592b917b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joepettitinspires/?hl=en

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

#243: Final Questions First with Joe Pettit

Description:

This is just a short tease for the full interview coming out on March 11th, 2025. I had forgotten to ask Joe the four closing questions, and when I shared that with him, he was kind enough to answer the questions and send me an audio file. I found it so inspiring, I decided to make it a standalone mini-episode. Enjoy!

Guest Bio:

Please welcome a true pioneer in leadership development and emotional intelligence, Joe Pettit. With over two decades of hands-on leadership experience, Joe has not only authored the impactful book 'Seeds to Success,' which has sold thousands of copies, but he has also personally impacted the lives of over 10,000 leaders in the past four years. His unique approach is grounded in real-world application, and his sessions are renowned for their activity-based, tangible takeaways.

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:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Joe’s links:

Website: https://joepettitinspires.com/event-planners/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoePettitInspiresWW/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSjvOK6r5RPbbAr6VNGo65A/featured

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-pettit-9592b917b/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joepettitinspires/?hl=en

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

If you read my daily email, you likely know that my big goal for 2025 is to give 25 keynotes and presentations. On Monday, February 24, I gave my first ever keynote at the Georgia Middle School Principals’ conference – big shoutout to Cheryl Riddle who organized the conference and was so wonderful to work with. I organized this as more of a working session than a straight speech so participants could leave the session with concrete skills and a plan to reclaim their purpose.
Today’s episode is a condensed version of the session that includes all of the content. At the end of today’s show, I’ll share the link to a hidden webpage where you can watch the speech and grab copies of the materials.

Sponsorship:

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.

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:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

Today’s episode is inspired by a book study I did last week with 25 building and district school leaders. The focus of the book study was stage 5 of A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose, which is all about 5-minute coaching. 

We began with celebration
We did 5-minute coaching
We reflected in small groups
We recapped in a large group
We took 15 minutes (!) for our closing circle
Participants left feeling grounded, connected, and hopeful. I left wanting to dig more deeply into what happened, and to identify some important things we can consistently do as leaders to help those around us. To help me do that, I’ve asked Mara Buskey to come onto the show. It’s been a while since Mara was on – she is now 26 (off my health insurance) and has her own business helping entrepreneurs move from chaos to clarity. Mara’s undergraduate degrees are in women and gender studies, global studies, and Spanish language. Those educational experiences and her own empathetic disposition give her a unique ability to understand how our emotions and work inform each other, and I think that makes her a perfect guest for today’s show on 8 actions we can take to lift people up.

Celebrations:

The Big Idea

• Turbulence exacerbates urgent leadership (tasks) but requires greater degree of strategic leadership (people)
• People are impacted by turbulence to the whole organization, parts of the organization, and their own lives
• Roles of leadership in turbulent times:
  • Provide stability (the rock in the storm)
  • Realistic optimism: drawing on our values, faith, trust, and determination
  • Confronting the brutal reality: defining and naming the problem, not just the symptoms
  • Expressing our values, even as they are under attack

8 Simple things to do:

1. Create an internal mantra that puts people first
   1. Survival first, growth second
   2. Community
2. Celebrate (together) everything, no matter how small
3. Take time for the close (and for community)
   1. Primary function of meetings during turbulence is building community
   2. Openings and closings are opportunities
   3. Meaningful discussion, sense-making, and comradery are requirements
4. Check in frequently to communicate value and provide support
   1. Send a text or email
   2. 5-minute coaching
   3. Tell me one good thing
   4. How are you? (x2)
   5. I’m so glad you are here
   6. I care about you, I value you, I believe in you.
5. Use value-laden language and don’t censor yourself
   1. If you value working with the diverse communities that make up your school, then say it
   2. If you believe in providing opportunities to people who haven’t had them, say it
   3. If you believe every student should have access to the general curriculum, say it
6. Choose to show up
   1. Be intentional
   2. Be a lighthouse
7. Take care of yourself
   1. Peer support
   2. Morning time: move, ground, check in and set intentions
   3. Reflect
   4. Put a box around working from home
   5. Create healthy transitions (especially work to home)
8. Be realistic and determined
   1. Acknowledge real challenges
   2. Identify real strengths
   3. Talk about what you can do, not about what you can’t do

Summarizing (The big takeaway)

Sponsorship:

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.

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:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Mara’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Homepage: https://marabuskey.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mara-buskey-98321218b/ 

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

We are in a moment of significant change. There’s a lot of instability and unpredictability and people don’t know what’s going to happen – good, bad, or indifferent. We don’t know what all of the announced or teased policy changes mean or if they are going to take effect.  This environment creates a situation where we have lots of turbulence in schools, so today we’re going to unpack what turbulence is, how it fits with the six dimensions model, and start to think a little bit about how as leaders we respond to keep everybody safe and create better outcomes for kids.

Sponsorship:

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.

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:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

Description:

Today’s guest is Tequila Lamar. The name should be familiar to you because I just featured my first interview with Tequila as the “Greatest Episode of All Time.” And now she’s back and now this episode may be my new favorite of all time. We will of course build on our previous discussion of imposter syndrome, but there is so much more in this episode. It is packed with wisdom, humanity, joy, and love. Today’s show will leave you feeling inspired and optimistic.

Guest Bio:

Tequila Lamar is the NYC Partnerships & Outreach Lead at Google.org, and is a driving force behind New York City's social impact initiatives related to knowledge, skills, and learning. A passionate advocate for excellence and equity in tech education, Tequila actively addresses disparities in AI, computer science, and digital skills education. 
With a focus on improving access and fostering a sense of belonging in computer science, she designs and executes programs that aim to amplify the representation of underrepresented groups in the tech industry. Known for her exceptional communication skills and ability to build strong relationships, Tequila is not only a mentor and coach but also a sought-after speaker and panelist on education, technology, and leadership topics. 
Tequila holds a Master's degree in Education and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Florida A&M University. Her well-rounded approach and unwavering passion for education make her an invaluable asset in advancing social impact.

Warmup questions:

• We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?
• What have you learned at Google (or new job) that you wish you had known as a principal?

Questions/Topics/Prompts

• how we fill in the blanks of why something happened or why somebody did something, or ignored us, or whatever. Digging into how destructive it can be when our imposter begins creating stories to explain things that we simply don't have all tho info on.
• Supporting others with imposter syndrome
• 
  

Closing questions:

• What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?
• If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?
• Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?
• Where can people learn more about you and your work…

Sponsorship:

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.

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:
  • Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for others
  • Be fully present
  • Ask reflective questions
  • And then just listen
  • Don’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.
• Have a great rest of the week!
• Cheers!

Tequila’s links: Helpful resources for combatting imposter syndrome

• The Imposter Cure: Beat insecurities and gain self-belief by Dr. Jessamy Hibberd
• Own Your Greatness: Overcome Imposter Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life by Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin
• Impostor Syndrome Institute

Frederick’s Links:

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ 

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting 

Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a 

The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520

 | A couple weeks ago in one of my daily emails I asked for people’s experiences, perspectives, and questions about culture. A reader responded:
 As far as culture, my main frustration is a lack of initiative I notice in some of our adult, professional faculty members...  Behaviors like not arriving on time for a duty, being unwilling to contact parents (or reply to parent contacts), and walking past litter on the hallway floor are my frustration.  My question is how to make it the norm in our school to be proactive and to take initiative? 
So, what does this mean when the adults aren’t behaving like… well, adults? 
The question to begin with is not “what can we do?” The question to start with is “Why is this happening?”

Celebration: Weather over 60 degrees and sunny enough to make hiking a joy!

Prelude: Who is a leader

One challenge many leaders and potential leaders face is they don’t “seem” or “feel” like leaders. This comes from a relatively narrow conception in our culture about what makes a leader. An overreliance on decision-making and charisma, as well as our culturally engrained images of the leader archetype, hamper our ability to encourage and develop leaders with a diverse set of skills. 

A participant in one of my recent trainings shared a 2020 article from Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. (link in show notes). The authors (Mueller, Jennifer S., Goncalo, Jack and Kamdar, Dishan) stated in their abstract:

Study 1shows creative idea expression is negatively related to perceptions of leadership potential in a sample of employees working in jobs that required creative problem solving. 

Study 2 shows that participants randomly instructed to express creative solutions during an interaction are viewed as having lower leadership potential. 

A third scenario study replicated this finding showing that participants attributed less leadership potential to targets expressing creative ideas, except when the “charismatic” leader prototype was activated. In sum, we show that the negative association between expressing creative ideas and leadership potential is robust and underscores an important but previously unidentified bias against selecting effective leaders.

Simple translation: Creative people aren’t perceived as leaders unless they have high charisma…

Full disclosure: I did not read and evaluate the entire article but their thesis is consistent with other research and my own observations and experiences.

Stepping back, I wonder, in what context would creative problem solving not be a big advantage? And yet, the research suggests we are not inclined to view creative problem-solving as a desirable leadership characteristic. 

Maybe it is the same for people who are really good at asking questions?

Or for people who are great at helping people collaborate with each other?

Or maybe people who are great at helping others learn to lead?

The challenge we face is that we have a narrow set of criteria we use, at a cultural level, to determine what leaders should be like. We have been conditioned to think about leaders in terms of a few specific characteristics like vision and decisiveness.

In pre-defining what constitutes leadership, we limit the possibilities for nurturing leadership in the majority of people around us. The point I’m trying to make is that if we can look at people’s strengths and seek to put people in position to leverage those strengths, we all win. I hope this all makes sense – it did to me when I write it but now, I’m not so sure 🤣

The Big Idea

Recap the situation

Symptoms versus problems

Pause: have you ever had a job, or a period of time, when you were just going through the motions? And if you have not, have you had people you respect take their foot off the gas and coast?

What would explain this?

• Physical health
• Trauma
• Responsibilities outside work
• Feeling hopeless at work
• Feeling lost at work
• Feeling like you don’t matter

How we respond depends on the underlying problem. 

Let’s look at what could be going wrong from an alignment perspective, in other words, let’s think about the negative behavior as being a reflection of a poor culture. We know culture is a translation of the degree of alignment, so what could be out of alignment?

• Purpose
   
  • Mission/purpose feels broken or hollow’
•  
  • Mission is not focused on kids
•  
  • Friction between purpose and leaders’ actions
•  
  • A personal purpose that trumps the school’s purpose
•  
  • Understanding the purpose behind the activity
•  
• Structures
   
  • Schedules are too tight
•  
  • Excessive duties and tasks (also a purpose and resource problem)
•  
  • Structures inhibit certain behaviors, like finding opportunities to call parents
•  
  • Lack of support or clear expectations or processes
•  
• Resources
   
  • Time – too much to do
•  
  • Attention – too many different things to do
•  
• People
   
  • Knowledge and skills: how to call home
•  
  • Dispositions: maybe it doesn’t matter if I’m late; or a way of demonstrating dissatisfaction
•  
  • Health caused by poor working conditions or stressors outside of school
•  

But… we don’t know the cause, and of course it may be different for different teachers.

 So now what?

Sponsor spot…

The way to answer why is to learn. There are many ways, but I might begin this way…

• What’s going well
• Have there been any surprises?
• Is there anything we could be doing differently?

Once we find out what’s wrong we:

• Support teachers by bringing purpose, structures, and resources into alignment
   
  • Purpose 
    • Check the alignment of our language and expectations around purpose? Are we prioritizing growing kids, or has a different set of priorities (test scores) crept in?
    • Do we talk about and act on the idea that teachers are central to student success, that teachers have the power to change kids’ lives?
• 
  
  • Structures
     
    • Review our discipline processes  - make the expectation of parent contact clear and explicit
  •  
    • Implement school-wide common procedures
  •  
    • Build in times to contact parents
  •  
• 
  
  • Resources
     
    • Eliminate non-essential tasks
  •  
    • Hire playground and lunch monitors to free up teacher time
  •  
    • Protect teachers from time-consuming new initiatives
  •  
    • Shave time off meetings to allow teachers to invest in parent contacts
  •  
• 
  
• Grow them by helping their knowledge, skills, dispositions, and healt...