Feedback is a Gift
School leaders need to have tough skin, but feedback can still be hard to take. Here’s how to gain perspective and learn from it.
This comment was written in an anonymous staff survey over 10 years ago, but I still remember it today: “I think she doesn’t dress professionally enough.” The rest of the survey feedback was productive, was positive, and gave me a sense of what to focus on next. But do you think I remember any of that? Nope.
Just ASK…
Access the Wisdom of Those Around You with These Tried-and-True Communication Techniques
Jeff Wetzler is an entrepreneur, management consultant, and co-CEO of Transcend, an organization seeking to spread equitable learning environments. Previously, he held senior positions at Teach for America, a nonprofit dedicated to educational opportunity for all children.
Mindsets for English Learners
Our students bring many assets to the classroom, not least of which are that, because of their life experiences, research has found they tend to be more creative and self-reliant than those who are not ELLs. Their diverse experiences can provide exceptional opportunities for learning.
Are your team members participating?
Sue, a former client of mine, was starting a new VP role at a fintech organization. She found out quickly that the team she inherited had a lower level of participation, collaboration, questioning, and general engagement than the one she had left behind. This was particularly evident in team meetings.
Sue’s challenges aren’t surprising given the widespread issues with meeting culture. Research has shown that 9 out of 10 people daydream in meetings, 50% find meetings to be unproductive, 25% of meetings are spent discussing irrelevant issues, and 75% of leaders have not received formal training on how to conduct a meeting.
What makes an effective leader?
For a while, people believed that only extroverts could be highly effective leaders. Their gregariousness, outgoing nature, and take-charge manners were viewed as the preferred leadership style. However, there are equally successful qualities that introverts can bring to leadership positions that set them apart. Some of the most frequently mentioned successful introvert leaders include Bill Gates, Mother Teresa, Barack Obama, and Warren Buffett. A tendency towards introversion did them no harm.
Getting Comfortable with Difficult Conversations
A common mistake business people make—often with the belief it will help them get ahead—is to consistently maintain a distance from conflict. In actuality, it’s the ability to get comfortable having uncomfortable conversations that drives real business success.
That’s because your team likely has good intentions but may find themselves falling into friction and tension. Creative conflict is inevitable, and leaders and team members will need to have difficult conversations to align and achieve their mission.
