3-2-1: On the power of quiet moments, how to make good habits easy, and starting the year with enthusiasm
I.
“Your habits are often a byproduct of convenience. Humans are wired to seek the path of least resistance, which means the most convenient option is often the one that wins. Make good choices more convenient and bad choices less so. Behavior will improve naturally.”
II.
“Use what you already know. People are so busy searching for a shortcut — or hoping an easier path will reveal itself — they let numerous moments slip by when they could get results simply by doing what is right in front of them.”
How adopting a coaching mindset can benefit leaders
Leadership conversations often emphasize the importance of adopting a growth or resilient mindset to enhance performance and leadership skills. While these approaches are undeniably valuable, a less discussed but equally impactful perspective is the coaching mindset.
Coaching, as defined by Adam Grant, involves “helping people reveal their potential and overcome challenges.” Whether we think of a sports coach, career coach or life coach, the common thread is uncovering and fostering potential. For leaders, adopting a coaching mindset shifts the focus from simply providing answers to empowering others to grow holistically.
The foundations of a coaching mindset
Many Educators Across America Are on the Verge of a Retirement Benefits Boost
Hundreds of thousands of current and former K-12 educators nationwide would be newly eligible for full Social Security benefits when they retire, under a bill that has passed Congress and is now waiting President Joe Biden’s signature.
The Social Security Fairness Act eliminates two components of federal retirement policy designed to help low-income retirees that have long drawn the ire of educators and their advocates: the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.
The House voted 327-75 to approve the bill on Nov. 12. On Dec. 20, 76 U.S. Senators—46 Democrats, 27 Republicans, and 3 Independents—voted to send the bill to Biden’s desk.
Grow Your Leadership Heart Three Sizes
3 Things Small Hearted Leaders Say:
#1. “Double it.”
Demand results in half the time it would normally take with twice the resources. Push people to figure things out on their own.
#2. “Do it my way.”
Shoot down every new idea. Grumble, “That’s not how we do things here.” Stifle innovation and growth.
#3. “No fun.”
The Education Word of 2024 Is …
A swirl of political, societal, technical, and practical currents converged to help a phenomenon—the “cellphone ban”—rise to prominence in 2024, making it Education Week’s word (or phrase) of the year.
Concerned about students’ mental health and declines in academic performance, education administrators saw curtailing or prohibiting the use of the devices at school as a way to boost concentration in the classroom and address factors that could contribute to bullying, anxiety, and depression.
What Does Watching All Those Videos Do to Kids’ Brains?
Video content—whether viewed on cellphones, laptops, or interactive whiteboards—has become so ubiquitous both inside and outside classrooms that educators may not stop to think about the effects on their students, particularly adolescents.
While there’s much discussion around screen time, this particular offshoot of that issue is one educators should pay special attention to, recommends a recent report from the American Psychological Association.
The report summarizes the major research to date on how watching video affects youth and offers valuable information for educators as they shape their classroom practices and school policies, said Richard Culatta, the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, or ISTE+ASCD. Teaching students the skills to use video content and other digital media when it’s helpful—and recognize when it’s not—is crucial, he said.