You can’t miss this #readthisseries for books you need to read to lead better and grow faster. Service leadership is about doing something for others that they can’t otherwise do for themselves. These three books are perfect to get you leading better and growing faster as a service leader. Let us know what you think with a like, comment, or follow.
This is TheSchoolHouse302 monthly #review&reflect, wrapping up our focus on TEAMWORK.
Skills I need…
What skills do I need to master to create more effective teams?
Review: This month’s focus on teamwork was supported by a dynamic 5-point model that entails the key elements of effective teamwork: Prior Preparation, Shared Vision, Collaborative Spirit, Synergized Efforts, and Strong Trust. Each point of the model represents key aspects necessary for teams to be successful in achieving their goals and working together in harmony. Am essential function of the elements is that they build on one another and strengthen the overall function of the team as they work together to complete the teamwork model. For example, prior preparation is critical, but knowing what the team is preparing for through a clear and articulated vision guides all work. A simple question like, “does this decision drive us toward our vision?” gives your team guidance, courage, and support. The challenge for any team is to work as productively, efficiently, and as powerfully as possible. This model serves as a guide to ensure that all key areas of your team are intact and functioning at an optimal level.
Reflect: Each point of the model is critical for overall success and maximum effectiveness. While reviewing and considering each point, is there one that your team excels at and one your team needs to improve? For example, collaboration among team members is a necessity, but on its own collaboration doesn’t inspire creation; instead, collaboration is more of a function of your team, whereas synergy is the result of connectivity. We specifically separate the two in this TheSchoolHouse302 model because synergy is a byproduct of a highly functional collaborative team.
As a leader, are your teams synergized and creating incredible results?
How do I learn those skills…
What should I read to continually learn and grow if I want to lead highly successful teams?
Review: In our #readthisseries we featured the work of authors who we have found to demonstrate the TEAMWORK spirit. The three books we featured are:
Go Team by Ken Blanchard, Alan Randolph, and Peter Grazier
The Gold Standard by Mike Krzyzewski with Jamie K. Spatola
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni
You can’t miss our #readthisseries on teamwork. Watch it again here.
Reflect: Am I willing to learn and grow as a leader? Do I have a high functioning, transparent team, connected to all of the moving parts of the organization and to one another? As a leader, have you set a clear vision for those you supervise, your department, or organization?
Great leaders understand the power of reading, specifically reading books in context of a particular theme or idea to learn to lead better and grow faster. This month consider your team and how well they function. Based on the 5-point model, and using a 5-point scale, 1 being ineffective and 5 being highly effective, how well does your team do the following:
Who should I follow…
What does an expert have to say about teamwork?
Review: For our #onethingseries, we interviewed Joe Purzycki, former Vice Chairmen and COO of Barclaycard U.S., the 5th largest issuer of credit cards domestically. Before excelling in the boardroom, Joe was the first white man to be named head football coach of a historically black university.
Throughout this interview, Joe’s belief in people and the power of teams are clear. He reminds listeners that “…you can go fast alone, but you can go farther together.” It’s worth a second listen.
Reflect: Throughout the interview Joe discusses the power of trust to really build a great team in an award-winning organization. As a leader, how are you inspiring trust in your people? Who do you follow to learn to lead better through trust and empowerment?
That’s our #review&reflect for Teamwork. Take a look back to take a step forward.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple and maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Please let us know how our leadership posts are working for you, what you are reading to improve yourself, and your thoughts on leadership and growth here on our blog and Twitter. Follow our #onethingseries podcast on iTunes and our #readthisseries on YouTube.
This is TheSchoolHouse302 monthly #review&reflect, wrapping up our focus on systems thinking.
Skills I need…
What skills do I need to master to become a better systems thinker?
Review: This month’s focus on systems thinking was anchored by a simple model we use titled LIST: Learning, Interdependent Parts, Sensemaking, and Temperament. LIST encapsulates the key skills necessary to make systems thinking an integral part of your leadership. Ensuring that all of the moving parts of an organization are functioning well and in harmony with one another is the key to success. The challenge is to identify the parts that aren’t functioning properly, understand their context within the system, and pursue a solution that is sustainable. By using LIST as a model, you can capitalize on proven strategies each time you employ systems thinking.
Reflect: Learning is a key aspect of systems thinking because it develops the capacity of those in the organization to understand the complexities of situations without being overwhelmed by complications. As Einstien said, “you cannot solve problems by using the same thinking we used when creating them.” By embracing the L of list, Learning, you set yourself up for success by embodying the belief that self-growth leads to organizational growth. One result of this type of learning culture is the ability to gain perspective. Systems thinkers refer to this as “zooming.” Zooming in and out of situations helps to gain perspective to learn about and to uncover solutions to a problem within the system.
As a leader, are you able to step back from problems to see the big picture in order to focus on the right solution?
How do I learn those skills…
What should I read to continually learn and grow if I want to be a systems thinker?
Review: In our #readthisseries we featured the work of authors who we have found to demonstrate the LIST spirit. The three books we featured are:
The Power of Small by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval
The Leadership Moment by Michael Useem
The Fifth Discipline by Peter Senge
You can’t miss our #readthisseries on systems thinking. Watch it again here.
Reflect: Am I willing to learn and grow as a leader? Do I have a high functioning, transparent team, connected to all of the moving parts of the organization? As the leader, are you able to understand the context of situations? If not, are you humble enough to elicit the help of those who are? Lastly, what is your temperament like? Worry, fear, anger, frustration are all emotions that need to be kept at bay to achieve perspective and to continually develop yourself and others.
Great leaders know that organizations are complex and when one part of the machine is not working the entire system can malfunction. Using LIST allows leaders to remain keenly aware of the system as a whole and to establish that all aspects of the system are aligned and functioning smoothly.
Who should I follow…
What does an expert have to say about systems thinking?
Review: For our #onethingseries, we interviewed Ted Fujimoto, President of Landmark Consulting Group, Inc., a management and investment consultancy for scaling innovations in learning. Ted helped to design and create the replication of systems and strategies for several of the largest scalable, fastest growing, highest performing public school designs in the country that created over 350 schools, including Big Picture Learning and New Tech Network. Big Picture Learning public schools are located in some of the toughest urban areas in America, are graduating over 95% of their students with nearly 100% of them being accepted to college. Ted’s philosophy on systems can be summed up easily with, “freshwater fish can’t survive in saltwater tanks!”
Reflect: Are all systems aligned and functioning optimally? Are there environmental factors that are causing problems that they people wouldn’t otherwise have?
That’s our #review&reflect for Systems Thinking. Take a look back to take a step forward.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple and maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Please let us know how our leadership posts are working for you, what you are reading to improve yourself, and your thoughts on leadership and growth here on our blog and Twitter. You can also follow our #onethingseries podcast on iTunes and our #readthisseries on YouTube.
This is TheSchoolHouse302 monthly #review&reflect, wrapping up our focus on positivity.
What skills do I need to master to be more positive to lead better and grow faster
Review: This month’s focus on positivity was anchored by a simple strategy we use titled RAP: Routine Acts of Positivity. In order to develop a positive culture that recognizes the work of those you lead to soar to greater heights, you have to embrace four critical musts: 1. Lift Others; 2. Appreciate Others; 3. Celebrate Others; 4. Inspire others. For a better understanding of how to incorporate RAP into your daily routine as a leader, read more here.
Reflect: Being positive requires a conscientious desire to recognize others and celebrate the great work being done each day. As Jon Gordon reminds us, “It is the culture you create that is going to determine whether your players perform and execute.”
As a leader, do you routinely recognize those you lead to build a culture of excellence?
What should I read to continually learn and grow if I want to be a more positive leader?
Review: In our #readthisseries we featured the work of Jon Gordon. There are numerous authors on the subject of positivity, but we find Jon’s work inspiring and aligned to our vision of getting to simple to lead better and grow faster. The three books we featured are:
The Power of Positive Leadership
You can’t miss our #readthisseries on positive leadership. Watch it again here.
Reflect: Am I a positive person? Am I someone others want to be around? As a leader, am I someone others want to follow?
Great leaders have learned that positivity is not a random act or something they do occasionally, rather it is who they are and how they live. RAP is the stepping stone to for positive leadership.
What does an expert have to say about the power of positivity?
Review: For our #onethingseries, we interviewed best selling author and speaker Jon Gordon. As an expert on positivity and someone who has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies, sports teams, and school districts, Jon gives incredible insight into leading and living with a positive mind. Jon provides us with a keen outlook on how to lead with positivity with the sole desire to reach your goals. Listen here.
Reflect: Are you truly the captain of your life or are you a victim of circumstance?
That’s our #review&reflect for positivity. Take a look back to take a step forward.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple and maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Please let us know how our leadership posts are working for you, what you are reading to improve yourself, and your thoughts on leadership and growth here on our blog and Twitter.
When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen. ~Ernest Hemingway
This is TheSchoolHouse302 monthly #review&reflect, wrapping up our focus on listening.
What skills do I need to master to improve the skill of listening to lead better and grow faster?
Review: This month’s focus on listening was born from four powerful interviews we conducted and how each one, in their own unique way, touched on the topic of listening as a critical part of leadership. Know that you have to consciously develop and hone your listening skills to improve. There are specific strategies and techniques that enable leaders to grow so they listen more effectively in order lead successfully. Read more here.
Reflect: Listening is a skill and, unfortunately, as John Maxwell has said, too often leaders talk first and too much. As a leader, how well do you listen to those you lead.
What should I read to continually learn and grow if I want to be a better listener?
Review: In our #readthisseries we featured It’s Not About the Coffee by Howard Behar, among other titles. You can’t miss our #readthisseries on listening. Watch it again here.
Reflect: Do I listen with more than my ears? Great leaders have learned how to enter a room and gauge the atmosphere by “getting a feeling.” Are you in touch with the culture and climate of your organization?
What does an expert have to say about listening?
Review: For our #onethingseries, we interviewed Judge Dan Walzl. As a former public defender and now a judge, Dan provides us with keen insight on how to listen with the sole desire to truly hear what people are saying. Listen here.
Reflect: When you listen, are you impartial and neutral, freeing yourself from preconceived ideas? Or, are you simply waiting until the person speaking is done talking, prepared to respond even before hearing their whole perspective?
That’s our #review&reflect for listening. Take a look back to take a step forward.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple and maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Please let us know how our leadership posts are working for you, what you are reading to improve yourself, and your thoughts on leadership and growth here on our blog and Twitter.
“Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them. ” ― Henry Ford
This is TheSchoolHouse302 monthly #review&reflect, wrapping up our focus on leading for energy and enthusiasm.
What do I need to master to lead better and grow faster so that I can lead for greater energy and enthusiasm?
Know that you have to marry your hard and soft skills. It’s all about your ability to build a culture of care that is grounded in high expectations, your ability to execute change for a specific need, and your desire to empower your people while holding them accountable. Add that up, and you get great energy and enthusiasm in your organization. Read more here.
What should I read to continually learn and grow if I want real energy and enthusiasm?
In our #readthisseries we featured Accelerate by John Kotter, among other titles. You can’t miss our #readthisseries on energy and enthusiasm. Watch it again here.
What does an expert have to say about leading for energy and enthusiasm?
For our #onethingseries, we interviewed Dr. Lillian Lowery. As the former Secretary of Education for two states, Dr. Lowery knows a thing or two about leading for greater energy in schools and large organizations. Listen here.
That’s our #review&reflect for energy and enthusiasm. Take a look back to take a step forward.
TheSchoolHouse302 is about getting to simple and maximizing effective research-based strategies that empower individuals to lead better and grow faster.
Please let us know how our leadership posts are working for you, what you are reading to improve yourself, and your thoughts on leadership and growth here on our blog and twitter.
Joe & T.J.Grab a Copy of One of Our Books:
7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems. Order it Here
Retention for a Change is an Amazon Best Seller and our Latest Book: Order it Here
Passionate Leadership is an Amazon Best Seller. Click here to order today.
