I was recently talking with some colleagues about climate and culture, and how to build or maintain it when so many people are working remotely. Climate refers to how people feel about their job or their work, their sense of purpose in an organization, and their happiness or satisfaction. Between climate and culture, climate is …
Tag: leadership
Admit mistakes before someone exaggerates the story.
I’ve learned a ton about leadership by making mistakes. One in particular was around twenty years ago. I was very early into my career as a school administrator and the district was working to pass a high stakes referendum. As a member of the administrative team, one of the volunteer/community service roles I had was …
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What is leadership?
We all have people in our lives--past and present--who we considered “leaders.” And if you’re like me, you have likely spent years striving to be like those people you have admired. But what IS leadership? And how do we know it when we see it? Better yet, what is GOOD leadership, and how can we …
Remote Work Environments & Self-Care
This is the fourth in a series of posts written collaboratively by Dr. Michele Andorfer and Mike Haynes. In previous posts, we explored ways to ensure productivity doesn't suffer because of a remote work environment. We also shared strategies that we learned from others regarding ways to build and nurture relationships when working remotely. In …
Plan A
At the beginning of the pandemic in the US, I wrote a post suggesting that we seize the opportunity of what appeared to be additional time that educators had, given schools were closing and students were staying home. Shortly thereafter, however, it became clear extra time was not necessarily available, as most educators, administrators and …
Become a Virtual Rockstar
People who lead understand that effective meetings don’t just happen by chance. Good leaders orchestrate the components of every meeting, including establishing a clear purpose, identifying items that should and should not be included on the agenda, determining who should participate, and utilizing strategies to engage all participants. Meetings that are not planned carefully are …
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Remote Work Environments
Nearly a month ago, many of us were thrust into a situation where doing business suddenly looked very different. The phrase “new normal” has become a popular way to refer to what many of us are dealing with since our working (and learning) environments have changed. This article is a collaboration between Dr. Michele Andorfer …
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20 Seconds of Courage
20 Seconds of Courage A number of years ago, I watched the movie We Bought a Zoo. It was really quite good--I found myself laughing and tearing up at the same time. The biggest takeaway for me, however, was during a poignant moment where Benjamin Mee, played by Matt Damon, offered advice to his on-screen …
Who do you want to be?
The memory of the first time that I was asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is vague. I know that I was very young. But the impact of that question, as well as my experiences for several years following, have had a profound effect on what I considered was my …
Continuum
There’s been a movement in education over the last two or three decades that shifts the paradigm about student and teacher roles. In the 80s, when I was in school, the shift hadn’t begun, or at least I didn't recognize it. What I do remember recognizing throughout my school years was an emphasis on compliance. …
