Eight Ways Educators Can Collaborate with Parents (Part Two)
Yesterday, I posted Part One of this series on how schools and parents can actually experience collaboration instead of conflict. If you missed it, check out the first five ideas I provided for K-12 schools, colleges, athletic programs or other student organizations that want to deepen the partnership between parents and staff. Today, let’s examine three more ideas: 6. Whenever You Meet,
Eight Ways Educators Can Collaborate with Parents (Part One)
In our work with college or high school administrators, staff, coaches and faculty, one issue comes up over and over: How do we form collaborative relationships with overbearing parents? Let’s face it, we not only have a new generation of kids today, we have a whole new generation of parents. I am part of it. There may be no “silver bullet”
Nine Ways to Reduce Your Anxiety When Speaking
I had a great advantage for the first eleven years of my speaking career. My mom was in the audience almost every time I spoke. Moments before I walked onto the platform, regardless of how nervous I was about my topic—I looked out at the audience…and there she was. Looking at me, smiling, cheering me on without any words necessary.
What’s on Your Report Card?
My colleague, Holly Moore, had to visit the emergency room at a local hospital this past week. She is fine, but she learned a valuable lesson through the visit. When examined, the nurse never once looked her in the eye, never spoke to her about anything personal, and never expressed any concern for her condition. She just took the vital signs
A Simple Lesson From the Aurora Cinema Massacre
I am sure you’ve reflected on the tragic shootings that took place at an ordinary cinema in Aurora, Colorado last week. I used to live in Aurora, not ten minutes from that theatre. It’s a little freaky to think about it. There are probably dozens of lessons to be learned from this homicide, but I’d like to focus on just one.
Artificial Maturity Interview with Glen Jackson (Part 3)
It was an honor to film this conversation with Glen Jackson, co-founder of Jackson Spalding. The company is a leading PR firm based in Atlanta that represents clients such as Delta Airlines, Coca Cola, Chick Fil A, and others. Glen took the time to host this interview about the topic: "Artificial Maturity" and how it's affecting both kids and adults.
Artificial Maturity Interview with Glen Jackson (Part 2)
It was an honor to film this conversation with Glen Jackson, co-founder of Jackson Spalding. The company is a leading PR firm based in Atlanta that represents clients such as Delta Airlines, Coca Cola, Chick Fil A, and others. Glen took the time to host this interview about the topic: "Artificial Maturity" and how it's affecting both kids and adults.
Artificial Maturity Interview with Glen Jackson (Part 1)
Glen Jackson co-founded Jackson Spalding in 1995. He provides leadership for the firm, many of its clients and also serves as a motivational speaker for organizations looking for inspiration. He has special expertise in real estate, professional services, crisis communications, marketing communications and not-for-profit public relations.
How Schools Today Thwart Creativity
I constantly try to offer insights into how our leadership of students must change. Lately, we’ve drifted from providing engaging leadership and our kids are victims. Even when we cover issues that are helpful, we bore them to tears. Consider this fact. Some of the world’s most creative geniuses hated the instruction they received in school. Thomas Edison once said his
In Case You Wonder What Your Boss is Thinking
Most everyone who reads my blogs is a leader. Almost all of you, however, are also under an authority too. While you’re a leader, you may not be the top leader in your organization. In case you’re wondering why a top leader does and says what he (or she) does, let me explain something to you. Last week I had a
When Praising Our Students Backfires
According to a survey conducted by Columbia University, 85% of parents today think it’s important to tell their kids they are smart. The assumption is that if a student believes he’s smart (having been affirmed so repeatedly) he won’t be intimidated by new academic challenges. The constant praise is meant to be an “angel on their shoulder” reminding them how
Parenting in the Last Century
Over the next few days, I’d like to furnish some perspective on how leading students is different today than, let’s say, when I was a kid. It isn’t that the adolescent brain is different or their needs are different. Fundamentally, kids are kids no matter when they’re born, but their surroundings, expectations, and privileges are different today, requiring us to
Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: Guest Post by Dr. Meg Meeker
Today is a guest post by Dr. Meg Meeker. Pediatrician, mother and best-selling author of six books, Dr. Meg Meeker is the country’s leading authority on parenting, teens and children’s health. To learn more about Dr. Meeker, visit her website at www.megmeekermd.com or follow her on Twitter @megmeeker. Over the past 25 years that I’ve practiced adolescent medicine, I have had
Lessons I Learned at the National Leadership Forum
Over the last three days of June, our team hosted a packed house of educators and organizational leaders at our National Leadership Forum, and a Habitudes One-Day Intensive both held in Atlanta. Our theme was: Growing Leaders Not Just Graduates. We talked about building leaders at every level—staff, faculty and student. I’ve been musing about my greatest “take aways” from the National
Remember the Fences
Every good parent erects a fence for their children as they grow up. The fence surrounds the child and protects them. Parents do this for the purpose of safety, guidance and boundaries. The fence prevents the child from wandering too far off the right path and making poor decisions. The boundaries vary from family to family, but most moms and dads
The Anti-Leadership Vaccine
The late John Gardener, former Secretary of Housing, Education and Welfare was a man ahead of his time. He said years ago that one of his chief concerns about the educational system in America is that it’s unwittingly injecting students with an “anti-leadership vaccine.” It sort of paints a picture, doesn’t it? He saw the direction education was going, making
The Lost Art of Resourcefulness
My daughter graduated from college a year ago. Her plans were clear. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, she wanted to get her master’s degree and become a counselor. I loved her ambition. So she asked if she could move back home and save money to pay tuition for this second degree. I said yes, but with one stipulation: she’d make
Repost: Communicate or Stagnate
I am enjoying some much-needed vacation time this week with my family. To continue providing some thoughts for you on leading the next generation—I decided to re-post some popular blog posts from the past two years. Hope you enjoy them. "Communicate or Stagnate" continues to be one of the most popular posts on my blog. Often, we think we are communicating
Repost: Change Our Minds – 6 Strategies to Rightsize Our Leadership
I am enjoying some much-needed vacation time this week with my family. To continue providing some thoughts for you on leading the next generation—I decided to re-post some popular blog posts from the past two years. Hope you enjoy them. "Change Our Minds about Kids: 6 Strategies to Rightsize Our Leadership" continues to be one of the most popular posts on
Enjoy Your Fourth of July!
Happy Fourth of July! I hope you have an opportunity to celebrate with family and friends today. I'm thankful for those who have sacrificed to give us the freedom we enjoy. I'm on vacation with my family this week. I'll be re-posting some of my most popular blogs the rest of this week. Next week, I'll resume my regular blogging
Repost: The Starving Baker for Teachers
I am enjoying some much-needed vacation time this week with my family. To continue providing some thoughts for you on leading the next generation—I decided to re-post some popular blog posts from the past two years. Hope you enjoy them. "The Starving Baker for Teachers" continues to be one of the most popular posts on my blog. Everyone knows that they
An Interview with Generation Y: Confessions of an Entitled Philanthropist
My friend, Paul Borthwick, recently interviewed a young adult on the subject of how his generation will handle philanthropy based on current attitudes and values. Paul’s guest blog is below. I thought you might like to read these words from a twenty-something responding to questions I asked about raising funds from the under-30 crowd. The remarks are quite blunt (probably a