Three Lessons From a Woman in a Search Party…Looking for Herself
You may find this story hard to believe. I just read a report this month that a missing woman on vacation in Iceland managed to unwittingly join a search party looking for herself. You do realize…truth is stranger than fiction. The Toronto Sun reported that a tourist group traveling by bus made a pit stop in route to the volcanic Eldgja
Should College Athletes Be Able to Unionize?
In a ruling that could revolutionize college athletics, a federal agency ruled Wednesday that college football players at Northwestern University can unionize. The decision by a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board means it agrees football players at the Big Ten school qualify as employees under federal law and therefore can create the nation's first college athlete's union. But
One Secret to Bridging the Gap with Team Members
As many of you know, I enjoy spending time every March working with some pro baseball teams, who partner with us at Growing Leaders and use Habitudes® as anchors to teach life principles to their minor league players. Each time, I’ve been able to meet some stellar coaches and managers of these young men. This month, Billy Boughey (our athletic program
4 Ideas to Help Students Navigate Their Anxiety
One of my greatest concerns is the poor mental health our teens and young adults experience today. Teenagers in the U.S. endure higher levels of stress than many adults, according to a report by the American Psychological Association. And college students are definitely more "stressed" than students in past generations. While levels of "extreme stress" among teens vary during the year, 34 percent
From Awkward to Authentic: Four Ways Men Can Lead Women Well
Today, I’ve asked Holly Moore, the Vice President of Growing Leaders, to write a blog on being a female leader in her male-dominated career… and what she’s learned along the way. Holly and I have been friends for 15 years and have worked together for the last seven. I hope you are encouraged by her words! Over the 27 years of
What Stands in the Way of Female Leaders? (Part Three)
I have been musing for two days about what prevents females from leading. While there are many causes, the sad truth is that many women don’t lead because they feel there’s no place for them, even when they have gifts to do so. If you didn’t catch the story, Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook has launched a campaign
What Stands in the Way of Female Leaders? (Part Two)
Yesterday, I launched a blog series on what prevents women from leading. Early on, even gifted girls shy away from leading because they don’t want to be disliked or seen as “bossy.” I mentioned how Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, author of Lean In, and director on the board at Disney, has launched a campaign called Ban Bossy
What Stands in the Way of Female Leaders? (Part One)
I have a dear friend who’s facing issues that began when she was a young teen. Haley (not her real name) is a beautiful, funny, smart woman who’s now overcoming feeling “fake” most of her life. It all began when she and some friends decided to tell each other what was wrong with each of them at a teen sleepover.
Podcast #20: With Stephen Mansfield: A Discussion on Helping Boys Become Men
Recently I had the great privilege to discuss with Stephen Mansfield how we, as adults, can help boys navigate the path to becoming men. I hope you enjoy the discussion as much as I did. Stephen is the author of 17 books, three of which are New York Times bestsellers. His most recent book is “Mansfield’s Book of Manly Men: An Utterly Invigorating
Six Benefits to Ripping Up the Rulebook
Ridding Swanson Primary School of playtime rules is having an incredible impact on children who attend the Auckland, New Zealand elementary school. The principal and faculty decided to try something completely counter-intuitive, then assess how the students responded to see the results. I think it's safe to say--most everyone was stunned. Instead of the usual list of "rules" most schools enforce, Principal Bruce
At the Corner of Big Dreams and Harsh Realities
As a senior in high school, Ray quit school to join the army. He fought in two tours of Afghanistan before being injured and returning home to civilian life. He saw a counselor and inquired about what he needed to do to go on a speaking tour and talk about life on the battlefield. He’d heard of other ex-soldiers who
The Five Biggest Mistakes Leaders Make Teaching Habitudes
For more than ten years, schools, universities, athletic teams, corporations, youth groups, and non-profit organizations have used Habitudes® to ignite conversations and build leadership skills in the emerging generation. Along the way, we’ve partnered with a company to assess outcomes and discover what is working and what is not. One observation stands out. When the images have produced less than stellar
I’d Rather Lose My Ford or My Finger Than My Phone
In case you're wondering how kids today think, new research enables us to answer that question and see how absolutely different they are from their elders. According to a recent Cisco Study, adolescents put technology in the same category as air and water. They feel they need it to live their lives. In fact, they would rather give up their pinky finger than
How to Lead an Outlier Student
A statement made centuries ago may just enlighten us today. “If he continues to play that way, the organ will be ruined in two years, or most of the congregation will be deaf.” The statement was made by the employer of young Johann Sebastian Bach. Fortunately, the man was dead wrong about the future of this kid organ player. Bach became a
Generations at Work—A New Kind of Diversity Challenge
I just met Melanie and discovered she was job hunting. She graduated from college ten months ago and still has not found a career “match.” When I asked if she’d ever had a full-time job, she relayed this story. I got her permission to tell it. Melanie got her first job the summer following graduation and was excited to show her
Life After Generation iY: What’s Trending in Kids Today
Did you know that 84% of preschool-aged children have already been online and know how to use a tablet or smart phone? Did you know this number has climbed 43% over the last five years? In 2011, 38% of children under 8-years-old had ever used a mobile device. By 2013, that number climbed to 72%, meaning just 28% said they “had
Four Amazing Kids Who “Get It”
Today, instead of interpreting statistics on how culture is disabling teens from growing up, I’ve chosen to remind you of a handful of students who “get it” and are already using their time and talent for redemptive purposes. They’ve added value to the world around them. They’re contributors, not mere consumers. Be encouraged. Paving the Way for Others Here’s a story you
What Does It Mean for a Teen to Leave Home?
You probably saw the news report this week. Rachel Canning, a high school senior in New Jersey who claims her parents “threw her out of their home” when she turned 18, now plans to sue her parents to force them to pay for her college tuition. Wow. We live in a whole new day today, don’t we? But instead of taking a
From Entitled to Empowered: Eight Steps to Combat Entitlement in the Classroom
In part one of this series, I provided evidence for an increased sense of entitlement in students today - from K-12 education to college. Students have received praise just for making their bed and awards for just being on the soccer team. In the classroom, students feel they deserve a good grade for simply attending class and doing the readings. They feel
From Entitled to Empowered: Building Four Virtues in Students to Combat Entitlement in the Classroom
Professors from universities across the U.S. have all told me the same story. Their students are increasingly portraying feelings of entitlement toward good grades, adjusted deadlines, class perks and special treatment. One professor said a student told him, "I pay your salary, so you have to do what I want." In the response section to a 2012 Chronicle of Higher Education article, educators
The Fine Line Between Commitment & Obsession
Let’s start a conversation about one of the most controversial issues today—at least for coaches, teachers and parents of young performers. First, let me introduce you to Megan. Megan is a gymnast. Or, should I say, was a gymnast. She’s been into gymnastics since she was four years old. Like many who are gifted in the sport, it became her obsession.