One Solution to Spark Change in Your Students
Life changes fast. Sometimes we can see it change before our very eyes, but at other times, we must step back and observe. Consider this fact. Less than a hundred years ago, in my grandparents' day, many Americans saw some realities in life differently. Less Than a Century Ago We… Felt cigarette smoking could provide relief from asthma. Yep. Advertisers sold packs
Five Signs of Entitlement in Our Kids
A New York based firm met with a group of recent college graduates to talk about their careers. During the conversation, the potential employer asked the grads this question: What’s the one word HR execs use more than any other to describe the mindset of your generation? It begins with an “E.” Do you know what that word is? The young
Why You Should Have High Expectations of the Students You Lead
I’ve written about my experience mentoring young college students in leadership back in the 1990s. I led a group of six students who chose and discussed various topics each week. I got an email from a student one evening asking who was going to choose the topic for next week’s meeting. I grabbed my laptop and replied: “I can do that.”
The Top Reasons Today’s Teens Lack Sleep & What to Do
When my teammate, Andrew McPeak, hosted several focus groups with middle school and high school students last year—we suspected we’d hear about certain habits in their lives, such as: Several hours of screen time on their portable device Feeling overwhelmed by school pressures and college entrance exams Their relationships with their parents at home What we didn’t expect to hear was
Are Your Students Setting the Right Goals?
Last month, I met with some college seniors to set some goals for the year. It was both an enlightening and hilarious experience, as student goals ranged from “I have no idea what to write down” to “I still want to be a professional athlete” to “I want to own a mansion and make a million dollars a year.” The one
How Boredom Changed One Girl’s Life
Ruby Kate Chitsey is only 11-years-old. Since she’s so young, and has a working mom, she can’t just run off to play the way some of her classmates do after school. So, Ruby Kate often joins her mom at work. Her mother is a nurse practitioner at local nursing homes in Arkansas. Needless to say, a kid can get bored in
Why Generation Z is Passing on College
I just spent two evenings with two audiences of high school and college students. As I asked them questions about their future, I heard them say things like: I am not so sure I will finish college. I plan to take a gap year and if it goes well, I may just launch my career. I watch YouTube videos, so
One of the Most Important Rules for Leaders
A college dean recently told me she had a mess on her hands. She had invited three graduate students to serve with her in student affairs, but found they weren’t cooperating with the policies. They were coming in late; they were not following a basic dress code, they were on their phones too much during their work hours and their
One Secret to Survive the Coaching Climate Today
If you are not an athletic coach, have you paused to consider what it’s like to be one? If you are a coach, do you realize how much your profession has changed in the last two decades? It’s enough to rattle anyone. Allow me to share one case study, without naming any names. Some time ago, a Division 1 coach removed a
The Differences Between Generation Z & Millennials in the Workplace
It was my privilege to meet with some recent graduates who were willing to discuss their transition from college to career. Fortunately, this informal focus group was made up of males and females from four different ethnicities and various parts of the country. I felt like I got a good sampling of the mindset of today’s youngest worker. Can you
Passion and Leadership
Today's post is a guest blog by Steve Moore. He is a long-time friend and someone I respect deeply. Steve serves as the President of Missio Nexus. He is a also a member of the Growing Leaders speakers team and is available to provide leadership training to organizations. His most recent book, Who is My Neighbor? Being a Good Samaritan in a Connected World, was released in May, 2011.The word passion is used to describe a powerful range of emotions, from love to anger, hatred to joy. It is somewhat ironic that in leadership literature, passion is often associated with what happens to leaders when they don’t have it: lack of energy, loss of creativity, diminished motivation and ultimately burnout. Take the opening few sentences of an article on passion in Entrepreneur magazine for example: “You’re trying hard not to show it--you’ve lost that lovin’ feeling for your business…It’s time to rekindle your passion and renew your commitment as an entrepreneur.”
Passion is important for leaders for at least two reasons.
Three Big Reasons Generation Z is Poised to be Entrepreneurs
Did you know that 77 percent of U.S. teenagers see themselves as future “entrepreneurs” and hope to be their own boss? Further, According to a Gallup Student Poll, 40% of students grades 5-12 plan to start their own business soon, while 24% are already learning how to start and run a business. Welcome to Generation Z. Why is this happening? Lots of reasons. According
How Google Can Help Students Prepare for a Job
I love the idea that one teacher allowed in her classroom that not only helped the students who were falling behind, but created an environment that looked more like working at a job, and less like a traditional classroom. I saw this idea posted on social media and it immediately made sense: “I learned today that a group of students used a
The Right Time to Give a Second Chance
Ashton just got suspended from his high school for an entire week for cheating. His mother, Jan, was beside herself, because six other students (Ashton’s classmates) got excused for their misconduct, only having to serve one detention period. Jan, obviously, felt it wasn’t fair. Why should her son get a suspension when other boys who had cheated, get a lesser penalty. If