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It’s Time to Evaluate Your Parenting Style
I recently had the privilege of meeting with parents and grandparents to discuss parenting styles across the country and through the years. As you might imagine, we laughed a lot at how times have changed—and how parenting methods and priorities have shifted as well. We had four generations represented in the room: Builder Generation—born between…
Continue ReadingFour Timeless Tools to Connect with Generation Z
I continue to hear from teachers nationwide that genuine conversations are becoming more difficult in their classrooms. Students seem more comfortable interacting on portable devices than they are face-to-face. The screens in our lives are negatively influencing our social interactions. In addition to technology, new research demonstrates that other factors are playing a role in…
Continue ReadingQuality Time or Quantity Time with Your Kids?
Earlier this month, the ABC network aired a special called “ScreenTime” hosted by Diane Sawyer. For six months, Sawyer and her team toured the U.S. talking to doctors, families, teachers and tech insiders in pursuit of answers to questions about how our smart phones are affecting us. What they discovered may not surprise you: Today,…
Continue ReadingFour Signs of the Times from the College Entrance Scandal
Something almost unbelievable just happened between parents and colleges in the U.S. It may be a sign of the times. Fifty people either bribed or bought their child’s admission into a prestigious university—simply because they could. All of them are affluent, and some of them are famous. Below is a summary of what happened. “The…
Continue ReadingThe 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…
Continue ReadingSometimes Leadership Is a Life or Death Situation
Sometimes helping students goes far deeper than our usual activities on a typical day. Take Sheila Fedrick’s situation for instance. Sheila is a flight attendant with Alaska Airlines. She’s a fifteen-year veteran and is good at her job. Typically, this means she has a pleasant attitude and serves nice cold drinks to the passengers. Oh,…
Continue ReadingAre We Really Wasting Time When We Play?
Last month, I enjoyed hearing best-selling author Daniel Pink at our RoundTable for Principals in Atlanta. Dan shared some highlights from his newest book, “When,” which is all about the science behind the best ways to leverage our time. Part of his session was about when we (and our kids) take time to play. Fred…
Continue ReadingOne Surprise I Got from My Time at West Point
Recently, I had the privilege of spending a day at the United States Military Academy. You know it as West Point. From the initial formation and flag salute in the morning, to the classes I attended that day—I got to tour an institution that is quite literally an incubator for leaders. All of this, I…
Continue ReadingEight Reasons Why Now’s the Right Time to Develop Young Leaders
When I was in high school and college, I don’t remember anyone talking about leadership. It was not a topic of conversation; it was not a course I could attend; it was not even a challenge that adults (teachers or coaches) gave me on campus. It is safe to say—leadership wasn’t even a category in…
Continue ReadingFive Qualities That Give Students POISE in Tough Times
As I interfaced with Division 1 coaches this year, one word came up in conversation more than any other. It was a surprising word, since I usually don’t associate it with athletics. It was the word: poise. Many of the coaches I met with said they just don’t see much “poise” in their athletes during…
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