Six Ideas for Utilizing Technology to Teach
When I recently spoke to a group of eight students ages 17 to 22, I asked them what the biggest surprise was that they received since returning home to finish the semester online. I got my own surprise from most of them. Their top answer? How little their teacher knew about online learning. Apparently, many faculty members struggled to get up to
How to Help Gen Z Through the COVID-19 Mental Health Crisis
Most of us were shocked when we heard that medical doctor, Lorna Breen, died by suicide on April 27, 2020. Although she was doing all she could to fight the spread of the coronavirus as a doctor, her own mental health was dealt a mortal blow when she ended her life. She had battled the COVID-19 infection herself and had
The Positive Outcomes of Outbreaks Through History
Note: Today’s post is available for you to either watch as a vlog or read as a blog post below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cne3mnjlb5s Interruptions have a way of changing us. We enter our week with a plan, then suddenly, intrusions happen: People walk in with unsolicited problems. Accidents occur, which required time and energy to fix. Outbreaks unexpectedly sweep across the world. But because these unplanned interruptions
The Secret Weapon to Handling Mental Health Issues
I saw something last week that absolutely fascinated me. I don’t know if I would have believed it had I not seen it. Four university students were in the parking lot at our local grocery store just north of Atlanta. I heard them talking about how nervous they were about going inside to shop and how anxious they were about
How to Turn a Setback into a Comeback
Note: Today’s post is available for you to either watch as a vlog or read as a blog post below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfhw3Mt1HiQ I remember a story recently, which has a relevant application to the season we’re in today. If you’ve followed professional boxing over the last century, you know the name, Jack Dempsey. Jack was the heavyweight champion of the world for seven years. But do
An Astronaut’s Advice on Living in Isolation
Note: Today’s post is available for you to either watch as a vlog or read as a blog post below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3KrUYkSlpA Astronaut Scott Kelly is a veteran of four space flights and was the pilot for the space shuttle Discovery in December 1999. This experienced astronaut recently spoke about how to handle long periods of time in isolation. As in social isolation. Sound relevant? Here
Ten Ideas to Help You and Your Students Get More Done at Home
Have you ever had a Saturday morning where you thought: Finally, I get a weekend to catch up on some projects! It seems we tread water all week, so we look forward to weekends to get some tasks done. And then, we reach Sunday night, and very few tasks, if any, are done. During this period of isolation during COVID-19, many
What’s Wrong with Social Distancing?
It was five weeks ago when we began to hear the term, “social distancing.” It wasn’t invented then; people have practiced it for centuries during outbreaks. But this was our own version in 2020. We heard that staying beyond six feet from one another would prevent us from vulnerability to the coronavirus. Sadly, I have witnessed a pitiful misinterpretation of this
The Biggest Lesson We Can Learn from This Pandemic
I just heard from a friend who lost a tenant in her apartment complex due to the coronavirus. The woman who died was only 41 years old. Suddenly, this outbreak has hit close to home for me. There is no clear historical precedent for the scale and nature of this shock. Some economists see the U.S. output falling by more in
How Will a Global Pandemic Impact Generation Z as They Become Adults?
Do you remember where you were when the Berlin Wall came down? Or when September 11th happened? I bet you do if you were around during these events. They were huge. But, do you recall where you were when you heard about COVID-19? Maybe not, because it was a gradual news breaker. It began as a news story from China in
What Parents May Learn from Teaching Their Own Kids
One of the many viral Facebook posts spreading around the country is a note an eight-year-old boy named Ben wrote about how things were going at home now that his mom has assumed the task of being his teacher during this period of social distancing. To sum it up, Ben’s not so sure his mother is cut out for home-schooling. Young
A Pandemic is a Terrible Thing to Waste
Note: Today's post is available for you to either watch as a vlog or read as a blog post below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdAjkeLiPOQ Many people I know are already complaining about the “interruption” of the coronavirus. Life is on hold. Classes have gone virtual or gone away completely. It feels like society is not making progress. But really—this is totally up to us. I don’t mean
The Most Important Responsibilities Every Student Needs to Own
Jalen is 17 years old and in his junior year of high school. Like many teens his age, he’s preoccupied with making good grades, taking the SAT and getting into a good college. When I asked him about other concerns normally on the minds of teens like him—he balked. Me: When did you get your driver’s license? Jalen: I don’t drive. I
How to Help Generation Z Break Free from the All-or-Nothing Mindset
Have you noticed what’s happening around our country? Psychologists call it all-or-nothing thinking. It’s when a person assumes: My life is either awesome or it’s terrible. My job is either fantastic or it’s disgusting. I am either beautiful or I am ugly. My classmates are either smart or they’re stupid. I am successful or I’m worthless. This year, we see it
Three Ways to Know If Your Kid Is Dealing with Loneliness
When both of my kids were young, they had no problem expressing what they wanted or needed. My wife and I would’ve sworn they were both extroverts, as they (like millions of other Millennials) let us know if they were hungry, thirsty, in need of a toy, or desiring a friend. Then they became high school students and later, college students. Eventually,
What Message are We Sending to Generation Z?
Note: Today's post is available for you to either watch as a vlog or read as a blog post below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKpI1sLoNs0 An NPR online report stunned me recently. I didn’t know whether to chuckle or to mourn our “snowflake generation.” And it’s not the kids—it’s the adults. Along with hand sanitizer and other disinfectants, toilet tissue has been increasingly hard to find at local markets,
The Six P’s of an Amazing School Culture
I just finished reviewing my notes on colleges and secondary schools I’ve observed since 2005. The schools are located in Singapore, Canada, England, Germany, Egypt, India, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. I’ve listed below the “best practices” in those schools. Obviously, a key requirement when applying best practices to organizations or schools is the ability to balance the unique
How the Coronavirus Could Affect Generation Z
Every time period in history is shaped by the significant events that occur during that season. Each generation is marked by shared experiences, music, heroes, villains, tragedies, TV shows and economies. Let’s walk down memory lane: My parents grew up during the Great Depression and brought a “waste not, want not” mindset with them clear into the 21st century. Both
Changing the Way We Advocate for Students
Do you know parents or teachers who are so tired of bickering with their teens that they: Make a separate dinner for their children because they are a picky eater? Offer the answers to the test because it’s easier than insisting they study? Allow them to play video games all day, even when it becomes addictive? While moms and dads have
Five Steps to Lead Students Wisely During the Coronavirus Pandemic
What most of us assumed would go away in a matter of days in China, has become a global pandemic, according to the World Health Organization. The Coronavirus is now headline news on every major network and on social media feeds everywhere. We can’t escape it. Sarah Sparks, reporter and data journalist for Education Week, writes: “Epidemiologists measure how contagious a disease is
Five Ways to Help Students Cure a Culture of Rudeness
A video sparked an online debate recently. In case, you didn’t see it, Wendi Williams, a passenger on an American Airlines flight from New Orleans to Charlotte, decided to recline her seat to rest after the food was served. When she did, she got a rude awakening. The passenger behind her immediately chose to display his displeasure with her decision by punching
Three Ways Generation Z is Breaking from Older Generations
Kids who’ve grown up in the 21st century have a different childhood and adolescent experience than previous generations, including the Millennials. Generation Z has grown up with: The Internet Smart technology Frequent mass shooting Terrorism Social media A polarized adult population Inspired by my friend, researcher, and educator, Corey Seemiller, author of the book Generation Z: A Century in the Making,
Five Steps to Help Students Avoid the Comparison Trap
Over the last five years, I’ve heard dozens of authors and speakers talk about the “comparison trap.” I believe it’s because people are not only prone to compare themselves to each other, but social media has exacerbated the problem. The student focus groups we hosted two years ago illustrated this challenge for teens. Here are some of the statements we
Four Steps to Helping Students Make Good Decisions
Alex is a college student I enjoyed a coffee with recently. Our discussion revolved around all the options he was staring with next semester, including courses and jobs, clubs and other extra-curricular activities. Like so many others, Alex is suffering from “decision fatigue.” It’s the experience of being worn down by making lots of choices in a short amount of
How to Motivate Students Who Don’t Want Responsibility
My friend, Zach, told me about a recent project he gave to a freshman college student. Zach mentioned he’d heard me talk about how we must give ownership of a teen’s learning to them. So, he discussed this project with the student and saw his eyes light up when he added: “And you can decide how you want to solve
The Top Five Issues Generation Z & Millennials Say They Care About
I asked an 18-year old high school senior what she cared about most. “I don’t just mean your family and friends,” I clarified. “I mean what issues and concerns do you think about most.” She blinked and stared at me for a moment, then replied, “No adult has ever asked me that question before.” Our interactions with focus groups reveal to us
My Favorite Books I Read Last Year
Almost every year, I post a handful of my favorite books I read the previous year. As you can see below, my list for 2019 was heavily weighted with leadership books, not just organizational, but personal leadership. The styles vary, and so do the authors. These are the books I was able to “eat the fish and spit out the
The Positives & Negatives of Video Games
Rich and Susan have four sons ages 9, 11, 14, and 16. They are good parents who provide a loving home to their four boys, but when I spoke to them recently, they echoed a concern so many parents are voicing today: “We don’t know what to do with our kids’ video game addictions.” To clarify, Rich and Susan are not
Nine Leadership Traits We See in Generation Z
This past month, even more protestors got arrested by Hong Kong police. You likely saw the story on the news. But do you understand what’s really going on? Technically, Hong Kong belongs to China but is under an agreement called “One Country, Two Systems.” Mainland China is very authoritarian. Hong Kong is a semi-autonomous region and is supposed to enjoy democratic
How 2019 Impacted Our Students
We not only just finished another year—we just completed another decade. Some of the “firsts” that happened over the last decade are remarkable: The first non-political candidate won the presidency — Donald Trump. Facebook became more valuable than AT&T, General Electric, and Citigroup combined. Same-sex marriage became legal. American unemployment fell to 3.5%. Disney bought three more huge entertainment companies.
The Normalization of Anxiety
This may sound strange—but I love the fact that we’re talking about mental health issues today. While I hate that millions of teenage students struggle with such issues, at least we’re finally addressing them, rather than hiding from them, and beginning to take action against anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other disorders. Nearly everyone on planet earth experiences some anxiety. Luna Greenstein,
What is Sportsmanship in 2020?
I love celebrating, and I love sports. So I naturally enjoy celebrating a great performance from a team after a win. As a fan, I get to vicariously live through those young athletes on the field, the court, or in the pool. Everyone feels good as they celebrate a victory for their team. Over my lifetime, however, referees and umpires have
How to Raise Healthy Kids in a Fearful Culture
This week, I am blogging on three cultural realities and how we can help our kids from Generation Z navigate them. We’ve explored our culture of avoidance and our culture of outrage the past two days. Today, I want to talk about our culture of fear. Because we’re raising our kids in uncertain times, adults are consumed over all that could
How to Lead Kids in a Culture of Outrage
This week, I am blogging on cultural trends that we would do well to pay attention to, especially if we teach or lead young people. Yesterday, I posted about our culture of avoidance. Today, I am discussing our current culture of rage and outrage. Earlier this year, a story broke in the Washington D.C. Mall. You may recall an old Native
Seven Characteristics That Distinguish Generation Z
One question I often get asked is: How is Generation Z (the youngest population being assessed today) different than Millennials? The answer? They’re distinctly different. If we have any hope of partnering with these students, we would do well to understand them. Below is an excerpt from our new book, Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most
Three Priorities of the 2020 Principal of the Year
Last month, one of the administrators we work with and admire was named the 2020 National Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Her name is Kerensa Wing. She has served as principal of Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County for the last five years but has worked as an educator in Gwinnett County
What Generation Z Likes & Doesn’t Like
Twice a year, Piper Jaffrey (an independent banking company) surveys almost 10,000 teens to discover what they like, what they don’t like, and what they care about. (Respondents are from 42 states; this year, the average respondent’s age was about 16.) The company just released its latest report (Fall, 2019), and I thought you’d enjoy seeing the results. I also
Four Things You Should Watch to Better Understand Generation Z
Today’s blog is from Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a next gen researcher, speaker and the Vice President of Content for Growing Leaders. He is also the co-author of Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population. When I’m on the road and in conversations with leaders of various backgrounds across the country, I find that two perspectives
The State of Today’s Students Around the World
Three years ago, our organization, Growing Leaders, hosted focus groups of international leaders called Global Voices Gatherings. More than 30 leaders of youth organizations and educational institutions from 10 countries (including Singapore, Great Britain, Brazil, Ethiopia, Mexico, Canada, Egypt, South Africa, Italy, and the United States) joined us in Atlanta. Over the course of three days, I was consistently surprised by
Three Leadership Topics to Discuss with Your Team
Since the beginning of this year, I have experienced new territory as a leader. Change is in the wind. Major change. Our organization, Growing Leaders, endured a plateau in its growth, and some team members moved out of state. It forced our leadership’s team members to examine ourselves in fresh ways. We hired some incredible new people (including a new
One Counterintuitive Secret to Use with Your Kids
When I was young, my dad worked hard at his job and often was busy away from home doing that job; earning a living and providing for his family. My parents had a good marriage and both found a way to divide the family responsibilities between mom, dad and their three children. I distinctly remember something my dad did that I
The Latest Research on the Mental Effects of Social Media Usage
I have a deal to make with you. If you’ll read the research below on what screen time is doing to teenagers in America, and you feel it might be helpful for your young people to know about this research—print this article, grab a latte together and talk it over with them. My track record doing this with adolescents shows
Survey Results: Today’s Students Are Skipping College
I’ll never forget reading the statistic, "90 percent of millennials who graduate from high school attend college within eight years." That was the highest number on record and would have tilted the workforce in both positive and negative ways. (Very good to have so many college-educated professionals. Not so good when many job openings don’t require a bachelor’s degree). Of course,
Six Ways to Separate Your Kids from Their Phones
Do you remember what life was like before we had smartphones? How about life before cell phones? I do. And while I love my iPhone today, sometimes I miss the days when we weren’t tethered to our portable devices. The New York Times recently ran an article that caught my eye: “Now Some Families Are Hiring Coaches to Help Them Raise Phone
Is it OK for Boomerang Kids to Move Back Home?
I frequently have parents ask me if it’s wrong to allow young adult children to move back home with them after they have moved out or following graduation from college. In some countries around the world it is perfectly normal. In others, it is a sign of unreadiness and immaturity. There are obviously varying opinions on the topic. The Wall Street Journal
The Importance of Reducing Moral Hazards with Students
Last year, two educators shared a similar story with me about students who learned how to work the “school system.” Each of the students purposely did poorly on their exams at the beginning of the school year. They answered questions almost randomly. By midterm, they put more thought into the tests they took and by the end of the year,
The Importance of Radical Independence
This week, Americans celebrate our anniversary as a nation. But did you know that when the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical. Although some politicians advocated independence from England—the average American, from any of the original colonies—wasn’t too hot on the idea. Just one
The Negative Impact of Social Media on a Teen’s Self-Esteem
While social media platforms have had a positive effect on some kids’ and teens' self-esteem, (including those who become YouTube famous), it has had a negative effect on the majority of them. Sooner or later, each young person observes posts that: Make them feel worse about themselves. (Cyber-bullying) Cause them to feel they’re missing out on a better life. (Fear
One Decision We Can’t Afford to Make with Our Kids
We all remember the story. It was Valentine’s Day in 2018. The tragic and awful school shooting that happened last year in Parkland, Florida. In all, 17 people died on campus that day, including students, staff and faculty at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School. One story within this unfolding tragedy captured my imagination. I believe it’s one that serves as a
What Emotion-Reading Technology Means for Us
You may not believe this—but word just got out that Amazon.com Inc. is working on a smart device that can read human emotions. That’s right. This is not science fiction. In fact, the technology may be able to discern your emotional or personal needs before you do. An example of an interaction might go something like this: You: “Alexa," (sniff), "I’m