My Personal Reflections as I Turn 60
It’s hard for me to believe, but on November 22nd, I turn 60 years old. I feel awkward even writing that down. I don’t feel 60. In my younger years, everyone I knew who was 60 seemed…well…old. Not anymore. 60 is the new 50, as far as I’m concerned. And while I don’t plan on stopping any time soon, I
Eight Sticky Traits of Uncommon Leaders
Years ago, I spoke at an awards banquet for a large corporation on the West Coast. A woman named Julia received an “uncommon leadership” award that evening for taking her department to an entirely new level of performance. Her team had doubled their results, year-over-year, even in the midst of a budget cut. She and her team had accomplished more
The Timothy Alexander Story: How He Overcame Two Tragedies
Each week—leading up to Giving Tuesday—we are posting a story of a person who has experienced someone’s generosity. We call it “The Art of Generosity.” We shared the story of Truett Cathy and John Maxwell, and today, I want you to meet Timothy Alexander. Timothy has become one of my favorite people on planet Earth. Friends know him as “T.A.” He grew
The Results of John Maxwell’s Generosity
When I think about generosity—my mind tends to go backward in time to my season working under Dr. John C. Maxwell. He is the most generous person I have ever met. I joined John’s staff shortly after graduating college in 1983. He’d only met me twice but took a chance on me, still wet behind the ears, by adding me
The Impact of One Generous Leader
Leading up to “Giving Tuesday” and Thanksgiving this year, we thought we’d do something different. I plan to post simple stories of leaders I know who’ve encountered generous people during their lifetime. This first is from my friend, Glen Jackson who tells of his first encounter with Truett Cathy. Our series is called: “The Art of Generosity.” I first met Truett Cathy,
Changing the Way We Communicate with Generation Z
Did you know that public educators are quitting their jobs at a faster rate than some schools can replace them? As of last year, “public education employees are leaving their jobs faster than ever recorded,” reports government data reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. “Teachers, janitors and other education professionals departed their jobs at an ‘average rate of 83 per 10,000 a month’ in
The Benefits of Preparing Your Students to Think Like Leaders
Almost everywhere I travel, I meet everyday students who are doing extraordinary things. They are teens who’ve caught a vision to do something beyond making good grades or staying out of trouble, and their communities benefit as a result. I love the students at Kennesaw Mountain High School who years ago decided they would host a prom night for special needs
Three Ingredients That Influence Students to Take Action
Any parent, teacher, or coach has experienced the frustration of attempting to motivate an unmotivated student to act. Don’t forget to apply for that scholarship. Please pick up your clothes in your room. Have you interviewed for any jobs this summer? When are you going to write that paper? Millions of teens are notorious for apathy—and they have been for centuries,
Two Paradoxes Every Leader Faces
I was asked to observe student leaders in action on a university campus last spring. My goal was to watch them facilitate a service project and offer helpful feedback afterward. As you can imagine, I watched the students work with great passion. I saw them making attempts to find their own style and rhythm, and I watched them attempt to communicate
Three Ideas to Enable Students to Build Bridges in the Internet Age
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. In your conversations with friends or in discussions online, you’ve probably heard a term that is increasingly used to describe the effects
Excellence Fatigue: The Normalization of Defects
I am pleased to post a brief, but relevant article today from our new president at Growing Leaders: Steve Moore. I have known Steve for over three decades and he is one of the finest leaders I know. He now leads the operations at Growing Leaders, bringing a wealth of experience and insight from his career. Enjoy. If you’ve talked with
Six Strategies for Building Perseverance in Students
I recently listened to an interview between two neuroscientists and a group of elderly people, all over the age of 80. In the conversation, it became clear that some of these elders were losing their short-term memories and even experiencing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. They spoke to the brain specialists about what they could do to maintain optimal brain
10 Visible Signs of Stress in Students—and How to Spot Them
I listened in on a conversation between young women recently. The girls were from various high schools and colleges, and they were talking about surviving school. I was struck by how much they used the term stressed out. It was the most frequently verbalized term in their discussion. Today, students suffer from distress (being stressed out) more frequently than previous
Five Sources of Stress in Teens
Chad lives with his grandparents whose income is so low they live well below the poverty line in his school district. Because the school is understaffed and has only one counselor, Chad is consistently living in distress, possessing no coping skills. Sara is bullied and sexually harassed as a middle school student. Her grades and demeanor reflect the poor school climate
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
What If Leadership Didn’t Just Come from the Team Captain?
The first Monday Night Football game of 2019 between the Houston Texans and the New Orleans Saints was a great one. “The Saints took possession with 37 seconds remaining in the game, used 36 of those seconds to drive to the Texans' 40-yard line, and put Wil Lutz on the field to attempt a winning kick.” His line drive was
How to Keep Rewards from Backfiring with Students
Fourteen thousand students in California were surveyed recently. Each of their schools had given out awards to students for school attendance. The goal, of course, was to highlight the importance of showing up every day. What researchers discovered, in retrospect, was enlightening. Many of the students who received the award, started attending school less often. In other words, the reward did not
Three Leaders Who Made a Difference for Generation Z
Jacob and Alexa are both sophomores in college. They’re like millions of other 19-year-olds in the U.S. They’re savvy to what’s happening in culture. They are smart and make good grades, and they plan to, one day, own their own company. Unlike millennials, however, Jacob and Alexa don’t feel they need to finish college to begin a start-up. They are both from
How to Prevent Becoming a Snowplow Parent
On my drive to work each day, I pass by several bus stops where children wait to be picked up. They are not alone. Parents are there, too. Lots of them. Once I stopped to count the number of adults waiting with several 8- to 11-year-old students. There were more parents waiting at the bus stop than students. I also drive
How to Lead Someone Older Than You
I found myself talking about “generational diversity in the workplace” twice during podcasts recently. In response, I’ve had young leaders send a specific question: “How do you lead someone from an older generation who is, well…different from you?” It’s a good question. Generational diversity in the workplace can be just as challenging as ethnic, economic or gender diversity. But I know
10 Tips for Handling Difficult Conversations Between Teachers & Parents
It’s September and already, I’ve heard from a teacher who was ambushed by an upset parent in a hallway after school. Students and faculty were all around when an argument surfaced that failed to reach any resolution and, in fact, only built walls between the teacher and parent. All they accomplished was venting. Most of the time, both teachers and parents
The First Two Steps in a Student’s Leadership Journey
A great news story broke not long ago in Denver, Colorado. On July 15th, 23-year old Nathan Patterson was attending a Colorado Rockies ballgame. At Coors Field, like in most baseball stadiums today, there are amusements all over the stadium for fans who get bored just watching the game. They want to “do” something. Nathan stepped up to the Speed Pitch
Seven Steps to Help Students Create Margin and Reduce Stress
Gary Davison, Principal of Lambert High School, noticed the rise in stress and anxiety levels in his students and decided to think outside of the box. When he asked students why they were so “stressed out,” many said it was because they had demands on both ends of their school day. They need as much sleep as possible in the
Five Ways to Develop Empathy in Generation Z
In May 2007, an Iraqi artist named Wafaa Bilal decided to move into a gallery space in Chicago. He planned to do a 30-day experiment on “empathy” in light of what had happened to his brother In Iraq. His brother had been killed by an airstrike from a drone that was shot by a soldier far away. Wafaa was shocked
When to Rescue and When to Risk with Students
I know a young adult male—we’ll call him Sam—who manages depression and has anxiety attacks from time to time. As a young professional he’s attempting to cope with his reality, but over the last two years, he’s resorted to smoking pot, consuming too much alcohol and vaping. He’s gotten high and he’s gotten drunk and yet he knows that these
Becoming a “Free Range Leader” for Generation Z
Over the last 18 months, I’ve been collecting stories from “heroes” in the world of student work, athletics and education. These are people who stand out among their peers; they make moves that not only engage Generation Z students but equip them with skills they will need as they graduate into a very different world than the one I entered
Four 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 influencing student discussion, student engagement, and
Three Common Missteps Leaders Must Avoid
I read two articles recently that caught my attention. They did so because each published a report illustrating a moral failure that 21st-century leaders commit far too often. In fact, we hear stories like this every year. I believe our problem is—we value production over principles. Ford Knew Their Cars Were Defective “Ford Motor Company knowingly launched two low-priced, fuel-efficient cars with defective
10 Steps to Help Recent College Graduates with Interviews
Picture this scenario: Your young graduate sends out her resume to several potential employers hoping for a great job to open up. Lo and behold, three job offers end up coming her way. But which should she choose? Such a decision seems more stressful than it was in past generations. More and more young professionals (or students) feel ill-equipped to handle turning
How to Effectively Communicate with Generation Z
As we begin a new school year, I have a challenge for you. Over the summer, your kids had lots more “say” in what they did and how they engaged in their days. Few sat in a classroom; more of them chose how they approached each of their activities—be it a video game, summer camp, games in the neighborhood or
The Danger of Single Sport Athletes
Parents have made another shift in a single generation. While parents raising Millennials became famous for giving trophies or ribbons to their children just for participating, parents of Generation Z (often Millennial parents) have pushed their kids to the other extreme, driving them to compete at a high level from early ages. In fact, parents take youth sports so seriously, it
The Secret Behind a Best-Selling Author’s Success
In 1973, you would have never guessed that Stephen King would one day be a best-selling author. I say this because of: Where he lived. How he thought. What he did for work. How much money he made. And the kind of stuff he wrote at the time. That year, Stephen King’s pockets were empty and he lived with his wife,
The Hidden Advantages of Staying in School
In 1942, the G.E.D. program was launched to enable World War II veterans return home after serving in the military to complete their high school education. By 1947, the state of New York allowed civilians to enroll to get their General Education Development (GED) and earn a high school diploma equivalency. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson began his “War on
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,
Does What We Watch Really Affect Us?
I got flack from a college student when I released the first Habitudes book that included an image called, “Personal Laptop.” This principle teaches that our minds operate much like a personal laptop computer: they go with us everywhere we go and record the content we put in them. Our minds store information and experiences that influence our decisions. Garbage
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
How to Develop Positive Self-Esteem in Teens
Self-esteem for kids has been a hot topic for fifty years. In the late 1960s, books were written for educators and parents about the need to affirm young people; for teens to “find themselves,” believe in themselves and express themselves. It was an epiphany for Builder generation parents who often felt kids should be seen more than heard. As Baby Boomers
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
The Connection Between Incentive and Entitlement
I have two friends who are sales people. Neither of them receives a base salary for their job, but both are making a good paycheck each month. They work completely off of commissions. When they make a sale, they make some money. Not only is their career going well, I’d say I don’t know anyone with a greater work ethic
Six Ways to Help Students Make Good Summer Decisions
With summer upon us, many parents are processing how their kids can best use their time. It’s a difficult balance to strike. Too often, a typical school year consists of mom rushing her kids through a drive-through, grabbing some chicken nuggets and hustling over to a practice or rehearsal. Multiple times a week. What’s missing? Genuine, meaningful conversations. Rest from
Mental Toughness Exercises for You and Your Students (Part Two)
Yesterday, I offered four simple exercises for students to grow their “grit.” Today, I will offer four more, in Part Two of the Eight Ideas to Develop Mental Toughness list. Before I do—consider the day we live in. When we reflect on the realities that Generation Z grows up with today, we could argue that life has never been easier, more
Mental Toughness Exercises for You and Your Students
Did you know some of the greatest examples of “mental toughness” are unlikely heroes who failed or performed poorly prior to their rise to achievement? In other words, they all experienced a setback before they made a comeback: Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player in history, with seven Wimbledon titles, lost in the first round of Wimbledon his first three
The Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Student Athletes
I just spent some time with athletic coaches from the Southeastern Conference. These are stellar people, many of whom have coached for decades. And they are coaching at the Division One level, the highest tier for student-athletes. So, I was a bit surprised when three of them spoke to me about how quickly these talented athletes tend to give up
How to Teach for Meaning Not Memorization
A few years ago, I spoke to a large audience of high school faculty in Kansas. During a question and answer period, one freshman algebra teacher raised his hand to ask, “How should I respond when a student asks me if he’ll ever use this subject after graduation, and I don’t know what to say?” The implication, of course, was—he could
Twelve Ideas for Students to Try During Summer Break
Summer is upon us. The time when school is out for a few months (although it seems shorter every year) and kids of all ages—even teens—have to figure out what to do with their free time. Some, of course, have it all mapped out in the spring. They plan to play travel ball or do gymnastics or attend summer camp. Most,
Leadership Lessons from Three Heroes at a School Shooting
Can you believe it? Another school shooting took place last week. Although youth violence has gone down over the last three decades, we still hear of too many tragic episodes like the one that took place just 20 minutes from my former home, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado (just south of Denver). The school is just eight miles away from Columbine High
What We Can Learn About Leading Students from Instagram
Angela is in the sixth grade. Her parents have chosen to not purchase a smart phone for her yet, because they see the anxiety social media platforms cause Angela’s peers. When my teammate Andrew McPeak asked her if she wishes she had a phone, her response was insightful. She said, “No. I wish my friends didn’t have phones.” The fact is,
Five Ingredients to Build a Culture of Ownership on Your Campus
When Akbar Cook took over Westside High School in Newark, NJ, it was a mess. Students were divided into cliques that never interacted; teachers did their work in silos; and an attitude of distrust prevailed on the campus. Further, it was a low-income area, with 85 percent of the student body chronically missing school. He knew his work was cut