Where Real Leadership Begins
I just met Abbey, a 21-year-old university student, who is so bright and so gifted, I told her with a smile that I’d likely be working for her one day. She blushed. I mention Abbey because she’s like so many students I meet these days. She serves “behind the scenes” in two clubs, is attentive in class and is keenly interested in
Five 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 the tough moments of the game.
The Surprising Results of Dropping the Rules
I recently overheard a conversation between two moms in a grocery store. One told her fellow mother that her son had fallen off his bike in a public park and hurt his left leg badly; they think he fractured a bone. The woman then proceeded to say she and her husband decided to take their son’s advice in response—and sue
How to Build Snowmen from a Snowflake Generation
For years, we’ve heard journalists, educators and employers tell us that our youngest generation in America could be called a “snowflake generation.” Why? Because so many of these kids have been raised in a delicate, soft environment, protected from life’s harsh realities and responsibilities. Some even wrote that we’ve coddled them, protecting them with “bubble wrap.” Wikipedia reminds us, “The term
The Future of Universities in America
I’d like to host a conversation with you, and others who read this article. I want to talk about the future of higher education—post secondary schooling that prepares students for not only their careers but for adult life. Is it currently changing? Yes. Is it changing quickly enough? Many would say, no. “Not enough people are innovating enough in higher education,” complains Larry Summers,
Five Resilience Stories that Could Keep Your Students from Giving Up
Today, we hear from Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a next gen researcher, speaker, and author for Growing Leaders. I have the honor of spending time with some of the premier athletes around our country in Division 1 athletic programs. It’s amazing to me how hard they work for success in their sport. Sadly, as I read about our country, these student athletes are the
One Simple Way to Help Teens Mature in the 21st Century
I marvel when I watch a college freshman quarterback play well under the pressure of TV cameras and 90,000 fans watching in person. My goodness, the poor guy is still a teenager. We’ve all seen the opposite, however, where a young athlete crumbles under the pressure of a close game in the fourth quarter. While this might be disappointing, it
What Happens When Students Lead a School
Weeks ago, Robert C. McNair (founder and owner of the Houston Texans), got in trouble when he spoke his mind about the NFL players who protested during the national anthem. He said, “We can’t let the inmates run the prison.” Oops. Poor choice of words. His statement didn’t go over well with most of those who heard it, and his
The Vital Role Mentors Play in a Student’s Growth
Over the holidays I watched my daughter, Bethany, interact with Jesse, one of her mentors. Jesse is a licensed therapist, and Bethany has become a counselor herself. Jesse began to ask her questions about who played a role in molding her worldview and values as a young professional; who was it that molded her into the woman she was today?
Parents: Your Sons Need Your Help Getting Ready for Fraternity Life
Today, we hear from Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a next gen researcher, speaker, and author for Growing Leaders. In 2011 George Desdunes, a 19-year-old sophomore student at Cornell University was awakened in the middle of the night—gagged, bound, and taken. As a pledging member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, he probably expected something like this to happen, but no one expected what happened next. Late
Two Stories of Resilience Every Student Should Hear: Podcast #54
Today I’m excited to share with you a conversation with two specials guests, Sarah Clapper and Timothy Alexander. Sarah was recently crowned Miss Ohio 2017 after overcoming several obstacles to achieve her goal. The second guest is Timothy Alexander, who is serving as the Character Coach for the University of Alabama at Birmingham football team. Timothy has an incredible story
One Crucial Gift We Must Give to Teens
Did you know that among young teens, suicide attempts and emergency room visits have dramatically increased over the last eight years? In fact, girls committing self-harm has tripled since 2009. While overdosing on medication was most common among girls, self-inflicted injuries with sharp and blunt objects also increased during the study period. This data was released recently by the U.S.
Real Leaders Give More Than Thanks
Last Thursday, most of us sat down to a nice, big turkey dinner, with all the fixings. We’ve done so for years; we call it Thanksgiving. Today—I’m suggesting that genuine leaders give thanks, but they give much more than thanks. They give back. Case in point. Several leaders here in the U.S. have enjoyed our Habitudes® program in their school, business, sports
Four Practical Ways to Build Self-Esteem in Students
I was reminded of the central role that self-esteem plays in the success of students during a conversation I had last year. I wasn’t hosting a focus group, yet it all but turned into one as I talked with several young people about their challenges. Each one struggled with anxiety, lack of confidence, poor study skills and self-doubt. You might say
Separating “Feel” from “Real” When Leading Today’s Students
Today, we hear from Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a next gen researcher, speaker, and author for Growing Leaders. My wife and I finished watching "Stranger Things 2" last weekend. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a show about a group of middle school students in the mid 1980’s who are battling forces of evil from a parallel universe. As I’ve watched through two seasons of
Four Questions That Can Help You Talk to Students About Pop Culture
Today, we hear from Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a next gen researcher, speaker, and author for Growing Leaders. Every year, thousands of songs are released which create a great opportunity to “take the temperature” of our culture. Popular songs are a particularly interesting medium for cultural analysis because they are the best representation of where we are in our current culture. Whereas most other
One Trait Every Kid Needs to Succeed in the Future
Did you catch the news? Google is on a tour. No, not a tour to find a new city to establish a new headquarters. It’s a “Grow with Google Tour” to help people prepare for and find jobs in the future. It’s not just a PR tour, either, although I am sure this effort will not look bad on social
The Future Proof Skills Your Students Need: Podcast #52
Today I’m excited to share with you a conversation with Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a next gen researcher, speaker, and writer for Growing Leaders. He also is the coauthor of our newest book, Marching Off the Map. Here are some highlights from our conversation. Andrew McPeak: The future, sometimes, can be a scary thought. It’s especially scary for students today, because all students think
Three Steps to Help Students Start Their Careers
“So, what do you want to do with your life?” This question paralyzes students more than any other. They get stumped—not because they don’t have any idea—but because they have so many ideas. They often have several visions for their future. When I sat down recently with a group of high school and university students, this is what I heard: 1. What
The Masked Generation: Five Ways to Build Confidence
I recently watched a debate panel, made up of college students. Two sides were debating a controversial issue and one student, in particular, was dominating the argument. He was articulate, intelligent and, most of all, confident. After it was over, I approached this young sophomore. It was then I was stunned by his actual demeanor. The student was not only quiet,
What Enables a Student to Be Resilient?
I’m not sure if you got to see it, but on week one of the NCAA college football season Jake Olson took the field as the long snapper for the USC Trojans. Big deal, you say? It is if you understand that at age 12, Jake went blind. Yep. This young athlete cannot see anything. He has to be touching the back of
Five Steps to Teach Students to be Critical Thinkers
I will never forget a conversation I had with a college student a few years ago. She was a sophomore, majoring in psychology. In our conversation, she was buzzing about a news story she’d just read and passed on to friends. Evidently, a cat and a dog had mated and given birth to a hybrid cat/dog. I’m not sure if
How to Problem Solve a Problem Child
Do you remember the 1990 movie, “Problem Child,” starring John Ritter and Michael Oliver? It was a comedy about a couple who adopt a boy, only to find out he’s terribly troubled, dysfunctional and even destructive to others. The film sparked two sequels, as it hit home with so many viewers. It’s a story that hits home with us because it’s
Seven Steps to Cultivate a “Whatever It Takes” Attitude
As the 2017 school year began, I was scheduled to speak in back-to-back cities and campuses. Little did I know that this little tour would have some speed bumps. Our first stop was Georgia Southern University. It’s a four-hour drive to Statesboro from Atlanta, so Matt, Timothy and I rented a car and headed south to GSU. As I sat in
The Harmful Prison Your Kids Experience Every Day
Not long ago, Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, wrote and posted a letter to his newborn daughter. If you read it, you’ll find it interesting that he specifically encourages her (and her older sister) to “go outside and play.” Wow. That advice seems to be at odds with the empire Mark has built. Isn’t it interesting that tech icons such as Zuckerberg or
Four Qualities of an Outstanding School
Change is in the wind when it comes to higher education in America. And it is changing the way both schools and students navigate a post-secondary education. Let’s start with tuition. Recently, The Wall Street Journal carried an article about how U.S. college tuition is growing at the slowest pace in decades. Seriously. On the heels of a nearly 400 percent
The Biggest Changes Generation Z Brings to the Adult World
Susan Sawyer, M.D. of the Murdoch Children’s Institute confirmed something I have been saying for years now: being an adolescent today is very different than it was even 20 years ago. Certainly, it’s different than when I was a teen. The adolescent phase of human development now lasts much longer than it once did. In fact, adolescence, as a stage of
Six Terms that Summarize Generation Z’s Mindset
In 2016, Growing Leaders hosted five focus groups, made up of high school and middle school teens, from various states across the U.S. Our purpose was to uncover the mindset of these students and how it has shifted from that of the Millennials. Today, I offer you six commonly used terms that seem to summarize Gen Z (kids growing up in
One Secret to Help Kids Control Emotions
I’d like to review some case studies with you. So far, this fall, I’ve been in front of 4,000 students and faculty at various universities and high schools. In two of the events, I spoke to mature and respectful students who paid attention to my words. In two others, the students seemed to be unable to concentrate at all. They
The Science Behind Increasing Mental Toughness & Reducing Stress
During my years working with Dr. John C. Maxwell, he told me a story from his boyhood. He recalls wrestling his older brother, Larry, in the living room. Larry was bigger and more experienced, which meant he beat John every single time. Over time, the defeats came quicker and quicker, as John became conditioned to lose. One day, his dad
Why Kids Behave Poorly
Recently, Growing Leaders teamed up with Harris Poll to discover some important insights about life in today’s culture. We surveyed 2,264 adults, ages 18 and older in June 2017. One particular insight deserves some interpretation. In the survey, young adults said they learn more from technology than from people. Nearly 3 in 5 U.S. adults (58%) say they learn more information
Seven Mistakes Hindering Kids from Becoming Great Leaders
So many who read our blog posts work with students, and many of you develop student leaders. Our goal is to help you in that process. After consulting with both high schools and universities this past year, I noticed several common traps that ambushed young leaders (student leaders and young professionals) during their first year of leading. Several students who fell
How to Inspire Students to Do What’s Right
Every teacher, coach, employer and parent wants to influence their young people to do what they know is right. Far too often, however, we merely emulate what our parents did with us, as we grew up. We tell them they “ought to” do the right thing. The problem is, ideas like “ought to” and “should” often feel negative. For centuries,
Four Changes That Will Win the Heart of Generation Z Students
Ours is a world where students are savvy and aware—and very difficult to “wow.” Many are well-informed, well-entertained and have already traveled to places we never traveled until we were well into our adult lives. They scroll through their phones looking for something that will capture their interest. Due to over-exposure to information some have become jaded. Teachers today compete
12 Things That Are in Your Control and Require No Talent
These days, it’s easy for students to become consumed with gaining a competitive advantage over their peers in college or in their career. They belabor their GPA or their SAT score, their IQ and whether they took an AP course, all the while missing some fundamentals that can completely differentiate them from others. The good news is, I am speaking
The Fastest Trick to Develop Student Leaders
Last March, a university dean faced a shortage of resident advisors for the following school year. He needed to recruit students to offer oversight to hall floors, each having about fifty-eight fellow students. It’s no small feat, but R.A.’s usually get a healthy stipend for doing it, and sometimes their entire tuition is covered for having committed to the position. The
Why Daily Silence Makes Students Smarter
Hear ye, hear ye! All educators, coaches, parents—and certainly students—need to ponder and digest the latest research on the topic of silence. Silence can grow your brain. I am not kidding. A 2013 study monitored the effect of “sound” versus “silence” on mice. What researchers discovered was profound. When exposed to two hours of silence every day, the mice developed new cells
Why Straight A’s Hurt Today’s Students
The report is in for last year’s grade point averages of American students. After reviewing it—I’d say it’s good news and bad news. The good news is, more high school students are getting A’s on their report card. The bad news is, students may not really be learning something. Why would I say that? According to a cover article in USA Today, “Recent
The Key to Championship-Level Teams
Recently, I had the privilege to sit down for several hours with Dave Hart, who just retired after 35 years in NCAA intercollegiate athletics. Dave is a friend who’s now in a marvelous place to reflect on what he’s learned as a former athlete, as a coach and later as an administrator for some great college programs, including East Carolina,
When Parents Disagree on How to Raise Their Child
This is one of the most challenging issues that emerges during the question and answer segment in my parent conferences. Recently, I had a dad ask what he should do when his teenage daughter failed to obey curfew times three weeks in a row. As he explained further, the issue was really about the fact that his wife felt their daughter
How Our Screens Diminish Our Empathy
Sadly, it may just be a sign of the times. A shocking video was recently taken by a group of teens as they watched a man struggle and drown in a local pond. The body of Jamel Dunn was not found for five days. Apparently, it was entertaining. So instead of taking action, some students are more prone to take videos. The
Five Shifts that Lead Kids from Apathy to Ambition
This month, I have spoken to thousands of teachers and parents, as schools kick off another year. One phrase I have heard as much as any other is: “I just wish we could get these students to be more ambitious.” Ironically, while so many faculty, staff, coaches and parents desire this outcome, we are often the culprits that prevent it from happening. What
New Survey: Millennials Learn More from Technology Than from People
In June of 2017, our organization, Growing Leaders, collaborated with Harris Poll to conduct a survey and discover the perspectives of various generations in the U.S. The survey looked at how different generations feel prepared for adult life; whether they had/have an adult mentor preparing them for adulthood; how overwhelmed they are by daily life and the role technology plays
Four Gifts Every Student Needs From You This Year
I remember the story of a seven-year-old boy who loved parades. One Saturday he heard about a local parade that would march on the street just behind his house. In excitement, he scampered out to see the band, the majorettes, the clowns and the floats—but there was just one huge problem. His backyard had a tall fence around it, preventing
Are You in Charge of Your Kids or Are They in Charge of You?
Four months ago, our family bought a puppy. We named her Sadie, short for Mercedes. She is a Morkie, a hybrid of a Maltese and a Yorkshire terrier. At this point, she is the life of our family—very cute, cuddly, confident and full of energy. And right now, she’s the “alpha dog” of our family. I know, I know. It’s not supposed
Five Decisions Every Freshman Needs to Make
As a new school year launches, it dawned on me that first year students are about to enter an entirely new experience, and meet peers in a new environment for them. It’s decision time. During the first month of the fall semester, routines are established. It’s then that so many students default to making poor decisions, even stupid decisions, due to pressures
EntreLeadership Podcast—Highlights From the New Marching Off the Map Book
I was privileged to be interviewed for the Dave Ramsey “EntreLeadership Podcast” last month. Host Ken Coleman and I discussed the big ideas in my newest book, Marching Off the Map. This is a book for any leader who cares deeply about the future—educators, employers, coaches, youth workers, and, of course, parents. It is a response to our research on the
One Act That Improves Kids’ Emotional Health
This year, both parents and educators can do something about their students’ wellbeing and future success. The suggestion may sound so simple, we can miss it. After surveys in a variety of countries, however, one act (on the part of an adult) can move the needle for our kids’ emotional health. Are you ready for this? “Spending time just talking,” the
A Father-Son Conversation on Growing Up Today: Podcast #49
Today I’m excited to share with you a conversation with my son, Jonathan Elmore. Jonathan is a recent college graduate of Biola University, located just outside of Los Angeles. Now, he has shifted into a full-time career back in Georgia. Here are some highlights from our conversation. Tim Elmore: I’ve observed a growing phenomenon for a while now. It seems like
Recruiting for Leadership
I recently met with several NCAA Division One coaches to talk about building leadership in their student athletes. Almost everyone agreed that while today’s young athletes may be as gifted as ever, they usually come to college unable to lead their teammates. Or, perhaps a better term is—unwilling. Why? Few want to do the tough stuff of leadership. Confronting bad behavior in