One problem adults face is—we see students’ high levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks, and assume we just need to make their day easier. After all, they’re stressed out. Parents will often finish their kids’ homework assignments. Teachers will often lighten their load thinking the subject is too hard. Coaches will often excuse bad behavior assuming they’re under

Students today can oftentimes lack awareness in themselves, in their classrooms, or just in general. They say things or do things that upset other students but don’t understand why. Sometimes their smartphones can make them aloof, only half-engaged with those in the room. They don’t get why others don’t like them. They choose harsh or outrageous language; they are unaware

In honor of Women's History Month, we sat down to talk with an incredible female leader - Nautrie Jones.  As the Managing Director of Teacher Leadership Development, Nautrie leads the Teach for America Metro Atlanta where she is charged with casting a bold vision and setting key strategies to ensure that the students in Metro Atlanta have access to quality

Many parents might say they’re not sure how they’d make it through the day, both working and managing their kids without a one-eyed babysitter called a TV, tablet, or smartphone. They realize it’s not a good mental health choice, but what’s a parent to do? Others are both teachers and parents, and they’re trying to work and lead their children,

You’ve probably had something like this happen in your classroom this year. You work hard to have fun with your students. You create interesting and fun assignments for them, and you think it’s going well. Then something happens. A student says something harsh like, “I hate this class,” or a parent contacts you to tell you that his child is

We live in a growing world of “fake.” Fake content is a genuine problem on the internet. Between fake news that sways elections, fake apps that trick shoppers, and fake book reviews that stymie sales, the internet has seen a surge in fantastic, misleading, and outright false messaging that threatens to make the truth hard to find. In this episode,

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. One 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 in the hippocampus, the part of the

We believe social-emotional learning is critical. But not just for a discussion in a classroom so a teacher can check a box. We want to see students learn these skills so they can change the world, starting with themselves. We want to see teens changed from the inside out so they can turn their world upside down. In this episode,

It’s in times like these when we are reminded of why we do what we do. We focus on developing young people. Specifically, equipping students to think and act like life-giving leaders, regardless of the position they may or may not have. Over the past year alone, we saw students step up and answer the call to lead during a

Research shows that teachers and principals are leaving the profession of education at alarming rates. Some of the causes stem from the rising expectations and demands that educators find difficult to manage. Unfortunately, for many educators, taking care of others often means neglecting their own health and well-being. So, how can educators continue doing work they love while also making

The topic of diversity is one that has become more discussed over the past year than perhaps any year in history prior. One way you can continue that conversation in a healthy way is by celebrating diversity during Black History Month. Throughout the month of February, Black History Month is celebrated and its the perfect time to have intentional conversations

Everyone, including students, experienced stress in a new, unique way in 2020. Now that we are in 2021, it's maybe even more important than ever before to ensure we invite laughter into the lives of our students. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak discuss the research behind laughter, its positive influence on stress levels, and some practical ways

After the unique challenges that 2020 brought on for people around the world, 2021 presents a new opportunity. That's why it's even more important than ever to help ensure students and young adults begin this new year with a positive outlook. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak discuss practical ways to help your students start 2021 with a

Over the course of a student's academic career, they have countless conversations with different teachers, coaches, counselors, administrators, and more. However, when looking back at the end of their academic journey they only tend to remember a few significant ones. That's why it's critical to make the most of our interactions with today's students. In this episode, Tim Elmore and

One problem many educators are currently facing is the challenge of engaging today's students, some of which are only meeting in a virtual classroom. Now that many educators are aware that social-emotional skills play a crucial role in developing well-equipped children, the challenge shifts to discovering how to effectively develop those skills in them. In this episode, Tim Elmore and

As we look back and reflect on this past year, we want to bring attention to a few specific resources that have been particularly helpful to Dr. Tim Elmore. In this episode, Tim Elmore shares his favorite books, movies, surprises, and more from 2020. Resources: Pandemic Population & Habitudes Contact: podcast@growingleaders.com Social Media: @GrowingLeaders, @TimElmore & @AndrewMcPeak

Millions of students today project self-confidence, but it’s fragile, fake, and temporary, built off of the “likes” or “shares” others have given them on social media. When their confidence is genuinely tested, it oftentimes disintegrates. One way they can continue to grow in their self-confidence is by developing stronger self-awareness. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak discuss why

Our world today is stressed by a COVID-19 pandemic and a severe economic downturn. Further, it’s noisier than ever with many voices, including both television and social media. These are just a few of the reasons why it's crucial to develop emotionally intelligent schools and homes. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share stories about the importance of

In the world of education, one of the challenges brought on by COVID-19 has been virtual learning. While it has served as a way to connect and still continue schooling online, it has come with its own set of problems as well. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share some reasons why some virtual classrooms have failed in

Because 2020 has been a year unlike any other, it's easy to sit back and merely wait to see what will happen next. However, we also have the choice to wait in an entirely different way. We can be like a “waiter” who serves, who looks for ways to be helpful, who stays active waiting on others in the restaurant.

Almost every student wants to have some level of influence with others. However, it can oftentimes be difficult for students to understand how to develop that influence or how to use it in a beneficial way. We believe teaching students emotional intelligence enables them to utilize their influence in a healthy manner. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak

In honor of American Education Week, now is a good time to reflect on education from a macro-perspective. What are some of the norms in education today? And why were they originally created? The answers to these two questions directly impact where the world of education is going in the future. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak dive

Because Generation Z is future-focused, they’ve begun to feel helpless and hopeless as a result of this global pandemic. Many feel the coronavirus is stealing their futures. Yet, while resilience is a core skill set, Generation Z will need their own version of it. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share six practical ideas to develop this necessary

Public education has been founded upon memorization and testing for over a century. While we all agree we must do more than drill our students to memorize curriculum, remembering information will always play a role in learning. Today, millions of teachers face an even more arduous task of doing all of this remotely. So, what can teachers do to help

In the midst of a global pandemic, there is one essential leadership trait that we must focus on developing in today's students and young adults. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak reveal this leadership trait, explain what it looks like, and provide you with practical steps to develop it in the emerging generation. Resources: Habitudes for Social & Emotional

Over the past few years, a new form of literacy has become more well-known now that it has proven to be a future indicator of student success. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak reveal this form of literacy, provide the background behind it, and share practical steps you can take to utilize it with the students you lead. Resources:

Because the month of October is Emotional Intelligence Awareness month, it's a great opportunity to have conversations with the young adults in your life about it. At its core, emotional intelligence is the management of one's emotions. It's about reading yourself and reading others. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share some practical ways for you to talk

One of our most important jobs as leaders is to prepare today’s emerging adults for the harsh realities ahead while maintaining a positive narrative. If we fail to lead them well, millions will enter their careers with crippling anxiety. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share a few practical steps to helping prepare Generation Z for the 'new

Most of us weren’t quite sure what would happen when the nationwide quarantine was mandated and both parents and their kids found themselves attempting to work from home in spring of 2020. What we now realize is that those students and their parents agree on one thing: Virtual learning didn’t work too well. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak

The evolution of public education was both intentional and accidental. The more adults created systems to control a child’s developmental process, the less those kids matured. Better grades didn’t always translate into better people. Academic success does not equal maturation. Nor does it translate into career readiness. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share four unwitting errors made

In the Spring of 2020, a global pandemic brought challenges that no one could have predicted. Millions were infected worldwide. In the midst of very public problems, however, a silent and hidden mental health crisis emerged in our youngest population. This group of students now faces some major challenges including increased levels of stress and anxiety. In this episode, Tim

Most Americans reluctantly returned home in the spring of 2020 in obedience to our government’s “shelter in place” order. Tens of millions began working from home to stay safe from COVID-19. One of the issues leaders need to consider is what it will look like once we return to public life. We are going to face a different world and

The rise in mental health issues in our students today should give every one of us pause. It is astoundingly high. Anxiety and depression in high school kids have been on the rise since the early 2000s. It is a reality that crosses all demographics, urban, suburban, and rural; and among adolescents who are college-bound and among those who are

Due to the coronavirus, this season of life is testing all of our technological abilities. Our success in this season will be dependent on how well we adapt to the abilities of the technology around us. To effectively lead Generation Z virtually, we need to become more tech-savvy. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share four skills that

Because of COVID-19's impact on schools around the world, educators have had to adjust to a digital classroom. As a result, many faculty members struggled to get up to speed using a laptop or desktop to deliver their curriculum. Many had never taught anything using a screen unless it was a screen in a live classroom. While we may prefer

Have you noticed what’s happening around our country? Psychologists call it all-or-nothing thinking. It’s when a person assumes certain things like my life is either awesome or it’s terrible, my job is either fantastic or it’s disgusting, or I am either beautiful or I am ugly. This mindset means you have only two options: things have to be one way

People across the world are now adjusting to life in social isolation thanks to the COVID-19 outbreak. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share six practical tips from veteran astronaut Scott Kelly's experience living in social isolation during his time on four space flights. Resources: Home Chats Contact: podcast@growingleaders.com Social Media: @GrowingLeaders, @TimElmore and @AndrewMcPeak

Teens today have lost part of the typical American experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Proms and sports seasons were canceled, graduations went virtual, and the past few months have looked very different from what they expected. It's critical for leaders like you to recognize all of these changes and lead students intentionally through this difficult time. In this episode,

The rise of screen time as a result of COVID-19 has now been well documented. While being at home on a screen is much better than being out and potentially getting sick, it still seems like many students are missing the opportunity to find a better use of their time. If we can get our students to start seeing their

In this unique episode, Tim Elmore interviews three incredible black men and women about what is happening in our country as a result of the George Floyd murder, its impact on the youngest generation, and what we can do about it. This insightful conversation featuring Vicki Wright-Hamilton (Founder of VWH Consulting), CJ Stewart (Co-founder and Chief Empowerment Officer for L.E.A.D.,

This youngest generation of people was already facing mental health problems. Now they feel delayed by COVID-19, and it’s added to their anxiety levels. Part of the typical American experience was lost to a pandemic. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share five steps leaders can take to intentionally lead them through this time. Resources: Home Chats & Open

There is one thing that is even more contagious than the coronavirus in our country - fear. It’s infectious, and it might be doing more damage to the kids in Generation Z than a virus. Sadly, they are “catching” our anxiety. We must always ask ourselves: what message does my leadership communicate to the kids who follow me? In this

Most student-athletes today would say their number one challenge is time management. They are forced to find a way to balance school, their sport, and a social life. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share eight ways you can help student-athletes best manage their limited time and energy. Resources: Habitudes for Athletes Contact: podcast@growingleaders.com Social Media: @GrowingLeaders, @TimElmore and @AndrewMcPeak

During this period of isolation during COVID-19, many of us experience a good news, bad news scenario, where we have more time, but often play defense rather than offense with our calendars. Where does the time go? In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share ten ideas to leverage during this strange time we’re in to help you get more

The fact is, a sense of entitlement is not only real, it is growing in our culture today. And while we can't blame the “kids” for it, it is affecting them more than other demographics. One study found that people in their 20s are more than three times as likely to have a narcissistic personality disorder (which is commonly associated with

We are currently in an unprecedented and certainly unsettling time for our communities, our country, and our world. Amidst social distancing, shelter in place rules, and school closures, our days are different and our challenges, unique. One of those challenges is having to lead the young adults in your life while you are dealing with anxiety and worry yourself. In

As of today, the news is filled with uncertainty and ambiguity about how far COVID-19 will go and long it will last. It is indeed a very strange time. But because people reflect the times they live in, mindsets and lifestyles could form during this season of the Coronavirus outbreak. 2020 may be a year that will shape an entire

Education leaders today are given a difficult task of serving their school in so many different ways. If they have any hope of being successful though, they must ensure they wear the eight unique "hats" that represent the different roles they must play within their school. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak interview Will Parker as he shares about

How is Generation Z different than Millennials? They’re distinctly different. If we have any hope of partnering with these students, we would do well to understand them. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak share seven characteristics of the youngest generation that spell out the word - PARTNER. Resources: Generation Z Unfiltered & Stressed Out Contact: podcast@growingleaders.com Social Media: @GrowingLeaders, @TimElmore and

Since the beginning of 2019, Tim Elmore has experienced new territory as a leader. Our organization, Growing Leaders, endured a plateau in its growth and forced our leadership’s team members to examine ourselves in fresh ways. Since making some changes and having some intentional conversations, we are now experiencing a surge of growth. In this episode, Tim Elmore and Andrew