As an “unorthodox” leadership coach I pride myself on telling you how it is.
The point of today’s post is to share ten uncommon ideas that will help you be an effective school leader.
“You will never ‘find’ time for anything, if you want time you must make it.” –Charles Buxton
The norm is to complain about time.
“There’s never enough time” your colleagues will say.
Except …
There is plenty of time.
All that needs to change is your relationship and perspective regarding time.
When you take responsibility for the time you have in a day and make a commitment to stop complaining about time, something magical happens …
You find that there is more than enough time to go around. What needs to change is your mindset and how you use time.
“Teamwork is the secret that makes common people achieve uncommon results” – Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha
The norm is to complain about staff – especially, but not limited to – the troublesome people.
“One rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel” your colleagues will say.
So they put together an improvement plan which is really a “move them out of my building plan.”
But what if you couldn’t do that?
If you could only build a remarkable school keeping the staff you have, what changes?
Here are 5 ways you could optimize your team performance:
“It’s not called district-development. It’s called personal development.” – Daniel Bauer
The research is there, but I’ll ask you to investigate your own experience.
Are your needs being met by your school district? Are they growing you? How are you being stretched and challenged?
Most importantly, how long have you been waiting for the coaching you long for?
The norm is that quality professional development is lacking for school leaders. But what is extraordinary is that some leaders actually do something about it.
They take their professional growth seriously and decide to invest in themselves because they are worth it.
The Better Leaders Better Schools’ motto is “Everyone wins when YOU get better.”
That CAN’T happen unless you grow. And if you are waiting for others to do the growing for you …
You’ll be waiting a long time.
“I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you.” – Joyce Meyer
Too many school leaders do not PRIORITIZE their health.
The job is demanding so it’s easy to work all the time.
And many people are addicted to work.
Others like to work hard so they can play the martyr …
“Woe is me … I work so hard and my life is so difficult.”
If you don’t take your health seriously, you might end up paying the ultimate price.
Trish Antulov died at her principal’s desk.
Her husband told reporters, “She just didn’t have time to look after herself properly … She was under a lot of stress and terrible pressure just to be successful in her job.”
Dying on the job is not success. Your school isn’t worth dying for.
“To ask, “What’s best for me” is finite thinking. To ask, “What’s best for us” is infinite thinking.” – Simon Sinek
Too many schools compete.
They want the #1 spot …
To get the blue ribbon …
And the recognition …
They believe there can only be one winner. If the game you are playing is a competition, that is true. Or …
You can play what Simon Sinek calls an “Infinite Game.”
Infinite minded leaders believe, “You don’t have to lose for me to win.”
Imagine a world where districts shared freely:
Instead of competing for the #1 spot in the city, state, and nation …
Ultimately more students would win.
“Action will delineate and define you.” – Thomas Jefferson
It pains me to say this as someone who LOVES learning.
Learning can be a waste of time.
If you don’t take action, NOTHING changes.
For some leaders, it’s easier to read a book about hard conversations than having the actual hard conversations.
In this way, learning is a way of hiding.
John Doerr said, “Ideas are easy. Execution is everything,”
What’s the difference between the founder of Netflix and you?
The founder did the work to create the company. You did not.
Having the idea for Netflix and creating Netflix are two very different things.
“We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” – Maya Angelou
Just like competition, it is too popular (and lazy) to “other” the various forms of education.
Kevin Kelly said, “Trust me. There is no ‘them.’”
Over a decade ago I saw charters as a problem. I saw them as “stealing” students from public schools.
I no longer see things that way …
Another concept in The Infinite Game is having a “Just Cause” so BIG that you can’t do it on your own.
You’ll need help.
My Just Cause is “to connect, grow, and mentor every school leader who wants to level up.”
So anyone in the business of helping school leaders grow are not my competitors. They are actually on MY TEAM and helping me accomplish MY GOAL.
All schools are working toward the same goal: to provide a quality education and open doors for the next generation.
I’ll never forget when a client told me, “I’m a better parent to my students than to my own children.”
There’s a theme in this post.
Align your values with your actions.
I don’t know any leaders who want to be a workaholic at the cost of their family.
And yet …
This struggle is real for many school leaders.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
You can say NO.
You can set boundaries.
You can prioritize your family.
“If you’re at 85 percent — if you aren’t striving and straining and operating at the very limit of your ability — you have room to think.” – Jeff Haden
The other day I was listening to Tim Ferriss interviewing Hugh Jackman on his podcast.
Jackman told a story of the athlete Carl Lewis – winner of 9 Olympic gold medals – a successful man for sure.
The interesting thing about Carl is that he was notorious for starting off races slow.
Not good for a sprinter!
But his coach once told him something that helped him rack up win-after-win, and gold-after-gold medal.
“Just give me 85% effort,” his coach said.
Contrast that with what you hear in education.
“I want 100% … NO … 110% effort!”
A maximum effort makes you tense.
85% effort on the other hand, lets you approach the challenge with a relaxed focus.
While other runners were getting more and more tense throughout the race, Carl was relaxed …
And he blew right past them through the finish line.
One reason I became a school leader is because I saw how BAD other school leaders were and I thought, “I could do that better.”
I served 20+ schools from the Central Office of Chicago Public Schools and during that time I worked with and saw many examples of school leadership.
The truth is, the majority of principals were average or worse …
That makes sense to me too.
It’s an easier path. That’s why I call these kinds of leaders “Play It Safe Principals.”
Great Principals are Ruckus Makers.
Ruckus Makers …
Becoming a Ruckus Maker begins with a choice, but it doesn’t end there.
The fact that you read this article tells me that you are on the path …
Now be sure to act!
I’m hosting a the “Maximize Your Margin” 6-day challenge soon …
If you would like to trade in the constant feeling of being over-stressed and live life on your terms, we can help.
As a chronically late student, Danny Bauer once told his Chemistry teacher a fib about saving an entire girl scout troop from a burning building to get out of a tardy.
Danny is not sure if it was the very made up story, the very real cookie he offered his teacher, or a combination of both that got him out of a detention that day …
That experience taught him it pays to develop your storytelling skills.
Danny has been telling stories since then, most recently on the Better Leaders Better Schools podcast, ranked in the TOP 0.5% of 3 million global podcasts, and via his two bestselling books, Mastermind: Unlocking Talent Within Every School Leader and Build Leadership Momentum: How to Create the Perfect Principal Entry Plan.
He also loves telling stories while facilitating in person leadership workshops at national conferences and for school districts.
Danny’s mission is to help Ruckus Makers Do School Different™.
Soniya, hailing from the culturally rich land of India, is a dynamic professional in the field of web services, crafting digital landscapes. Soniya’s journey into the world of technology is a testament to her unwavering passion and commitment to excellence, transforming ideas into impactful online realities.
Since 2022, Soniya has played an important role in supporting BLBS with her comprehensive website services.
She loves to travel and cook new recipes.
Music is an inspiring art form. Sound is conveyed via the air to the ears of living beings, and each being perceives it in its own unique way, eliciting a certain feeling. Dragan feels the same sensation every time he hears music, from infancy to now, as if it were a part of his existence that he couldn’t fathom living without. Dragan opted to deal with sound his entire life despite his formal degree, and today he is one of the most passionate audio producers you can meet and chat to about sound and music all day long. His enthusiasm for audio production, student-like thinking, and curiosity keep him continually mobile in generating new, quality, and enjoyable sound on a regular basis.
Dragan has been producing BLBS audio and video content since 2020.
My passion for both baseball and literature was the initial catalyst that led me into education. Growing up as a softball player and a die-hard fan of the Chicago Cubs from the North Side of the city, I developed a profound appreciation for the South Side of Chicago, not enough to convert me into a White Sox fan. As a National Board certified teacher, with over 16 years of experience on Chicago’s South Side, my journey as an educator has taken me from my roots in the Windy City to Virginia, as an instructional coach.
From the very beginning, I have been an unwavering believer in the philosophy of BLBS. My journey alongside Danny has been one of daring innovation and audacity, right from the moment he challenged me to say, “boom” and drop the mic during our initial city-wide professional development event. He has cultivated a team capable of winning a World Series, and I am deeply honored to be a part of this community of individuals who consistently push the boundaries and endeavor to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Premaria Mutambudzi is the BLBS Office Administrator, This is her 2nd year, she has served in the administrative field for 5+ years, Prim is originally from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. She has been married for 7 years to her husband Takunda, and is blessed with two children.
Prim loves meditation, creative writing, poetry, and reading. In her spare time, Prim is a talented and creative Makeup Artist.
– Head Coach
Sofía’s lifelong search for a profession that would “leave the world a little better than she found it” led her to study philosophy and comparative religions, become a teacher, lead schools and educational projects, work for the Argentine Ministry of Education, contribute as a volunteer in various NGOs and become personally committed to causes that raised awareness about the world’s challenges and the potential of education to overcome them.
She is a practically-minded idealist, a profound believer in people and their potential for good, committed to collaborative leadership environments, and instinctively and naturally drawn to create order and systems in seemingly chaotic contexts.
After more than 30 years in the classroom and almost 20 as a school leader, Sofía now divides her time as Schools Development Manager for Cambridge University Press and Assessment, Executive Secretary for the International Confederation of Principals, Facilitator for the ESSARP Teacher Training Centre in Argentina and BLBS Mastermind Coach.
Each of her current roles allows her to travel near and far while contributing to her own lifelong learning, and that of school leaders across the world, in the slow way she cherishes: one experience, one adventure, one conversation and one relationship at a time.
– Head Coach
Once a roller derby ref, now enjoying “retirement”, Dan’s got some wild tales from the track. Picture this: Dallas, a Division 1 tournament, and Dan’s zipping around as an “outside pack ref” when suddenly, BAM! He gets bulldozed by “Ruthless Red” charging out of the penalty box. But did he stay down? Not a chance! Dan bounced right back up, finished the game like a champ, and jetted off to Barcelona for the World Cup, broken tailbone and all.
Bruises and broken bones couldn’t keep Dan out of the action. Those derby days weren’t just about dodging collisions—they taught him about grit, resilience, and leadership skills that he’s been flexing for 15 years as a school leader. Whether he’s coaching leaders as part of The Ruckus Maker Mastermind™ team or dodging freight trains in the fast-paced world of roller derby, Dan is always willing to lean into the next challenge.
– Head Coach
Jason P. Dropik (Babaamii-Bines / Eagle Clan) is the School Administrator for the Indian Community School (ics-edu.org), in Franklin, WI, which serves Native students in the metro Milwaukee area. A member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians (BadRiver-nsn.gov), Jason is committed to supporting students, families, staff, school/community leaders, and the community both near and far.
Having recently completed a two-year term as President of the National Indian Education Association (NIEA.org), he advocated for and spoke on the importance of tribal sovereignty, policy, appropriations, and student support across the country. As a Board Member of NIEA, Jason continues with that work, championing training and providing information for schools and community organizations, while creating visibility and understanding of Indigenous perspectives.
His greatest passion is creating welcoming spaces for students to develop their identity, take pride in their language and culture, and to celebrate the rich legacy and the promising future of Indigenous communities.
– Head Coach
First and foremost, I’m a husband, father and son. I’m someone who is driven by my faith. I’m the Principal of A. Russell Knight Elementary in Cherry Hill, NJ. The Parks are animal lovers. We have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Some things that I’m loving at the moment is playing Pickleball and cooking for my friends and family. I also have the privilege and joy of serving as a BLBS Mastermind coach.
– Head Coach
Back in high school, Jesse used to painstakingly unthread the logos from his clothing and hats so that he wouldn’t be seen as part of the status quo.
He didn’t know it then, but that was the start of his journey as someone who finds unique ways of communicating ideas.
Then when he discovered his connection to youth with disabilities, he realized that he was among experts who’ve been finding ways to do things differently all their lives.
Leaning into these connections has brought him to become the Innovation Lead for a statewide project called I’m Determined – developing and producing animated videos and feature-length movies, facilitating events and building tools and resources for youth, families, and educators – all as ways to help students ink their journeys for the world to see.
As a leadership coach, Jesse is someone whose consistent presence is there to listen and add value and belonging.
– Head Coach
Leadership skills were evident as early as first grade for Paige Kinnaird when the teacher pointed out that “Paige is an eager beaver who completes her own work and then monitors what everyone else is doing.”
This taught Paige the importance of servant leadership. To never expect work from others that she is not fully committed to also putting forth the effort to accomplish.
Paige has used this as the central driving force of her work ever since… a willingness to be part of the work, not just driving the work.
– Head Coach
Karine Veldhoen, M.Ed., is the founder of Learn Forward™ and a creative force in education. While her name may be difficult to pronounce, her mission is simple, to champion extraordinary potential. As an educational leader (15 years) she created the first model Learn Forward™ school while simultaneously founding and serving as Executive Director of Niteo Africa. She’s taught Teacher Candidates at both UBC-O and UNBC and serves as a coach for Better Leaders Better Schools.
In all of her roles, she considers herself a modern-day pilgrim who stands for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Now, she dedicates her professional practice to championing EdLeaders to design thriving schools. When Karine is not carving new paths for education, you’ll find her with her husband and three children, her heart-song.