Increase Your Productivity by Using Pockets of Time

One of my core memories from my early softball coaching days is a conversation I had with one of our best players. She was a conscientious student as well as a gifted athlete, and she was stressed. She competed in three sports until her senior year, and during her junior year, she was feeling the stress of a schedule that was full of deadlines, emotional and physical demands, and mentally exhausting days. 

I remember her expressing her feelings of being drained and overwhelmed with not having a long break to focus on "one thing." I reminded her that we were nearing the end of our softball season, which meant a break from sports and school at the same time. Also, school would be out soon and summer break would give her time to relax and get recharged before her senior year. 

I also told her of a lesson that I had learned early on that had served me well during my high school and college athletic careers and into my professional life. I reminded her that as an athlete, she had to be aware of her "pockets of time." We all have them, and they can add up to a large amount of time during a week. They are breaks that we have during different times: while waiting, after finishing a task early, between tasks, during the early morning, and more. They show up differently for all of us, depending on the day or week and what is needed from us in our personal and professional lives. 

To this day, I've maintained an awareness of my pockets of time, and I've been intentional to use them and not waste them. Some might say I'm "Type A," or it's because of my Enneagram 1 personality. Maybe it's because my mom modeled it for me growing up. Whatever the reason, I'm wired to use my pockets of time in ways that serve me, whether it's for production, learning, or self-care. 

5 ideas for using your pockets of time 

Self-care

If you are feeling overwhelmed, use the time for meditation, journaling, quiet reflection or prayer, listening to soft music, or taking a walk. I highly recommend Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. She has many different yoga videos, including a 5-Minute Full Body Stretch video. Intentional self-care can lead to a more productive and effective rest of your day. 

Build relationships

Use the time to connect with a colleague, make a quick phone call to a friend, or leave your desk to have a conversation with someone in a nearby office.  According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, along with food, water, & safety, love and belonging are the most important needs. (Related Post: "We must Maslow before we Bloom")

Learn

Depending on where you are when you have your pocket of time (at work, between clients, at the doctors office, waiting in carpool line, etc.), you have several ways to use the time for learning. 

-Read or listen to a chapter in a book 

-Listen to a podcast episode

-Watch a YouTube video

Chip away at a larger task

If you have a large task that needs to completed, create a task list and use the time to complete the quick tasks. When my daughters were younger, we would do "10-minute clean up" in the house. I would set the timer and they would pick up and clean as much as they could for 10 minutes. It was amazing what the 10 minutes would do for keeping the house neater, and it kept me from needing a large chunk of time after work or on a weekend to clean the house. 

Try keeping a list of tasks that can be completed in 10 minutes or less, and you'll be surprised at how much can get done during your pockets of time. It can help you from feeling weighed down at the end of the day with a looming to-do list!

Let your phone work FOR you

It's easy to do mindless scrolling on social media outlets when you have a short break or pocket of time during your day. (Don't do this!)

Ideas for using your phone to be productive:

-Create your meal plan and grocery list for the week

-Clean up email inbox

-Order the gift for the upcoming birthday, holiday, retirement, etc. 

-Review your budget

-Unsubscribe from emails you no longer want to receive

-Respond to an email

-What would you add?

What are your best tips for using pockets of time that appear during the day? Please leave a comment below or reach out to me on twitter!

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Leadership Lessons from Brene Brown

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting TheCompelledEducator.com

I'm a huge fan of Brene Brown. She's a researcher on shame, vulnerability, and courage. As an educator for almost 30 years and a person who is always trying to get and be better than before... I find that her lessons are extremely valuable and on point. I hope you enjoy this post and feel free to share your comments below about lessons you have learned from Brene Brown. 

Brene's book, Dare to Lead, is full of lessons for leaders. 

If you've been following this blog or me on twitter, you know that I believe that leadership is not a title. Leaders are leaders through their beliefs and actions, not because of a title or position. This book is for most everyone, and especially for those who lead others. 

Brene Brown defines a leader as "anyone who takes responsibility for finding potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential."

Courage is contagious.

Brene's research supports the idea that vulnerability is "the emotion that we experience during times of uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure." 

Sometimes, people tend to see vulnerability and courage at opposite ends of a spectrum, but Brene defends that one cannot happen without the other. The other interesting component about vulnerability is that trust and vulnerability walk hand in hand. 

The best leaders understand that they don't have to wear a protective armor or be perfect to be considered effective or courageous, and they definitely know that perfection is not a building block of trust. Leaders provide psychological safety for their teams to be vulnerable with and in front of each other. Leadership creates a safe space that is an integral part of the work that teams must engage in. 

Clear is kind.

Leaders have to have courageous conversations with others. They have to share feedback with others, and leaders determine the tone, words, and emotions that will be used while giving feedback. 

Brene reminds us that when we give unclear feedback to try to "protect others' feelings", we're really just trying to make ourselves feel more comfortable. 

Source

 

Brene shares this lesson: "In my research and in my life, I've found absolutely no benefit to pushing through a hard conversation unless there's an urgent, time-sensitive issue at hand." 

I once worked for a principal who demonstrated how to effectively "circle back" to a contentious issue at hand.

As leaders, we have to remember that clear feedback is HARD to hear sometimes. As leaders, we can't own the other person's emotions. They are going to be mad, hurt, surprised, and more. 

"We can't both serve people and try to control their feelings."  

- Brene Brown, Dare to Lead

Who we are is how we lead.

While it can be very hard to do, it's important for leaders to connect with our own emotions as well as the emotions of those we lead. 

Brene describes Armored Leadership vs Daring Leadership, which consists of dichotomies such as "Being a knower and being right vs. Being a learner and getting it right" and "Rewarding exhaustion as a status symbol and attaching productivity to self-worth vs Modeling rest, play, and recovery."  

While fear will always be present when we rumble with vulnerability, our response to fear will determine our success as a leader. 

On a personal note:

"Only God and the enemy" - as my friend Sarah Johnson says - know the struggles I've gone through with shame and how it has impacted my life. So when Brene speaks or writes, I take heed to the message she delivers.

 

I've carried a "bag of rocks" throughout my life that I've been able to reduce, pebble by pebble, because of the teachings and impact of people like Brene.  

 

Shame is a heavy burden. Through reflection, actions, introspection, and responding to feedback, shame can be lifted or reduced to a manageable amount. I encourage anyone who is dealing with shame to seek out help. Reading the works of Brene is an excellent start to a long but rewarding journey. 

Dare to Lead is full of practical ideas that are backed by research, and Brene's writing style is concise, real, and relatable. I encourage you to put this book on your reading list! 

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How to find your Core Values

Our core values are the guiding principles that shape our beliefs, decisions, and actions. They are the deeply held beliefs that drive our behavior, influence our attitudes, and define who we are. 

Identifying our core values is an essential step in building a fulfilling life, a successful and rewarding career, and healthy relationships. 

But how do we find our core values?

In this post, I'll share some strategies to help you identify your core values.

 

How to find your Core Values

Self-reflection

Self-reflection is a powerful tool to identify your core values. Take some time to reflect on your life experiences, your achievements, your failures, your relationships, and your goals. 

At a recent session of the Hope Leadership Academy led by Dr. Amy Johnston, she shared the following questions to help participants identify their own core values: 

1. When you were a child, what virtue did your parents most want to instill in you?

2. If you saw a "For Sale" sign in your neighbor's yard, what virtue do you hope the new neighbors have?

3. What virtues do you want to see in your co-workers?

4. What values do you hope to instill in your students?

5. At your funeral, what virtue do you hope is used to describe you in your eulogy? 

Look at your role models

Our role models can provide valuable insights into our core values. Think of the people you admire and respect. What qualities do they possess that you admire? What values do they represent? Look for commonalities between your role models and what they stand for. It can help you identify values that resonate with you.

Identify what triggers you emotionally

Our emotions can be powerful indicators of our core values. Think of the situations or events that evoke a strong emotional response from you. What is it about those situations that trigger your emotions? It could be a sense of injustice, fairness, or compassion. Whatever it is, it can give you clues about your values.

Assess your priorities

Our priorities reflect our values. Take a look at how you spend your time, energy, and resources. What do you prioritize in your life? Is it your family, career, hobbies, or social life? How do you balance these priorities? By analyzing your priorities, you can identify your values and what matters most to you. 

Where to look first? Your bank account and your calendar. The things that we make a priority will show up clearly in those two places.

| Related Post: Staying Balanced in Life

Take a values and/or strengths assessment

There are many values and strengths assessments available online that can help you identify your core values. These assessments usually involve answering a series of questions that measure your preferences and priorities. The results can help you identify your top values and how they influence your behavior. Two popular values assessments are the VIA Inventory of Strengths or the StandOut strengths assessment by Marcus Buckingham. (Both are free assessments.)

Seek feedback from others

Sometimes, it can be helpful to seek feedback from others to identify your core values. Ask your friends, family, or colleagues to describe your strengths and weaknesses. What values do they see in you? How do they perceive your behavior? Their feedback can provide valuable insights into your values and how your values are perceived by others.

Final Thought

Should you live for your resume or your eulogy?

Identifying your core values is a process of self-discovery that requires self-reflection, introspection, and feedback from others. Your core values are unique to you, and they can change over time as you grow and evolve. By identifying your values, you can align your actions with your beliefs, make better decisions, and live a more fulfilling life. 

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5 Reasons to Use Propello to Personalize Learning

My life’s mission has always been to empower others in their journey to becoming the best version of themselves, whether I was a teammate, coach, personal trainer, science teacher, high school administrator, or character coach. 

One of the key reasons I started The Compelled Educator long ago was to create a space where I could share resources, ideas, and successful practices with others. 

When I was a science teacher, my ultimate goal was to inspire creativity and curiosity in my students. I wanted them to walk away with a love for science! 

I used inquiry-based lessons as much as possible, because I knew that there would also be times when direct instruction would be necessary to help students “connect the dots” when it came to clarifying myths about science and explaining scientific concepts. 

I was always looking for lessons that were inquiry-based, aligned with standards, and taught my students to ask questions and investigate problems. Before the Internet came along, it was difficult to find resources to add to my teacher toolbox. This is one reason I’m thrilled to share Propello with you today! 

This post is sponsored by Propello. All opinions are my own.

I discovered Propello at the 2023 ASCD Conference in Colorado. Propello is a FREE high-quality learning platform created by teachers, for teachers, and it’s evident when you visit the site that this platform is bold, innovative, and thoughtful in how it was created with the user in mind.

Mission and Values

Propello has the potential to take a traditional classroom to a learning hub, and I believe it’s because of their mission and values that drive their work. 

From the Propello website: 

Learning for Everyone

We believe education is a right, not a privilege. By designing individualized learning solutions for every student, we are striving towards a more equitable future of education.

Spark Joy

Our goal is to create delight in every discovery. Designed to cultivate curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of learning in educators and students alike, our immersive curriculum helps knowledge take flight.

Challenge Convention

We're not afraid to break the mold. We see difficult conversations as opportunities to explore our potential, pushing us to create solutions that propel education upward.

 

Here are 5 reasons to use Propello: 

1. Quality

The curriculum is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The NGSS were created by states to improve science education for all K-12 students. Each state has its own unique standards, and Propello has reviewed the standards in each state to determine how the platform meets or supplements each state. Access to quality online learning helps every learner, no matter their zip code, to reach their full potential.

2. Doing Science

Students can’t just learn ABOUT science, they need to DO science. Each of Propello’s units contain hands-on activities for students to learn concepts by investigating, reporting, and analyzing. Materials lists, instructions, and Teacher Tips are included for each activity to assist the teacher in managing the activities. (The Teacher Tips are great for brand new teachers! Did you just hire new science teachers? Share this platform with them!)

3. Customized delivery

Within the curriculum, Learning Paths can be created for students based on teacher choice. It can be created for an entire district, a single class, a specific group of students, or an individual student. (Think about sub days, students who miss class for several days, students in ISS, or student groups based on readiness!) After teaching Physical Science at the high school level for over 10 years, I knew the concepts that needed to be reinforced at the middle school level. Propello is an excellent resource for customized, vertical alignment between grade levels. 

4. Personalization 

Propello has embedded supports that include translations to 100+ languages, read aloud, a visual dictionary, text isolation, and more. By using Propello, the lessons become “rewindable,” and students are able to spend the time they need on the content. Additionally, using the online content allows students to read and work at their own pace, freeing up time for a teacher to hold individual student conferences while everyone else is working.

5. Save time

Teachers already have too much on their plates, and trying to comb through the vast number of online resources can be daunting and time consuming. Propello's teacher- and expert-created curriculum with built-in labs, activities, exercises, and teacher support saves so much time. Also, Propello easily integrates into Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams. Having Propello as a resource cuts down on preparation time, saving teachers loads of time spent at home and on the weekends getting ready for a lesson!

Differentiation and Extension

The four questions for Professional Learning Communities are 

1) What do we want students to know and be able to do?

2) How will we know if they learn it?

3) What will we do when they haven’t learned it?

4) How will we extend the learning when they already know it?

Many PLCs spend their time working through the first 3 questions and give little amount of attention to the 4th question. Propello assists teachers and PLCs in answering the critical fourth question. 

For many of the activities on the platform, Propello provides differentiation for students who need extra support as well as extensions for advanced learners.

Each unit also contains formative assessments throughout the reading assignments. This is helpful to the teacher to determine the level of readiness and comprehension of each student. 

| Sign up here and get started today |

Resources and Responsive Support

As I was navigating through Propello and wishing that this resource had been available when I was a classroom teacher, I found that I had a question that needed answering. It gave me the perfect opportunity to use the chat feature on the platform. 

Within an hour of asking my question about assigning Learning Paths to students and/or groups, I had a response from a team member. She also shared a link to another resource that she thought I may find helpful. The next day, I received a copy of the transcript from our chat via email!

At Propello, you can find many teacher resources including articles and books about grading, standards, ChatGPT, science, and more. It truly is a space for student AND teacher learning!

Propello is in its early stages with plans to launch more subjects soon (English Language Arts in the fall of 2023). If you are or know a middle school science teacher, please share Propello with them! 

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Cultivating a Mindful Culture: How Leaders Can Build Mindful Teams

The Mind of the Leader by Hougaard and Carter is a must-read for anyone aspiring to become an effective leader. Throughout the book, the authors share ideas, practical tools, and strategies for improving leadership based on research including more than 35,000 leaders, and they distilled it into three main areas: mindfulness (M), selflessness (S), and compassion (C). 

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting TheCompelledEducator.com

Called MSC leadership, it's leadership that begins with leading one’s self, then leading one’s followers, followed by leading one’s organization. 

Mindfulness, based on focus and awareness, allows leaders to be effective at giving their time and attention to goals, objectives, and pathways. 

Selflessness by the leader is the understanding that the leader is not the sole contributor to an organization’s success, and paired with self-confidence, the leader’s focus is that of the wellbeing of the organization and its employees. 

Compassion, not to be confused with empathy, creates a lens for the leader to view others and the organization with care, even in challenging and difficult situations. 

The three characteristics are interrelated and connected. Mindfulness (M) makes a person selfless, and selflessness (S) makes one more compassionate (C). To be an MSC leader, one must courageously commit to self-leadership and be willing to cultivate the three characteristics relentlessly.

Mindfulness is the pathway to self-awareness. Authors Hougaard and Carter go into detail about mindfulness and awareness, stating that mindfulness allows people to be fully in the moment and aware of thoughts, decisions, and actions while giving a pause where new thoughts, choices, and actions can be made.

Today’s world is full of distractions that lead people away from being mindful and self-aware. From email to social media to phone notifications, mindfulness can take a “back seat” to the incoming information and distractions. With the overwhelming amount of information that we face each day, it can lead to operating in autopilot mode. When on autopilot, leaders can say or do things without self-awareness of how the actions will be perceived from followers.

To become an exceptional leader, one needs to have consistent, focused performance. In The Mind of the Leader, the authors share four strategies to accomplish focused performance. 

• In line with self-leadership, it is important for leaders to know what impacts their own focus, including time of day, caffeine, emotions, and physical health. 
• The second strategy is to stop multitasking. Easier said than done, it is important to be aware when multitasking and limit one’s actions to one task at a time. While it may seem as though it is less productive to perform one task at a time, there are negative results that arise when multitasking. 
• The third strategy for focused performance is to take time to do nothing. Our brains are wired to be doing something all the time, yet many of the behaviors in which we engage are non-productive tasks and distractions to our greater goal of focus performance. 
• The fourth strategy is to create focus time. It is important to make it a priority to spend time away from devices and do focused work. As a leader, set aside time with your followers to work collaboratively on distraction-free activities.

Being kind to others is a side effect of showing compassion, and the authors remind us that it's important for leaders to show kindness to themselves as evidence of self-compassion. 

Showing kindness to oneself includes forgiving oneself for mistakes that happen. Leaders can feel like they have to have all the answers and do everything right, but the exceptional leaders understand that mistakes happen and they keep moving forward while silencing their inner critic. When leaders learn to be kind to themselves, they learn to be kinder to others, which in turn causes greater feelings of happiness and well-being. True happiness comes from what we do for others, not ourselves.

In the research by the authors, they found that one of the highest rating qualities of leadership was selflessness. Being a selfless leader is not being a servant to employees. It is about being of service to employees and helping them to grow in knowledge and skills. Becoming and being a selfless leader can be challenging because ego is hard to quiet without affirmations and getting credit. When the ego is left without recognition and praise, it often creates fear in a person. The fears can get in the way of being an effective leader, because it can  cause a leader to be indecisive, selfish, and bureaucratic. Once the fear is recognized and the ego in check, a leader can let go of the need for praise and affirmation. Some of the best leaders give credit to others on the team while taking the blame themselves, because they see failure as a means for success.

"Selfless leadership is about having the wisdom to develop and grow your people so they can shine and thrive with your support."        

                                                 - Hougaard & Carter, The Mind of the Leader

The Mind of the Leader by Hougaard and Carter is a must-read for anyone aspiring to become an effective leader. The authors provide insightful perspectives on leadership, including the importance of mindfulness, compassion, and self-awareness. They also offer practical tools and strategies to develop these qualities in oneself. Overall, this book is an excellent guide to cultivating the mindset and skills necessary for successful leadership.

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Resources, Tips, and 3 Ideas for Using ChatGPT as a School Leader

Technology is Always Evolving

We had a conversation in our doctoral class a couple of weeks ago about ChatGPT, and it got me to thinking about ways to use ChatGPT as a school leader. 

Technology is always evolving, and as I think back to when we started our one-to-one initiative at Hoover High School, we first made a turning point when our principal, Don Hulin, allowed our students to use their cell phones between classes, at lunch, and at other non-instructional times. This was at a time when most high schools were not allowing cell phones to be used at all during the school day. 

Teachers were encouraged to allow students to use their cell phones in creative ways - from recording a teacher's review session to watching rewindable, teacher-created lessons to fact-checking. We believed in and cultivated a culture of risk-taking and growth mindset. 

As the years passed and new technology was introduced, our teachers were open to trying new things that either 1) made their job easier (who doesn't want that!) or 2) created opportunities for deeper learning for our students. 

While I'm not typically first in line to try something new, I am genuinely curious about new technologies and try to find ways to implement them. However, I understand the mixed emotions and hesitancy of introducing a new technology school- or district-wide without thinking through scenarios and "what if" situations. 

As I think about ChatGPT, I also think about the time when calculators were introduced, and there was a debate about whether or not they should be allowed in classrooms. I think there are some similarities in the arguments against ChatGPT, and I will continue to research both sides as we all learn more about this new technology. 

Chatbots and AI are not new; in fact, many of us have used interacted with them on help websites for some credit unions, streaming services, and other businesses. However, they are new in the field of education as we currently know it.

USAToday stated, 

"Since ChatGPT debuted in November, the nation's largest school districts have banned the artificial intelligence chatbot, concerned students will use the speedy text generator to cheat or plagiarize."

Even if schools ban ChatGPT, I do believe that school leaders can use it to improve workflow, and I want to share a few ideas here in this blog post. 

*Want to try ChatGPT? Use this link to go to the website, and click on Try ChatGPT. You can create an account, ask the chatbot a question, and it will give you a detailed answer in complete sentences. 

Ideas for Using ChatGPT as a School Leader

Below are a few ideas for busy school leaders on how to use ChatGPT to help lighten your load. When considering the suggestions below, it is important to remember that all communications should be in your voice. These ideas can help provide some shortcuts and "jumping off points" for busy school leaders. I DO NOT advocate using the Chatbot's answers as-is, but I do advocate for 1) not having to reinvent the wheel and 2) using the chatbot's outputs as a framework and as support for our own words. Think of ChatGPT as a virtual assistant who's writing your first draft!

1. Ask ChatGPT for help with written communication to parents

For example, I asked ChatGPT:

 

"Write an email to parents letting them know about the school open house event"

Here's what ChatGPT produced:

Subject: Invitation to the School Open House Event

Dear Parents,

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to formally invite you to our upcoming School Open House event. This is a great opportunity for you to visit our school, meet the teachers, and get to know more about our programs and facilities.

The Open House event will take place on [date and time]. During this time, you will have the chance to tour the school, speak with our teachers and staff, and learn about our curriculum and extra-curricular activities. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get to know our school community better.

We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is essential for student success, and we believe that this event will be a great opportunity for you to get involved and learn more about our school.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to seeing you on the day of the event!

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[School Name]

2. Ask ChatGPT for help with written communication to community partners

This is what I asked ChatGPT:

"Write a thank you note from a principal to a community partner"

This is what ChatGPT produced:

Dear [Community Partner],

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your support and partnership with our school. Your contributions have made a tremendous impact on the lives of our students and have helped to strengthen our community as a whole.

The generosity and dedication you have shown towards our school and its programs are truly inspiring. Your efforts have provided our students with opportunities and experiences that they will never forget, and have helped to create a brighter future for all of us.

Please accept my heartfelt thanks for all that you have done. Your kindness and support mean the world to us, and we are so grateful to have you as a partner.

With warm regards,

[Principal's Name]

3. Ask ChatGPT to help with speech writing

This is what I asked ChatGPT:

"Write a welcome speech by a principal to honor society induction"

This is what ChatGPT produced:

Good evening everyone, and welcome to the induction ceremony of our school's Honor Society. It is my pleasure to stand before you today and celebrate the achievements of our students.

I would like to start by congratulating all of the new inductees for their hard work and dedication. Your commitment to academics, leadership, and service has earned you a place among the best and brightest students in our school. You should be proud of your accomplishments and the example you set for others.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to the teachers, staff, and families who have supported and encouraged these students along the way. Your dedication and support have been instrumental in their success.

As members of the Honor Society, our new inductees have joined a long and distinguished tradition of excellence. They will have opportunities to participate in service projects, leadership initiatives, and academic events that will further their growth and development. I encourage each of them to take advantage of these opportunities and to use their talents and abilities to make a positive impact in our school and beyond.

So once again, congratulations to our new inductees, and thank you all for joining us tonight. I am confident that each of you will continue to make us proud and continue the legacy of excellence that is the Honor Society.

With that, I would like to officially welcome you to the Honor Society and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Thank you.

ChatGPT Tips

Here are some words that will help with your chat prompts/requests, and as a reminder, the better questions we ask of it, the better our results will be. Test and iterate!

“Generate”

“Create a bullet list of”

“Write XX words”

“Make a table of”

add “explain like I’m 5” for complex answers

Want to learn more about ChatGPT? 

Articles about the use of ChatGPT in HigherEd by Breana Bayraktar

Four Questions to Consider on using ChatGPT in Education by George Couros

ChatGPT in the Classroom: 10 Timesaving Tips for Elementary Teachers by Erin Flanagan

What is your reaction to using ChatGPT with students?

How else can ChatGPT be used by school leaders?

I would love to hear your thoughts about using ChatGPT in your personal life or in your professional role! Please reach out to me on twitter or leave a comment below!

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5 Actions to Engage Employees when Building Culture

This post contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting TheCompelledEducator.com

Leaders shape the culture

Now more than ever in education, positive workplace relationships are important. Teachers are leaving the profession in greater numbers, and fewer people are choosing education as a career. Positive relationships between administrators and teachers as well as all adults in a school are imperative in creating a positive culture. 

When building a positive culture in an organization, it becomes a result of a collective effort by everyone in the organization; however, the leader plays a key role in shaping the culture. 

Leaders can build up the confidence of staff members, creating safe spaces where curiosity is rewarded and employees challenge the status quo. Leaders can delegate equitably and demonstrate fairness and empathy, and they must model their expectations and hold others as well as themselves accountable. 

To shape a culture and achieve the collective effort of everyone in the organization, the leader must be intentional about engaging employees in the vision. 

5 actions to engage employees:

     1. Get to know them

     2. Look for strengths

     3. Create opportunities for employees to contribute, lead, and use

         their strengths

     4. Celebrate and recognize them

     5. Show you care

1. Get to know them

Ben Brearley, the host of the Thoughtful Leader Podcast, wrote a great article titled, Don’t Know Your Employees? Here’s Why You Should, and he shares 3 reasons why leaders should get to know their employees and 4 ways to get to know them. 

Here's what Ben says:

"People are more likely to do the right thing by you and the team if they are personally invested in the workplace and its relationships."

"Most people are creatures of habit and routine. Knowing your employees helps you to spot any changes which may highlight a problem that could impact the team."

One overlooked way to get to know others is by being observant. Ben gives the following questions to use as a starting point:

• How do your people react under pressure?
• How about when something unexpected happens?
• What about when there is uncertainty?
• How does your team member react when you praise them in front of the rest of the team? Do they love it, or shy away from the attention?
• Does your team member seem confident, or tentative in their actions?
• How do your team members respond to team conflict?

*You can read all of Ben's article here: Don’t Know Your Employees? Here’s Why You Should

2. Look for strengths

In a post by Scott Cochrane, he asks, What are the qualifications and qualities of the people you want sitting around your leadership table?

He then goes on to share the obvious strengths, such as results oriented, high achiever, and driven to perform. 

Additionally, he reminds us that there are less celebrated strengths that should also be valued, such as

     1. They are seated, and ready to engage, before the stated starting time of 

         the meeting.

     2. In every conversation they focus on you, not their phone.

     3. They are “thanking machines”- Gratitude oozes from them.

     4. They respond promptly to emails and voicemails.

     5. They stand up for their teammates.

*Read Scott's entire post here.

3. Create opportunities for employees to contribute, lead, and use their strengths

Not sure where to start on this one? Try the actions below, which are based on the work of Marcus Buckingham, Researcher, NYT Best-Selling Author, and Founder of the Strengths Revolution.

     1. Know where your own strengths are, as well as your employees. 

Try using a "Love It / Loathe It" list. (Click for FREE download) How it works: for a few days, every time you have a task to do, write it in on the "Love it" column or the "Loathe it" column. At the end of the designated time, review your lists to determine your strengths (the tasks in the "Love it" column).

     2. Meet with employees individually or in teams, and ask employees to fill in

         the blanks about themselves: 

"This is where I'm at for the team: ______" 

"Here's where you can rely on me the most: ____________"

     3. Have frequent check-ins about work + strengths. 

*Adapted from the video by Marcus Buckingham, The One Thing You Need to Know: 5 Ways To Leverage The Strengths Of Your Team

4. Celebrate and recognize them

In their book, Corporate Celebration: Play, Purpose, and Profit at Work, Terrence Deal and M. K. Key note different types of celebration at work:

-Cyclical celebrations: seasonal themes, key milestones, corporate anniversaries

-Recognition ceremonies: public acknowledgement for a job well done

-Celebrations of triumph: special occasions for accentuating collective accomplishments (e.g., in a school, ACT scores or meeting other benchmarks)

-Personal transitions: entrances and exits

-Workplace altruism: doing good for others and promoting social change

-Play: games and events, fun 

5. Show you care

Author and Leadership Coach Kate Nasser reminds us how the world of work has evolved, and how necessary it is for leaders to honor feelings. In her post, "Leaders, Honor Feelings to Engage Employees," she states 5 ways that leaders can honor feelings.

     1. Acknowledge the feeling and its impact.

     2. Recognize when an employee is struggling.

     3. Accept different personality types express feelings differently.

     4. Address disrespect between teammates.

     5. Create a culture of respect for feelings and to results.

Gallup surveyed U.S. employees to see if they agreed with the following statements:

1. “My supervisor focuses on my strengths or positive characteristics.”

2. “My supervisor focuses on my weaknesses or negative characteristics.”

Not surprisingly, those who had supervisors who focused on strengths were more engaged than their counterparts whose supervisors focused on the negative. 

Interestingly, those who agreed with neither statement and were considered "ignored" were more than twice as likely to be actively disengaged than those whose supervisor focused on the negative. 

Questions for reflection:

• How might relationships be strengthened in my school or organization?
• How would I rank the five actions in order of my own strengths as a leader? From the ranking, how might I increase my role in engaging others at work?
• What is a celebration we need to add to our workplace calendar?
• When reviewing my calendar, how have I created time for getting to know others at work? How can I be more intentional about making time to get to know others?

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