Episode 320 – Why “buy-in” is a trap

EPISODE 320Why “Buy-In” is a trapBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:Staff “buy-in” is a trap. If they can buy in, they can also sell out.Most staff “Buy-in” is just enthusiastic compliance.Staff Alignment means everyone is clear on what matters, what success looks like, and what role they play in achieving it.Buy-in is fragile. It’s […]

Episode 319 – The ONE solution to every “People Problem”

EPISODE 319The ONE solution to every “People Problem”Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:We often treat our people problems as if they are each a separate issue when in fact, all people problems have ONE cause and ONE solution.If you’re struggling with resistance and push-back with your staff, there’s a very simple reason why — […]

Episode 318 – Why your PLC’s aren’t working and what to do instead

EPISODE 318Why your PLC’s aren’t working and what to do insteadBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:The reason most PLC’s fail in spite of doing everything right is that you’ve been handed someone else’s method, but no one asked what problem you were actually trying to solve.Somewhere along the way, we lost the plot. PLCs […]

Episode 317 – The 2025 Summer Reading List

EPISODE 317The 2025 Summer Reading ListBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:“When we overprotect children from real-world risks, we leave them more vulnerable to digital dangers they’re not ready to face.” (Jonathan Haidt)“If you don’t change the system, the system will continue to produce the same result—no matter how hard you try.” (Dan Heath)“Even when […]

Episode 316 – Are you a Borrower or Builder?

EPISODE 316Are you a Borrower or Builder?Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:If you’re cherry-picking Buildership strategies without going all in, don’t be surprised when your results are just as scattered as your strategy.Borrowing a few Buildership moves might make you feel like you’re building. But, if you don’t commit to the whole process, you’re […]

Episode 315 – The moment I realized Summer Planning was a Lie

EPISODE 315The moment I realized Summer Planning was a LieBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:You don’t need a better SIP. You need a team that actually believes in the one you write.Most SIPs are built for compliance. Yours should be built for change.Plan alone in June. Lead alone in October.If you make your summer […]

Episode 314 – You’re about to waste another summer

EPISODE 314You’re about to waste another summerBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:Your fancy summer plan won’t survive September if you’re still leading without a vision.Summer is when most leaders double down on tactics. But Builders step back and do the thing that makes tactics workIf you don’t have a 100% vision, you’re about to […]

Episode 313 – You can’t get to 100% on good intentions

EPISODE 313You can’t get to 100% on good intentionsBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:You can’t build 100% success with the same strategies you used to chase 5% improvement.You can’t get to 100% success on good intentions alone. Are you a true visionary… or just good at slogans?Your 100% Vision won’t build itself.That leadership residue is […]

Episode 312 – What are your teachers saying about you behind your back?

EPISODE 312Why you should be conducting Exit InterviewsBiggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:Want to know what teachers really think of you? Try talking to a teacher who is leaving. An Exit Interview is a powerful way to provide closure for you and for any teacher who is leaving, so why don’t more principals do them?Everyone […]

Episode 311 – How to Keep Teachers Engaged at the End of the Year

EPISODE 311How to Keep Teachers Engaged at the End of the YearBig TakeawaysMost end-of-year celebrations are just glorified pity parties. “You suffered. You survived. Here’s a cupcake.”Quiet quitting in May isn’t a teacher problem. It’s a culture signal you’ve been ignoring all year.If your systems fall apart in May, they were never real systems. They […]