Don’t look for the quick, big improvement. Seek the small improvement one day at a time. That’s the only way it happens–and when it happens, it lasts,” writes John Wooden. In my educational career, I’ve spent time researching and writing about school and organizational improvement. Throughout reading, researching, and writing, common themes develop for the …
Letty Cottin Pogrebin writes that “apathy is the self-defense of the powerless.” One aspect of effective leadership is being all in on the mission, vision, and values of the work. At times, however, leaders find themselves feeling apathetic or indifferent about the goals ahead of them. Many times it’s through no fault of their own, …
“The best way to change the world is in concentric circles: start with yourself and work your way out from there,” writes James Clear in a recent newsletter. In our daily life and work, we sometimes forget that we have the power to positively impact others and essentially change the world. Although talking about making …
In the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni outlines five issues that impact teams and their results. The book acts as a fable where Lencioni outlines a specific company that shows lack of results, it hires a new CEO, and Kathryn outlines five dysfunctions to get the team on track. A results …
Jim Collins, the author of the book of Good to Great, states one powerful line that connects with many in leadership: “Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great.” What Collins means is that most leaders, people, and organizations become complacent …
“Progress happens too slowly to notice; setbacks happen too fast to ignore,” Morgan Housel once said. One of the most challenging aspects of goal setting is wanting success to happen quickly or instantly. Most people set a goal and develop a timeline, and if they don’t reach their goal by a specific date, then they …
In his book The Pursuit of Excellence, Ryan Hawk poses a critical question: “What process have you purposefully put into place to ensure that you’re learning something new each day?” While many people focus on continuous improvement, less individuals create a more systematic approach to learning. As children, our teachers develop systems and processes for …
“I think it’s imperative to follow your heart and choose a profession you’re passionate about, and if you haven’t found that ‘spark’ yet, if you’re not sure what you want to do with your lives – be persistent until you do,” says coach Steve Kerr. One of the greatest coaches in NBA history is Steve …
“I played hard every day in practice, so playing hard in a game was just a habit,” Michael Jordan said. Practice is the most important aspect of any team. It’s the opportunity to develop foundational skills, learn the system, build team chemistry, and develop a championship team culture. Although coaches spend significant time evaluating game …
Stephen Covey, author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, states that “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” In other words, it takes focused effort to continue taking actions on the areas of most impact. Too many leaders spend time working on areas of very little impact and …