Leading in Stressful Times

Posted on January 7, 2025 Written by

As we begin this new year, it’s no secret that many of your team members are dealing with significant stress for a variety of reasons … evolving home situations, a volatile political climate, job security concerns, tightening budgets, and much more. With all these major pressures (both internal and external), you may be wondering, “What’s the most effective way to lead in these challenging times?”

As noted in Psychology Today, there will always be internal and external stressors that impact our people and their work … and many of those stressors are beyond a leader’s control. But here are four specific tips that can help you lead from a place of clarity, consistency, and kindness. And when that is done effectively and consistently, then the outcomes and the culture will follow.

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Update: The 4-Day School Week

Posted on December 17, 2024 Written by

It’s been over two years since I’ve written about the 4-Day School Week. As we’ve discussed before (see here and here and here), shifting to a four-day week is a popular trend that has been sweeping the country.

It’s important to note, however, that this change still primarily reflects local preferences rather than reputable research, and it seems to focus more on the perceived benefits rather than on improving student learning. I discussed this in detail (with references) in the February 16, 2022 post.

So what’s the latest on this trend?

EdSurge just posted a fascinating summary that delves deeply into what’s happening with these movements across the country. While the policy has proven popular and does appear to have helped some districts retain staff, the studies reveal mixed effects on student achievement. And many experts say that increasing teacher pay is a much more effective solution than shortening the school week. The article also highlighted a number of other important factors that schools should consider if they’re thinking about switching to a four-day week.

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Stop Trying to be Happy!

Posted on December 3, 2024 Written by

New research shows that focusing too much on whether you feel happy or not can make you feel even less happy! According to researchers, “happiness is not the goal of life, but a by-product of an active, productive life.”

This cutting-edge research (conducted by teams at three major universities) offers three specific suggestions for increasing your level of happiness. With the ongoing challenges school administrators face these days, and the impact that has on their mental health, this short article may provide a much needed breath of fresh air!

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Crafting a Memorable Message

Posted on November 19, 2024 Written by

According to Charan Ranganath (a professor at the UC Davis Center for Neuroscience), you can make almost any message more memorable! This includes emails, presentations, speeches, and similar communications.

Using the simple 4 C’s of Memorable Messaging, Dr. Ranganath’s research found “greater activation of the brain circuitry involved in forming new memories” with the research subjects retaining much more of the information presented. This not only has implications for administrator communications, but also for some aspects of classroom teaching.

Bottom line: If you want the information that you share to have a lasting impact, the “4 C’s” can help you create those lasting memories.

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