Ten Essential Micro-Habits

Posted on April 14, 2026 Written by

This is the time of year when burnout can become a real issue. One way that you and your team can counter this is to develop and implement essential “micro-habits.”

Micro-habits are small, consistent actions that can significantly reduce stress, aid cognitive function, and improve workplace productivity. According to Mary Kelly (author of “Stop Procrastinating Tomorrow”), some of the most effective micro-habits include acknowledging others every day, taking short brain breaks, and using the “two-minute rule” for quick tasks.

Here’s her list of the ten most essential micro-habits. Making these small adjustments should significantly relieve your stress over time, leading to improved performance, better well-being, and greater job satisfaction.

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When You “Crash and Burn”

Posted on March 31, 2026 Written by

A single grave leadership mistake (whether in private or in public) is often enough to severely damage or destroy the trust that you’ve worked so hard to build with your team and your school’s stakeholders.

But all is not lost!

Allison Dunn of Deliberate Directions outlines a focused recovery strategy that includes assessing the damage, owning up to your mistake (without excuses), and communicating the steps you plan to make to repair and restore damaged relationships. In the words of the author, ” “The people affected by your misstep are watching for signs that your leadership has grown from the experience. They might not be expecting perfection, but they do look for evidence of real change.”

Hopefully, this is a resource that you’ll never need to use! But if the worst happens, then this post can provide wise counsel and specific actions that have the potential to help heal the breach.

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Powerful Ways to Engage

Posted on March 17, 2026 Written by

We’ve all had to sit through long lectures that were … well, extremely boring! Successful educational leaders should always avoid that public speaking trap. Whether it’s a faculty meeting, a school board meeting, or a presentation to a local stakeholder group, principals must always be able to grab and hold their audience’s attention.

Nationally-recognized speaking coach, Gary Genard, outlines two main strategies for effective presentations: providing a clear road map of your presentation’s content, and addressing the group’s “What’s in it for me?” mindset early on. As the author points out, “”Why would anyone be engaged or excited about your presentation if the two main elements of it have nothing to do with that listener personally?”

(NOTE: This link obviously promotes certain products and services. However, I’m sharing it anyway because the concepts presented in this article are very valid without any need to go further.)

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The Power of Humor

Posted on March 3, 2026 Written by

When a principal uses humor, it can always be a bit risky. But the type of humor can make all the difference.

Jonny Thompson of “Big Think” believes that most humor falls into one of two categories: affiliative and adversarial. Affiliative humor is universally non-offensive and brings people together. Adversarial humor creates bonds by mocking others.

In the words of the author, “Laughter can bind or divide, heal or conceal, depending on whether it’s reaching out or striking back.” So it’s very important for principals to think carefully about the types of humor they use and the jokes they tell. In the end, that reflection not only can help improve our leadership style, but also tell us a lot about who we really are.

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