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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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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Don’t Fumble Feedback!

Posted on January 6, 2026 Written by

Principals must provide teachers and staff with feedback … but there are good ways and bad ways to approach this vital task. When feedback is delivered in the right way, it generates positive outcomes. But unfortunately, the opposite is true as well! That’s why mastering the art of good feedback is so important.

This article from the business world offers four tips for effective feedback. It emphasizes the importance of making feedback actionable, timely, sensitive and conversational. As Steven Levitt once said, “The key to learning is feedback. It is nearly impossible to learn anything without it.” 

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