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Friday with Friends - "Relationships Matter"

As humans we crave relationships. We are relational beings. Need proof? Next time you go on a plane pay attention to how many people who are seemingly strangers will talk to each other for the duration of your trip. Relationships matter not only to us in society, they matter to us as educators. When I was in college, my education professors always put an emphasis on student relationships. Making sure we interact well with students. I wish that I could provide a silver bullet to developing relationships with students or a simple ten point checklist to follow to create better relationships with students, but the fact of the matter is that I would then be lying to you. It's funny. At points I have heard stories of some students who misbehave for some teachers. Those same students are like angels in my class; I love working with them. Sometimes I have students who challenge me but don't challenge their other teachers. Relationships depend entirely on t
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The 2 Basic Drivers of Engagement

The understanding of “how to" effectively and meaningfully engage others is critical to virtually every profession and organization on the planet.    This understanding is also critical to social interactions.   Further, it can have a tremendous positive impact on personal, professional and organizational goals toward success and achievement.  A few examples that come to mind: Engagement between a sales person and a consumer (new or returning) can “make or break” potential, current, or future transaction(s).   Thus, failure to understand engagement at the most basic level can impact a sales person’s financial goals, a business’s brand, and consumer satisfaction. Engagement between a student and a teacher can make a vast difference in the educational process as well as the growth of individual learners.   Copious amounts of research point to the “growth benefit” of safe student-teacher relationship(s) and the positive impact they have in the learning process.   All of wh

4 Leadership Lessons from the Pace Car

I can remember the first Indy 500 I watched.  Specifically, I can recall my captivation with the “pace car.” The very first pace car I watched "set the pace" was a Chevy Corvette driven by Jim Rathmann. I remember asking my friends in the room “what exactly does a 'pace' car do and why is it needed?”  Without any hesitation someone in the room replied “it paces the drivers to ensure they are up to speed and ready to start the race.” I now realize that the “pace car” is actually a “pace setter" and it does more than just "set" the speed.   When I think of coaching, teaching, mentoring etc., it is evident that "pace setting" is a quality of effective leaders. Pace setting creates opportunities to grow success by setting expectations. 4 Leadership Lessons from the Pace Car #1 - The pace car ensures that the track is safe. Effective leaders ensure that organizational culture is both physically and emotionally safe. Yes, the

Belated - 3 Ideals for Goals and Resolutions

It is 2018 and the New Year if off and running! Many people and organizations will craft "resolutions" or "goals" for the new year.  However, by this time of the new year many of those same people may have lost sight of their goals or may  have given up on achievement.  It is estimated that only about 12% of those who set new years related goals will maintain the pursuit of those goals past January 15th of the year.   In fact, Allstate has spoofed this thought through their well known "mayhem" commercials.  They, like Farmers, "have seen a thing or two and know a thing are two." At the beginning of this post I placed "The Toddler Laws of Property."  I believe these "toddler laws" best exemplify the mindset, passion and behavior needed to effectively set and achieve new goals and resolutions! Considering that, I want to share with you "3 Ideals for Goals and Resolution" that I have learned to apply over

Understanding the "Engagement Zone"

The “engagement zone” is an unseen, yet powerful arena, in which an emotionally driven encounter occurs that results in a transaction between parties or their respective representatives. These transactions may be: Between two individuals Amongst or between a group or groups of individuals Amongst or between an individual and a representation (website, app, etc.) of an individual or organization. Transactions in the engagement zone may or may not: Be authentic Be effective Be meaningful. Within the “engagement zone” a wide variety of transactions can occur. These transactions range from moments that “last a lifetime” to moments that “drive us to rage.” Make no mistake, the “engagement zone” is powerful and it is packed with endless possibilities. When people enter “the zone,” they typically enter with a purpose. They may enter to buy or sell, teach or learn, improve or grow, lead or follow, etc. The goal, most often, is “success” within the zone. Two Fa

3 Indicators of a “Culture of Engagement”

Many organizations work hard to have the “appearance of” an engaged culture. On the other hand, few organizations work diligently at crafting and creating a true “culture of engagement.” The latter and the former are very different. A “culture of engagement” is an organizational “state of being.” This state does not occur randomly, rather it is the result of diligent and persistent leadership, from leaders at all organizational tiers, who remain focused on creating, crafting and managing the culture. When it Starts A “culture of engagement” is built on a firm understanding of “why” the organization exists. This is accompanied by a thorough understanding of “what” the organization does.  Further, is grounded in behaviors that communicate a complete understanding of "how" the organization's “why” acts in tandem the organization's  “what” (and vice versa). A “culture of engagement” begins when an organization has a clear and meaningful vision, an action

3 Values of Encouragement

Effective and meaningful engagement has a positive impact on both personal and organizational growth. One of the key drivers to effective and meaningful engagement is encouragement. Simply put, encouragement and engagement go hand-in-hand. When encouragement is offered in an authentic manner, it produces three specific values that lead to improved engagement. These values include: Self-Esteem. Encouragement lessens self-doubt. When self-doubt is high, engagement is inhibited.  This is typically a result of the false belief that a person’s value is limited. Encouragement provide the opportunity for a person's self-esteem to improve by offering them a perspective of value.  The value of high self-esteem needs to be never underestimated.  When a person is encouraged, and when self doubt is lessened, the opportunity to create effective and meaningful engagement increases. Performance. When performance is in a slump, engagement lags.  In a nutshell, encouragemen