Decision Making in Uncertain Times

Decision Making in Uncertain Times Education depends on tradition.  Making change is hard work and time consuming.  As one famous quote says “Change has as its enemy all those who have done well under the old system and has as lukewarm friends those who might do well under the new.” Reopening School With COVID-19, change…

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Influence: Leading When You Are Not in Charge

man in black jacket standing on road during daytime

Influence: Leading When You Are Not in Charge COVID-19 is a test lab for influence.  We watch it play out on the nightly news.  Who has the most influence?  The President? Governors? Doctors? What should we do? How fast should we do it?  We keep hoping that someone will step up, bring people together, build…

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Leading in Crisis

red Emergency Pull lever

Leading in Crisis We are living in unprecedented times.  Due to COVID-19, virtually all school buildings in America are closed.  School leaders are called upon to sort out untold new ways of doing school.  School lunches.  Distance learning. Day care. Special Education.  Union rules.  New technology platforms.  And at the same time, district leaders are…

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How to Lead When it Matters Most

brown wooden blocks on white table

Book Review: You’re IT by Leonard Marcus … You’re IT: Crisis, Change and How to Lead When it Matters Most This book is chock full of good leadership, and so appropriate for these uncertain times.  The book grew out of crisis. What went well – and not so well – after national crises like 9/11,…

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Briefing Papers: Best decision making tool ever

turned-on flat screen TV

Best Tool Ever … The Briefing Paper $100M Wonder: I first learned about briefing papers at an AASA conference 40 years ago.  The presenter, Bill Banach, claimed they were worth a million dollars.  Since then I have proven them effective with $8M, $35M and $100M projects. No, they don’t manufacture money, but they come close.…

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