Episodes #191-197
Episode #191: Jeannie Moravitz Smith
https://outofthetrenches.podbean.com/e/episode-191-jeannie-morivtz-smith/
Jeannie Moravits Smith is the founder of Dynamism Leadership, formerly HR-Rx, a Leadership Mindset and Organization Development Consulting firm established in 2005. Prior to becoming CEO, she held Executive Leadership roles at a variety of organizations. Now with over three decades of personal and professional experience, Jeannie has helped thousands of leaders learn how to take charge of the catabolic thoughts and feelings that control their mindset and replace them with anabolic energy. Jeannie holds certifications in Leadership Coaching, Energy Leadership, & Human Management, as well as a Master of Science degree in Human Resources. Jeannie’s clients state that she has helped them enhance their relationships, both personally and professionally, with themselves and others to enhance connection, attract & retain top talent, and make massive profits.
Trench story: standing up for values. Will talk about being a VP of HR 30 & single or caregiver for her mom. Career w/ vision to be HR executive and challenges as a woman. Senior VP asked her for a cup of coffee… She grabbed his hand, skipped him out the door. Talks about women standing up for themselves in a way they’re respected. She walked him through process of making his own coffee. Can talk about finally being heard at a board meeting. Plan B was she makes the choice what job she’s going to have. “Now you don’t have to ask someone like me to do something like this for you”. She didn’t get fired but gained his respect. Served herself, not react.
How do you flip the switch on thoughts & feelings controlling one’s mind in terms of having impostor syndrome? It’s what triggers you to respond rather than react. That controls your mind, thoughts, feelings. Can talk at length about that- Winnie the Pooh, we’re braver than we think we are. Gremlin feelings are keeping us back. We compare ourselves to other people. If she wasn’t going to be respected, she wasn’t in the right environment. Values-understand your core values. Her # CV is respect. You can quickly determine when they’re being compromised, instead of reacting. Trust your intuition & take a deep breath. If you’ve had a hard experience, look at what you’ve learned from it. You’re ready for it.
How can trust be cultivated to enhance connection? I.e. communication in the workplace. Communicating the good and the bad. Be honest w/ ppl. She’s had ppl who “can’t handle it”. Do what you say you’re going to do. Ask ?’s, clarify ppl’s expectations. Ask if you can meet w/ them in 3 days. Be OK saying you don’t have all the answers. Then your manager trusts you’ll be 100% honest with them. As a manager, ask your staff empowering ?’s. Trust they know what they’re doing. Listen 2x’s as much as you’ll talk.
What is Energy Leadership? It’s how you show up w/ your friends, family, etc. She does an assessment how it applies to ppl under stress. When you understand what energy leadership is, you can change how you show up in world & workplace. She couples w/ values assessment. For example, she was handing out flowers to kindergartners for t’ appreciation day. She reacted with “whatever email address you have on file”, instead of “give me a minute and then I’ll get back to do”. That’s when the relationship has been damaged w/ staff, when you react.
Talk about your books: Success Codes: Secrets To Success You Weren’t Taught In School & Own the Microphone: How 50 of the World’s Best Professional Speakers Launched Their Careers (And How You Can, Too! (co-author on both) Sucess codes, her chapter was “It’s an inside job”: There’s book smarts. There’s the internal, listen to your gut smarts. Intuition won’t let you down. Self-talk. You only need to compare yourself to yourself. You should be able to define sucess any way you want. Everyone’s a leader of their own life. We have the choice to define diff levels of success. Internal elements of success. Understand your values, worth, knowing you can do anything if you surround yourself w/ right people. Own the Microphone we can talk about her chapter, showing up authentically, being you. So many speakers get on stage & try to be just like so & so. There’s so much phony stuff, how do you find the truth in it. Chapter is “jump in with both feet”. Not comparing self to others, like on social.
Talk about some of the services listed on your website about HR consulting, Leadership consulting, training & development? She has group & and 1-on-1 coaching. She has staff of 9 contractors. Schools are looking to bring in more SEL expertise. They can help with that.
What is the single most important piece of advice you would give our listeners? Be yourself- authentic. You’re way more present in the moment. You have so much more joy in your life. she would say that if there’s something you want to do in life, there’s no reason you can’t. If you set your mind to doing something and focus on it. break down into micro chunks. You should only compare yourself to where you were yesterday.
Out of everything…be open to change, communicate, ask for what you want. Communicate your needs. Don’t expect people to be mind readers. Bump up your Emotional Intelligence.
Where can ppl find you online? https://sociatap.com/JeannieSmithHRRx (all her social links) Website: www.dynamismleadership.com
View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/otsbSEaWGsk
Episode #192: Jennifer Schwester
https://outofthetrenches.podbean.com/e/episode-192-jen-schwester/
Jennifer Schwester, aka Jennyzenyoga, has been providing yoga services and trainings to many underserved populations for over four years, including special needs adults, senior citizens, first responders, and her high school French classes. Jennifer brings her 24 years’ experience as a French teacher to the mat. She has been practicing yoga for the past 8 years and expanded her practice by becoming a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). Jennifer is currently completing the next 300 hours of Yoga Teacher Training with My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, Texas to become a RYT-500. She is also an Instructor for Yoga For First Responders and a Teacher for the Veterans Yoga Project.
She has presented Mindfulness, Meditation, Chair Yoga, and SEL workshops for various school districts as well as many state, regional, and national language teacher associations as well as half and full-day workshops for school districts and CEU classes for NJ EMT providers.
When Jennifer is not at high school or on her mat and offering Yoga Classes, she is walking her dogs in the fresh air and at the beach!
Trench story: Was in 2014. Had a very long commute. Switched schools for shorter commute in 2013. Chugging along. In May was blindsided w/ medical diagnosis. Had breast cancer. No family history. Ignored it for a few months. Was 42 years old with young kids. Was at school- stayed late, screamed when got diagnosis. Had chemo, surgery during school yr. Wanted to keep things low-key. Had to make some changes. Didn’t have arm strength. Couldn’t write on board. Wanted to feel like self so someone suggested go to yoga class. Didn’t go for ripped muscles but quieting monkey/crazy mind. Her students started noticing. They said they needed to have their brains not race. Started with juniors. They needed a reset. Very large school for NJ-1500 kids. Started asking ? “why”. Had to know everything as a teacher so went to yoga t training. New students asked if they were going to meditate. It wasn’t for the sake of “getting out of something” at school. Wrote out script in French. Saw how much the kids needed it. Hasn’t shared yoga w/ cancer survivor groups. In 2018 school brought in more SEL activities. Edit out cough. Over next 4 years, evolved how to bring mindfulness, meditation, yoga into the classroom to encourage using them as tools. Help them lower affective filters. Explains how to share how to bring mindfulness into classroom. She helps NJEA & with others how to do so w/o certification. We plant seeds, we don’t know when they’ll bloom in our classrooms. Her caveat is don’t be disruptive to those who are benefitting from it. Emphasizes teachers’ need to take care of themselves.
Teaching French/combining it with French & languages to help teachers and students. 24 years teaching. Didn’t start practicing yoga until 2014. Got a yoga teacher cert in 2018. Was a gym rat, wanted to do yoga for continued movement. Got her thru the pandemic. It also helps her with unpredictability with change in admin. Still enjoys teaching Fr. Shares how we can think about ourselves & students as well. Her students came up with ideas to do yoga in French class. Breath work. Students pay attn to self, not just devise. Looking at someone in the eye, not being on devise. Organically developed, had no idea it would branch into this.
Can talk about how to weave yoga into the classroom. Low prep ways. How does it look during a class period? She reads the crowd as they come in. Makes sure lights are low. Greets them at door. Inhale/exhale in French. It’s a fresh start. Does a game/speaking activity as warm-up. Ties into the whole SEL. Gets woven into the whole class period. Getting to know then, they can say which activities they like to do. Breathing is essence. Not the “western” viewpoint of crazy poses. Kids take deep breath before a test too. She has her kids for 3 yrs. They know the routine. Sometimes will pull out yoga mats and/or go outside. Doesn’t have to be a traditional full practice. She sometimes does this b/c she needs it. A Lot of students have body image issues, those who are in (gender) transition as well. She’ll modify the setups, poses based on what kids are wearing etc. Belly breath starts to massage vagus nerve. It sends a message to brain to settle down- low prep way to get students to settle down & get in moment. Also doing various poses in chair- seated mountain. Identifying body parts in TL. Growing your tree. Zentangles, origami, adult coloring books, weaves them into sub plans.
Works with Firefighter/EMS, police for mindfulness as well. Is involved with 2 intl. groups. Yoga for First Responders, Veterans yoga project. Husband in healthcare has a podcast about toxic positivity. It’s OK to not be crazy or “great”. Physical workout, getting nervous systems to settle down/relax, training. Neurological resets. Their vocab/movement is trauma-based & specific to their background. Doesn’t use Sanskrit. Many of them won’t close their eyes due to trauma. She is kind of an outlier. Tough group to get through is based in CO. Physical integration of breath work. Some groups want it all- others want just breath & movement.
Can talk about naysayers who say SEL doesn’t cure much. She would say “you’re correct, it doesn’t cure”. Teaching life doesn’t define her, it’s ok she doesn’t react the same way. She doesn’t ask the “how was your weekend” question anymore. She talks about activities. Asks students which ones they do personally. Asks “if you had an extra 3 hours in your day, how would you spend it?”. Gives them ownership of what they want to talk about. She loves how she teaches and has grown off the way she has been since 2015. Has all French classes, every level. We can talk about how she stays in the field when many leave. She can talk about adapting materials. Reusing everything at all levels. Interaction is different.
Breakout sessions at conferences: How long and give highlights of what you do. Went to AATSP and AATF this summer. Will talk about encouraging proficiency using mindfulness. Influence SEL/mindfulness. Mindful compassion to ourselves. Zentangles. Calendar tasks. X-curricular activities. She is big on organic things happening. Started paper folding. Had 6 ½ days at end of yr. They did projects using folding. Can give links to these activities for these. Her focus spirales into diff. things. At end of the day, whatever the activity is, we’re making connection w/ st’s. She gives them low-prep quick ways to reach out to st’s. She shares a smidgen of what’s out there. It’s OK to not be your “rock star” self as a teacher either.
Recently returned from presenting at AATSP and AATF. Will be presenting at:
- Wisconsin Association of Foreign Language Teachers- 11/3-11/5
Key quotes…Do belly breath. Do it in car. Put your oxygen mask on first. She hopes t’s will be able to find something for themselves out of it & still love teaching. We got into this to share, plant seed, we need each other.
Where can ppl find you online? Twitter: @JenniferSchwes2
IG: @jennyplage
FB: jennyzenyoga
Website: www.jennyzenyoga.com
https://bilingualkidspot.com/2017/06/06/easy-origami-bilingual-kids-activities/
https://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/origami_in_the_classroom
View this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RQHr00icvKM
Episode #193: Vicki Weber
https://outofthetrenches.podbean.com/e/episode-193-vicki-weber/
Vicky Weber is a musician and an elementary educator with a love for children’s literature. As a Puerto Rican author of Taíno descent, she strives to create picture books that are fun, engaging, and educational. All her current titles are based on her background in music education or her heritage. Though she’s no longer in the classroom, she’s one of the coaches at At Home Author where she teaches others how to become successfully published too.
Trench story: First year teaching. Focused on what she should be doing rather than focused on students. Constantly tried to try something new. Didn’t have foundational rules/expectations. Learned to be confident in self & expectations.
Why and how your left the classroom to be an author, still taught and was teaching. first 2 picture books were published months before the pandemic hit. Was pregnant in fall ‘20, daughter was born in 4/21. Was teaching music, 4th gr co-teacher, on-call tech support during online teaching. Was online most of 20/21 SY. She was working 3x hours she wanted to be. Took a leap of faith in terms of becoming a FT author. Made 3x as much as teaching. Chicago-area. Had always wanted to be an author. Her husband said “why not”. Getting published is a lot more realistic than what people think. You need to have passion, drive and want to learn. Type of stories she was creating were helpful during pandemic when it comes to virtual music education.
Why multicultural representation in children’s literature is essential- she is ½ Puerto Rican. Rarely did books look like her in the classroom. It wasn’t reflected well in picture books. Publishing industry is headed in right direction. Before they had same types of characters. For so long, characters looked the same. Now there’s a huge push for that in children’s lit. It doesn’t matter what your parents might be saying.
Illustrator? She uses freelancer for self-published books. With musical books, has had to teach illustrator, Author has a decent amount of pull with whoever she uses. Taino are indigenous people wiped out by Christopher Columbus in Caribbean. Requires a certain style. A lot more collaborative than one would think. Pictures have to marry text.
What inspired your stories? Is anything auto-biographical? They’re Fictional- rooted in her background. When she was growing up didn’t have a ton of musical books. Other types are based on Latinx history- indigenous history of Puerto Rico. Musical stories are inspired by her students. Taino culture responsible for many inventions-hammocks, bbq. Aurora’s orchid is somewhat autobiographical.
What is it like being a full-time author? No 2 days look the same. Still quite a bit of work. When you enjoy what you do, it’s not bad. She likes marketing. Children’s stories need to be pushed by passion. It’s networking. Does in-person and zoom author guest reads. Does free author visits to low-income schools. Does YouTube read-alouds. She does her own marketing. Otherwise need a publicist. Uses voice notes on her phone. Biggest fear lots of ppl have with marketing is putting self out there. Talk about your ‘why”, why you wrote it. Engage w/ ppl on social about your book. She engages with other music educators. Where are gaps in literature now? Story idea often comes from book you’d like to use but can’t find.
How do you help others become authors? She works for at Home Author- she is their marketing specialist. They’re former t’s turned best-selling authors. there’s a lot of conflicting info online. Vicki has been published both self & with company. T’s who want to leave don’t. They see themselves as a “teacher”, part of their personality. You can still be an educator but not in CR. Does courses, zoom coaching, IG, YouTube videos. It depends on their learning style. It was a successful side gig for a while- she hit best seller while teaching.
Out of everything…remember your dreams are possible. IT’s easy to get into a doubting position. If her hubs hasn’t said what if, she wouldn’t have pushed. Don’t be the person who keep
Where can ppl find you online? Send Audience To: https://www.athomeauthor.com/ trunckupbooks.com
There are free resources for how to become a children’s book author via that link.
Her books are available for purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QHHETa
https://www.facebook.com/TrunkUpBooks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJf4v7TsaDU01SCYvSHfiDg
https://www.instagram.com/vickyweberbooks/
View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rsNX1MS0y1g
Episode #194: Tammy Taylor & Sheka Houston
Episode #194: Sheka Houston & Tammy Taylor (podbean.com)
Dr. Sheka Houston and Principal Tammy Taylor are best-selling contributing authors of Women Who Lead in Education Featuring School Principals, Volume 3, 2nd edition. They are also co-founders of Create and Educate, LLC an education and literary firm that offers resources to schools to include, professional development and a catalog of culturally relevant book titles for school-age children from independent authors. The school leaders have 40 years of experience in education between the two of them with experience in charter school start-ups, as well as, instituting AVID and Leader in Me as school initiatives. In addition, the duo, were the recipients of the South Carolina Palmetto Silver Award for academic growth, moved two and three report card levels in one year, won the Palmetto State Arts Education Steam School of Excellence Award, and Teacher of the year. After experiencing tremendous academic growth, NWEA conducted a case study that is featured on their website. Most recently Dr. Houston and Principal Taylor have a new book they are promoting, It Doesn’t have to be Lonely at the Top: The Power of Collaboration in Leadership that outlines their story of resiliency in their leadership journey. Their weekly Facebook Live Series, The R.E.A.L.L Academy outlines training from their framework. They also host The Collaborative, the first Tuesday of each month bringing educators, parents, community members and authors together to solve problems in education.
Trench story: basically, what the new book is about, turnaround principals went into together as 1st year, worked a lot with school improvement. Schools of promise. 2nd year were in school improvement status. Got support from outside the district. They were under fire for having lots of turnover. Were told they’d be back in the CR. One of the reasons they founded the company. Helps educators & parents’ areas where there is poverty, marginalized students. Then they created a company. Time to reflect on who they are as Black women in leadership. Dynamic of changing accountability model. Added stress. Motivation wasn’t so much avoiding having to return to CR. There wasn’t the layer of support except thru one another.
Tell me about why you founded Create and Educate, LLC and what you do: was founded by Sheka Houston and Tammy Taylor- they have an added bonus of having backgrounds and experiences in business, banking and real estate. They talked about it on their podcast the morning of recording 7/23/22- Sheka talked about her real estate background. Curb appeal. The way you look at the budget, it’s very much infused in their leadership style. Tammy was a corporate banker. You need to focus on relationships with clients. There’s a layer of respect that’s a given. Child’s success in school brings them to the bottom line. Create climate & culture in school where employees can thrive. Return on investment- how is the academic needle moving? How are implementations giving us returns?
The Collaborative is our online platform that brings educators, parents, and community members together each week to navigate the pivots of Pandemic Education. Each segment is followed by story time, 1st Tues of each month Tuesdays at 7:00 pm EST. Tune in on any of their social media platforms. Follow them all. Click the links at the bottom of the page. Be our guest by filling out the contact form on our homepage. Real framework on Saturdays, space for parents & educators. What they have planned in late Sept-early Oct: They notice at the beginning of the pandemic people were going to social media, running each other down. Wanted to bring ppl together. Premise behind The Collaborative. Great series with Back to School special with guests, leaders, teams, parents. Audience finds it beneficial- they didn’t want to be part of the problem but part of the solution. What’s the answer to this situation a parent is facing? Also had community partner support. Click all social media handles, can be viewed on YouTube, FB.
Sheka has been a MS level, now at the district. Tammy was at district now at MS. Has worked in edtech as well. Sheka was a teacher for 5 years, principal 5 years, now 2nd year as director of interventions for Chester County S.D. Used growth model at MS, superintendent wanted it used in district. Tammy, went from district to 7 years ago, was preparing to go back to the bank. Unbeknownst to her, she landed at Great Falls E.S. as principal. District-level related to banking background. Different dynamic at E.S. Greatest/rewarding job. Is “on assignment”. This fall will be her 8th yr, taking school to next level. School was in improvement, now CSI school. Needs to change academic trajectory. Needs to start at E.S. preparing kids for college, military, trade. Complete pleasure kicking off new yr. Leadership summit last week of July.
Books Women who lead in Education we could talk about challenges women face as leaders. Told leadership stories, moved the academic needle at school. There were many phenomenal ladies in leadership who collaborated. Talks about microaggressions they’ve experienced in leadership. Some people don’t feel comfortable to.
Next book: It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top. Was going to be released in the spring, released why, but are wrapping it up now. Speaks to leaders who are facing state-sanctioned school improvement. No road map for that. Try to give leaders a roadmap to come out of school improvement. Wants to help leaders who are thrown into a turnaround principal situation. Dissertation work, 7 core. They provide a framework that explains how they moved schools 2-3 report card levels. Stories will wrench your heart but also uplift/encourage. Release end of Sept.
If you purchase it from the website, you can get the info from the leadership conference as well. Schools can sign on for coaching.
Key quotes: Sheka– it was personal for ppl to understand that being form Chester, NC, the label, zip code doesn’t define you. Opportunities are limitless. See ppl thru possibilities.
Tammy-as leaders know you can rise above the situation if yo’re committed to being resilient. There’s nothing so hard you can’t get thru it. Lead w/ resiliency, staff follows. Seeps down into the CR. A test can’t define us. We lead ppl, not tests. Resiliency get off recording
Where can ppl find you? Educators/Entrepreneurs | Create and Educate, LLC. can connect on FB, You tube @shekahoustin, LinkedIn; email them as well. Tammy will do a better job of being on LinkedIn & Twitter, when finishes her dissertation.
View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5IhXhh7qJ44
Episode #195: Jen Schwanke
Episode #195: Jen Schwanke (podbean.com)
Jen Schwanke has been an educator for 24 years, teaching or leading at all levels. She is the author of three ASCD books, including the just released, “The Teacher’s Principal: How School Leaders Can Support and Motivate Their Teachers.” She has written and presented for multiple state and local education organizations and has provided professional development to various districts in the areas of school climate, personnel, and instructional leadership. She is an instructor in educational administration at Miami University and is a doctoral candidate at The Ohio State University. She currently serves as a Deputy Superintendent in Ohio.
Trench story: had taught 7 years, became an AP. Her son was born. Went back to the classroom. Teacher & admin trench are wide, parallel, different. It taught her to enhance her own learning in that trench.
Work with ASCD and writing books, blogs, how did you get involved and how it evolved?
https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/be-the-leader-your-teachers-need-you-to-be
Tell me about some of the the ideas behind your blogs: She felt a call to writing. Started blogging 20 years ago. Had moved into admin. Wanted to always remember what it was like to be a teacher, even as principal. Write about first few days as principal- evolved into You’re the principal, now what? There is a natl. conversation about teachers and pressures/stressors that go along with being a teacher. Don’t discount feelings. Principal/super. needs to make sure everyone’s feeling OK. They need to have workplace that’s supportive.
Talk about your latest book: The Teachers Principal: How School Leaders Can Support and Motivate Their Teachers premise of book is we’re motivated by our purpose; she likens it to a tree. Trunk-core, priorities- what drives us. Leaves, patterns, habits, routines. They feed off one another. Reason we went into education should be rooted in desire to do well. Educational career is a long one. Work deserves acknowledgement of what’s going on in our lives. Those are easier for a principal to influence.
You’re the author of Principal Reboot: 8 Ways to Revitalize Your School Leadership- talk about principal/school leader burnout these days and how reading this book can help. She was in that place herself- said it was a mindset. We can link it to in the trenches. We have the power to change our career. She was in year 14 of admin. Worried she’d lose her joy. It had become stale. We have control over so much of our work. The book released 3-17-20, worst day the book could release. Low readership to start off.
Moving from long-time principal to Deputy Superintendent just in 21/22, position came to her: it was the right circumstance. Crossroads of what she’d been working on with her own professional growth. We get into a place where we think we know everything about our work. It’s about taking care of ppl, making sure decisions are student-focused.
Professional speaking engagements upcoming. Was at ACSD in Oct. at Leadership Summit. Does podcasting with William Parker for Principal Matters. Will be speaking with principals in a few other states. Usually says “yes”. Her work supports, motivates, inspires. Does PD for teachers, talks about purposes, how easy it is to change that. Nature of her job- she is committed to her district. More consulting later in career. Writing is one of her outlets. Values the security of an educational job.
Key quotes…It’s about a mindset. She grew up on a farm. Didn’t want to work. Wanted to read. Worked till she was happy. Work in education is hard work. This could be a job that leaves us beaten & bruised. Identify where our impact should be. Stay committed to our purpose. Find a student and sit down and talk to them, it will fill your cup up quick.
Fnd Jen online: More information can be found on her website. @jenschwanke www.jenschwanke.com
View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9TWfI84CW8M
Episode #196: Brad Dude
https://outofthetrenches.podbean.com/e/episode-196-brad-dude/
Brad Dude was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1948 and grew up in Buena Park, California. In 1970 he joined the Peace Corps in Micronesia as a Volunteer English teacher and then served as a staff member in both Samoa and Micronesia. Since then, Brad has spent the past 40 years in the field of international development, training and consulting. Brad has co-authored two books and published three others on the value of personal temperament and its influence on self-awareness, professional relationships, leadership and productivity. He holds a journalism degree from Northern Illinois University. He currently conducts seminars on temperament and leadership while continuing his writing efforts. As the owner of Brad Dude & Associates, Inc., Brad continues to work and partner with colleagues at Next Level Consulting, the Ascend Development Group and other organizations to provide consulting and training services for his clients.
Brad recently served as a co-coordinator of an executive leadership training program for government employees from Micronesia and Polynesia. He is also a principal in Devbizexperts, a new company that provides services to non-profits, government, and private sector organizations. Brad lives in New Orleans with his wife, Sue. He has one son and three grandsons.
Trench story: did training programs for new Peace Corps volunteers coming to Marshall Islands. Did cross-cultural, language, technical training. Had 30 t’s. Went 1 day away on steamer. Used ES there as teaching platform. Had to march 1 mile to the ship. No ship was there. Trouble with the steamer. Would be there next day. Remote atolls. Was there as a volunteer teacher, then staff member. Camped out, made fires. Ship was delayed yet another day. Set up training classes right on the beach. Had discussion groups there. When ship came, ½ way to main island, 200 dolphins were on way.
Talk to me about some of your books/articles “Finding Eden”-action-adventure fiction about migration today. “Quick! I need to be a Leader in 30 Days!”-for people (like he worked w/ at NASA) who get promoted due to tech skills. They micromanage. He had to make a self-contained course. Finding Eden- came out in March. Used Micronesia experience to play into fantasy there. Like in Europe when ports were closed to asylum seekers. They go to an island like where he worked in Micronesia. Quick! I need to be a Leader in 30 Days! – from experience at Goddard Space Center. Oversaw teams to 5-10+.His class focused on giving them tools. Book came out of course. Leadership model, exercise, discussion topics. Ppl tend to look over shoulders of workforce. This book was an attempt to prepare.
What kind of schools/clients do you do training services for (such as NASA Goddard Flight Center) & Langley Research Center (NASA Site of Hidden Figures), Dept of the Interior)? Did similar course at both places. Talked about temperament. Influences way leader approaches leadership. Dept of Interior-trusteeship for Native Americans. Identified needs of tribe. Accounting, educational side.
Anything coming up as school starts? Usually has worked with other companies. Worked with a Montessori school. Did Myers-Briggs assessment. Ppl couldn’t remember their scores. They wanted to focus on temperament. Some research has said 85% “problem” kids have temperament issues. A lot of personality tests- enneagram. At NASA, participants who took the test in the past had forgotten their scores. Jim Harden & he developed a simpler model. Focused on part of their personality that gets them in the most trouble with employees. Model called “Basic Elements of Temperaments”. Used earth, air, fire, water. All apply to us.
Talk to me about your view/definition of personal temperament & its influence on self-awareness: Name of the game when it comes to leadership training. His model says there’s 4 elements of temperament we’re born with. In descending order ln like a stack of plates. Least like us is shadow temperament. When u see that kind of behavior, we have a negative reaction to it. Most teachers are often dominant temperament- earth. Air- enjoy competency. Can be seen as aloof, like Sheldon in Big Bang Theory. Fire- you never know that they’re going to do. Water- ppl persons. Enjoy developing ppl. Holding training programs. Have hard time saying “no”. All of us are dominant in 1. How does your shadow influence you? LinkedIn/FB groups-chat on temperament. His YouTube channel describes that. He has quick reads.
Some ppl ask how temperament applies to work with companies in Micronesia. Workplace culture & how it may be different –has done temperament workshops all over the Pacific. At live workshops, they have small group discussions. They sit in circles in their dominant groups. Sometimes a challenge could be that the water temperament is highly valued. Although people are born with the air temperament, they tend to sway towards water- pleasing others. He is doing a leadership quiz coming out soon. You can be a dominant fire. You may get a job in a bank. Structures, rules, etc. Example- for the police dept, we need earths & fires. We need waters also.
Key quotes…the idea that no matter where you are in your org, you can be a leader. Came out working at NASA. First one is being self-aware. Don’t wait on title to be leader.
Find Brad online at www.braddude.com all other social on website 40 Ways of Figuring out Your Boss a good resource for teachers.
LinkedIn: Brad Dude
LinkedIn Group: Temperament and Leadership Network
Twitter: @bdude1
YouTube Channel: Leadership and Temperament Channel
Facebook Group: Temperament and Leadership
Amazon Author Page : Brad Dude Amazon
View this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tCod5PADEpk