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00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Good morning, school leaders. Welcome to your Morning Boost.
00:00:02 --> 00:00:03 We are nearing the end of this week.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:08 Today is Thursday, June 5th, and we're ready to tackle another crucial topic
00:00:08 --> 00:00:12 that directly impacts our effectiveness as leaders and the strength of our school communities.
00:00:12 --> 00:00:16 As you know, this entire week, we've been diving deep into the insightful articles
00:00:16 --> 00:00:20 that are in the Fitting 5 newsletter by GLS, our wonderful show sponsor.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:24 Again, if you are not already receiving this valuable resource,
00:00:24 --> 00:00:27 this is produced by AWB Education, and we'll get you signed up for it.
00:00:27 --> 00:00:31 Just contact us either by clicking on the link in the show description or sending us an email.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:34 Either way, we'll get you signed up for The Fitting Five.
00:00:34 --> 00:00:37 Today, we're going to focus on an article by another friend of the program.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:38 This is from Chris Wetzel.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 He has been a guest on multiple episodes of our sister show,
00:00:41 --> 00:00:47 Your Booster Shot, and his LinkedIn article, How Leadership Teams Build Confidence in the Unknown,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:52 offers profound insights on how we as leaders can not only navigate uncertainty,
00:00:52 --> 00:00:55 but also empower our teams to thrive amidst it.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 This is a vital skill in our ever-changing educational landscape.
00:01:07 --> 00:01:12 Well, in Chris's article, he certainly shares with us that in the dynamic world
00:01:12 --> 00:01:14 of education, uncertainty is a constant.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:18 This article is a timely reminder that our role as leaders isn't just to manage
00:01:18 --> 00:01:22 the known, but to also equip our teams to feel confident and capable,
00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 even when the path isn't perfectly clear.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:30 It's about fostering resilience, adaptability, and psychological safety within
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 our school buildings, our districts, and our programs.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:36 Now, Chris highlights some very crucial topics within this.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:39 He talks about that transparent communication and shared ownership.
00:01:39 --> 00:01:43 His entire piece underscores that we as leaders need to be transparent about
00:01:43 --> 00:01:47 challenges and involve our teams in the problem-solving processes,
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 rather than just trying to present a perfectly clear picture.
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 This approach builds trust and shared ownership.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 It makes uncertainty a collective challenge for us to overcome,
00:01:57 --> 00:02:02 helps align transparency and authenticity in the work that we're doing, and really,
00:02:02 --> 00:02:06 leaders, we don't always have to have all of the answers, but we just need to
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 be honest about those challenges.
00:02:08 --> 00:02:12 Chris's article also emphasizes the power of distributed leadership.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 It talks about where confidence in the unknown is built when diverse perspectives
00:02:16 --> 00:02:18 are brought to bear on complex problems.
00:02:18 --> 00:02:22 We should empower our teams to analyze situations and propose solutions.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 This also means cultivating an environment where experimentation is encouraged
00:02:27 --> 00:02:32 and failure is reframed as a learning opportunity. It's going to truly promote
00:02:32 --> 00:02:34 a growth mindset at our organizational level.
00:02:35 --> 00:02:39 Authors James Cousy's and Barry Posner in their Leadership Challenge book point
00:02:39 --> 00:02:41 out that leaders enable others to act.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:44 They foster collaboration and build trust.
00:02:44 --> 00:02:48 And this is what Chris is trying to get at here. When outcomes are uncertain,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:52 the importance of focusing on robust processes like strong communication,
00:02:52 --> 00:02:56 collaborative decision-making frameworks, and commitment to continuous learning,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 these processes are going to provide stability.
00:02:59 --> 00:03:02 Ultimately, when teams feel confident, we see them taking initiative and acting
00:03:02 --> 00:03:06 decisively, even without perfect information, because in the end,
00:03:06 --> 00:03:10 they've been provided the necessary resources and the autonomy to do the work they need to do.
00:03:10 --> 00:03:13 Now, if you're looking for a little bit more than what's just in the article,
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 I'd advise reaching out to Chris for some coaching advice on this,
00:03:16 --> 00:03:21 because we could really get into the why and the what of building confidence in the unknown.
00:03:21 --> 00:03:26 Maybe some more explicit strategies or specific types of unknowns that school
00:03:26 --> 00:03:26 leaders are going to face.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:31 For example, how do you build confidence when facing significant budget cuts
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 or unexpected staff turnover?
00:03:34 --> 00:03:38 Or maybe even when you have rapid changing policy mandates that are just really
00:03:38 --> 00:03:41 throwing a wrench in the typical days that our school leaders are going through.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:46 Some concrete frameworks for scenario planning or crisis communication during
00:03:46 --> 00:03:49 uncertainty. Those could be very valuable for us. If you're looking for more
00:03:49 --> 00:03:53 of those examples, reach out to Chris directly. I guarantee you he would help you with those.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:02 As we wrap up, I want you to consider a high school principal who,
00:04:02 --> 00:04:06 faced with a sudden significant shift in state assessment requirements,
00:04:06 --> 00:04:08 didn't just announce the changes.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:13 Instead, she convened her department heads and academic leads and openly admitted
00:04:13 --> 00:04:17 the uncertainty, and together they developed a phased plan for professional
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 development and curriculum alignment.
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 That collaborative approach, born out of shared vulnerability,
00:04:23 --> 00:04:25 helped build immense confidence among staff.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:30 Wouldn't that be a great story for us to strive to in the midst of uncertainty?
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 Just trusting expertise in the face of the unknown, we're going to empower ourselves
00:04:34 --> 00:04:38 to develop sustainable strategies that our entire district will benefit from.
00:04:38 --> 00:04:42 We don't just solve problems, we cultivate stronger, more adaptable,
00:04:42 --> 00:04:45 and ultimately more successful school communities.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:49 Thank you for listening. Have a wonderful Thursday. We will talk with you again tomorrow.