SamTastic Weekly Tip: 1/5/26 - Welcome the New Year

This week’s Tip: Welcome the New Year

Welcome the New Year.  You set the stage as you interact with staff, students and parents as they enter your school today. You started the Christmas break with gratitude.  You worked to make staff feel seen and respected.  Why not start January the same way?  Enthusiasm for the mission and appreciation and care for others is contagious.  What you model makes a difference and sets an expectation for everyone entering your school.

Working on your own skills models your expectations, too.  Author and executive coach Melody Wilding, ”Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge shares a few ideas for working with others, that may be helpful in your work.

1. Build consensus before a meeting

The time to get buy-in is in the days leading up to an important conversation, not during it. Savvy professionals preview their ideas one-on-one beforehand. They reach out privately and say, “I’m thinking about proposing [X] during Friday’s check-in. What concerns do you have?” Or: “Before I bring this to the group, I want to answer your questions first.” By the time the formal meeting happens, you’ve cleared objections, built trust, and turned potentially adversaries into advocates. 

2. Avoid making yourself indispensable

When you’re the only one who can execute certain responsibilities, your manager panics at the thought of you leaving or advancing. Train a second-in-command. Show you can build systems so the team can operate without you. 

3. Don’t say ‘no’ too much

You’re absolutely entitled to set boundaries and protect your time. But if all your colleagues hear is, “No, that isn’t possible,” you’ll quickly get labeled as “difficult” or “not a team player.” Focus on what you can do instead. You teach people how to treat you in the workplace and beyond.

• Don’t say: “I’m not able to meet at that time” Instead try: “I’m available at 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. What works for you?”

• Don’t say: “I can’t stay late to finish this.“Instead try: “I can give this another hour today and pick back up in the morning.” 

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The 19^th Annual National SAM Conference is next week in Fort Lauderdale

Keynote Speakers

• Will Parker, Principals Matter: Living your Best Life as an Educator

• Will Bowen, You Can’t Complain Your Way to Success

• Tracie Swilley, The PrinciPAL Effect: Setting the Vibe, Energy, and Excellence Every Day

• John Antonetti, Personal Response: Am I safe to share my thinking?

• William Martinez, Signing the Song: The Power of Belonging

Pre-Conference All-Day Workshop Presenters

• Jim Masters, Beyond Why and What – Getting to How School Leaders Make a Difference

• Ken Williams, Better Teachers, Better Results: Where Students Learn Because Of US

• Willow Sweeney, Top 20 Moves for Building Effective Staff and Student Relationships

• Brendan Houdek and Caleb Shomaker: Executive Speaking Coaching Seminar