SamTastic Weekly Tip: 12/12/22 - Learn From Your Best Performer

Today’s Tip: Learn From Your Best Performer

How about an early Christmas, or holiday, gift…for you?

Sound good? Would it sound even better if receiving this gift would improve the practice of your best teacher? What if receiving this gift would improve your capacity to improve the practice of all teachers in your school?

Here’s your gift: Spend time seeing your best teacher perform today and then spend 45 minutes listening while giving your full and undivided attention. The research strongly supports this kind of watching/listening leadership. Your best performer actually gets better, faster, if you can listen, ask clarifying questions and avoid giving advice. The research also shows that you, as the observer and listener, will learn a lot in this process…things that you can apply when working with other teachers.

The research also show that you will be happier. It is a rejuvenating experience to watch a master teacher work. The research also shows the master teacher will be happier if you can actually give your full and undivided attention. This means maintaining eye contact, leaving your tech in your office, and concentrating on truly listening.

The research also shows that master teachers respect a principal who can master this watching/listening approach to instructional leadership.

Enjoy your early Christmas/holiday gift today!

Great news! This weekend we were able to offer each person on the wait list for the conference space at a secondary hotel near the conference resort. You can still register for the conference but will be placed on a wait list until we are sure we have space. As rooms become available you will be cleared. To register: https://bit.ly/3cO5q0z

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 12/5/22 - Try Three Research Based Leadership Strategies

Today’s Tip: Try Three Research Based Leadership Strategies

Hold Very Few Meetings

A recent meta-analysis of more than a decade of research shows 90 percent of employees feel meetings are "costly" and "unproductive." That analysis also shows they're right: Employee productivity increases by over 70 percent when meetings are reduced by 40 percent.

Never Serve a Feedback Sandwich

What's a feedback sandwich? Lead with a positive, share the negative or "constructive" feedback, close with a positive.

Unfortunately, a study published in Management Review Quarterly found a feedback sandwich almost always fails to correct negative or subpar behaviors. While one in five people appreciate the positives, three out of four feel manipulated. Nine out of 10 feel patronized.

And only 7 percent actually change the behavior in question.

Here's a better approach from Culture Code author Daniel Coyle. A study conducted in 2014 shows including one sentence can make feedback up to 40 percent more effective:

"I'm giving you these comments because I have very high expectations and I know that you can reach them."

Why is that sentence so effective? It signals three key things to the employee:

1. You are part of this group

2. This group is special; we have higher standards

3. I believe you can reach those standards

Instead of a feedback sandwich, the result is more like a "relationship sandwich." No manipulation. No platitudes. No irrelevant compliments. No false hope. Just clear, direct feedback -- delivered inside a message of connection, belonging, and trust.

Admit You Don't Have All the Answers

Great leaders are extremely confident, and that confidence helps inspire results. Or not.

According to a 2012 study published in Academy of Management Journal, humble leaders are not only more likable, but they also tend to be more effective. Humble leaders are relatable, approachable, empathetic, and -- especially if you're a fan of servant leadership -- more helpful.

A 2011 study found that humble people were more than twice as likely to give more of their time to those in need than those who were not. Leaders who help struggling employees -- additional training, mentoring, help making connections, or simply a second chance -- tend to produce better outcomes.

In fact, a 2011 study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that humility was a "unique predictor" of job performance.

Given the choice, your employees want a leader who is relatable. Approachable. Empathetic. Someone willing to admit their own flaws and weaknesses. Willing to work to overcome their flaws and weaknesses, and help employees do the same.

–taken from as article in INC. Magazine by contributing editor Jeff Haden

Please note: The deadline for travel information for the 16th Annual National SAM Conference is tomorrow, December 6. . If we don’t have your travel information you may be moved to the wait list. Send travel information to Peggy@SamsConnect.com If you have a problem, please let her know the exact date you will have the information and she will do her best to work it out with you.

You can still register for the conference but will be placed on a wait list as all 500 rooms have been tentatively assigned. As rooms become available you will be cleared. To register: https://bit.ly/3cO5q0z

SamTastic Weekly Tip: 11/28/22 - What Can You Do in 17 Days?

Today’s Tip: What Can You Do in 17 Days?

I bet you are in the GREEN this morning as you planned your day before you left for the Thanksgiving break. Great! If not, make sure to get to GREEN during your SAM Daily Meeting today.

With Christmas approaching most leaders have 15 to 20 school days before the long holiday break. So, what can you accomplish? This is a great subject for today’s SAM Daily Meeting. Is there a teacher you can focus your efforts for the next there weeks and achieve improvement?

Look at the teachers you selected as your focus teachers at the beginning of the school year. Can you pick one and spend time each day helping? Maybe schedule 20 minutes each day for the next three weeks to assist by working with a student in the teacher’s class? Think how great it will be when the holiday break begins knowing you achieved your goal. Cool.

Please note: The deadline for travel information for the 16th Annual National SAM Conference is December 5. If we don’t have your travel information you may be moved to the wait list. Send travel information to Peggy@SamsConnect.com If you have a problem, please let her know the exact date you will have the information and she will do her best to work it out with you.

You can still register for the conference but will be placed on a wait list as all 500 rooms have been tentatively assigned. As rooms become available you will be cleared. To register: https://bit.ly/3cO5q0z