CONNECTIONS: The Authentic Leader
(Our newsletter post this week comes from our newest authors, Todd Nesloney and Tyler Cook. Learn more about their new release below!)
Leader.
When you read that word, who comes to mind? Did you think of your supervisor, your parents, Oprah, the President, or some other figurehead? When thinking of leaders, did your own name ever cross your mind?
The world we live in today can easily falsely define a leader as someone with status or a social media following. We wonder where WE fit in. The reality of the matter is that we are ALL leaders. And I believe that it’s far past time we start owning the brilliance each of us brings to the table.
That’s exactly why I wrote my new book Building Authenticity: A Blueprint for the Leader Inside You with Tyler Cook. We wanted to create something that not only helped everyone see their own leadership capabilities but also provide a roadmap (or blueprint) to developing those skills even deeper, using research we’ve learned along the way.
We lead where we are. Whether you work a 9 to 5 job, spend time at home with the family, or find yourself in social outings with friends, your actions and words reflect who you are and how your impact is felt.
But so often we talk about leadership and how important it is, without ever really having anything to help guide us. In Building Authenticity, Tyler and I utilize decades of research to help you…
Understand your core values
Increase self-awareness
Build relational support systems
Welcome feedback into your life
Foster growth within those you lead
Prioritize your life
and much more
The path to becoming the leader we long to be isn’t an easy one. It requires constant self-reflection, leaning into those around us, and pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones.
But what I have learned time and time again is that the work is always worth it. When we become our most authentic and vulnerable selves, we’re able to lead in ways we never imagined. Our relationships become deeper, our capacity increases, and our impact becomes more profound.
I have watched my past experiences shape me in ways expected and unexpected. I have admired those in my life who exemplified what I believed to be exceptional leadership skills. And I have found myself often sitting on the sidelines wondering how I would ever measure up. I read books, listened to podcasts, and followed those on social media. All while contemplating how I could reach my fullest potential in a way that was authentic.
Building Authenticity was born from those wonderings. Why? Because I am a leader in my day job. I am a leader in my home. I am a leader in my friendship circles. And I don’t know about you, but I want to lead well. I want to inspire. I want to leave a legacy. That leadership impact comes from the person we are inside. It comes from how we react to change and challenges. If we allow ourselves to be vulnerable enough to have others pour into us. The role that faith plays. The person we are “offline.”
We all have that leader within us. So today, let’s embrace our vulnerability and authenticity, and let’s make a difference.
Thanks to our authors, Todd and Tyler for this and thanks to all educators reading this and for the amazing work you are doing during these challenging times. As always, Teach and Lead with Passion...
DAILY INSPIRATION EDUCATOR
(Please let us know about an inspiring educator you think we should highlight in a future newsletter by completing this brief form!)
NEW BOOK!
Building Authenticity: A Blueprint for the Leader Inside You by Todd Nesloney and Tyler Cook
There is a leader inside each one of us. Whether at work or inside the front doors of your home, you have influence and set an example through the life you live. That is why the call for true authentic leaders is greater than ever. In Building Authenticity, Todd Nesloney and Tyler Cook will take you on a journey of both discovery and action. You will explore the foundations of truly living and leading with authenticity, such as:
Understanding your core values
Increasing self-awareness
Building relational support systems
Welcoming feedback into your life
Fostering growth within those you lead
Prioritizing your life
and much more
You have greatness inside you, and Building Authenticity will provide you with the blueprint necessary to become the leader you were meant to be–in every aspect of your life.
No matter your season, position, or title, leadership development begins with personal development, because who you are is how you lead.
Building Authenticity is now available via our website and Amazon. Click here for more information.
FEATURED BOOK!
Disruptive Thinking in Our Classrooms: Preparing Learners for Their Future by Eric Sheninger
The premise of this book is simple, yet powerful. It’s time to future-proof learning for ALL kids. Broken into four parts, this book combines stories, insight from thousands of school visits, practical strategies, research, lessons from the pandemic, and examples from classrooms to assist educators to transform their practice. The parts:
Re-thinking “normal”
Re-thinking learning
Re-thinking the learner
Re-thinking our mindset
Each chapter ends with a “Disruptive Challenge” designed to do just that: Challenge educators to disrupt in some way their current thinking or professional practices.
Critical Components of the Book:
Disruptive change is the new normal. As such, our mindset and practices must evolve to future-proof learning in ways that help students develop meaningful competencies critical for success in an unpredictable world.
Comfort is the enemy of growth. We must critically evaluate if the way things have always been done in the classroom sets learners up for success now and in the future. Improvement in all we do is a never-ended journey.
Learning is a process, not an event. It requires educators to develop and use instructional practices and pedagogical techniques that meet the unique needs of all students.
Outlier practices play a key role in the development of disruptive thinking. Some practices add value while others do not. It is up to educators to find the right blend of these strategies to empower learners.
Packed with ready to use ideas and embedded resources including the latest digital tools, templates, and artifacts from real classrooms, readers will learn:
Why a mindset shift is essential in order to prepare learners for an unpredictable world.
How to implement strategies that focus on developing critical competencies.
How to ensure equity through personalization.
What to reflect on to improve and build powerful relationships.
CONNECTEDD’S TAKEAWAYS:
Thought for the Day: ““When addressing disciplinary matters in the classroom, speak to students as if their parents are in the classroom.”
Teaching Technique to Try: Three Good Things: This routine helps students practice gratitude, an important component of well-being. Students intentionally focus on positive thinking by naming and recording three good things they have experienced or witnessed that day. On Twitter and Instagram, people worldwide use #threegoodthings to share their own “three good things.” Check out this link from Facing History and Ourselves for more.
Eyes On Culture: We believe that culture is a true difference-maker in any classroom, school, district, or organization. As a result, we focus much of the work we do on creating and maintaining positive and productive cultures. Culture Focus: Gratitude. High-performing schools with strong cultures are places in which gratitude is not saved for appreciation weeks. Think about your first day of school as a teacher in your building. Those days are often filled with large gatherings intended to motivate and start people on the right path for the year. We thank the custodians, secretaries, buildings, grounds crew, and bus drivers for all the work they have done throughout the summer to prepare us for the year. We cheer for them and tell them how grateful we are for the work they have done. All of that should be done, but it is often the only time those groups are publicly thanked until the week during the year that is dedicated to the appreciation of that particular area. Gratitude starts with putting yourself in the right mindset to see the great things happening around you, but then taking the initiative to ensure that those doing the work know you are grateful for the work they do. In essence, it is not the thought that counts, it’s the action on the thought that counts. The more we verbalize the gratitude and appreciation for the work that often goes unnoticed, the better chance we have for that work to be done at a higher level and for those doing the work to walk hallways feeling more valuable than when they walked in that day.
Why is gratitude so important? What are some ways we can intentionally practice acts of gratitude? Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts on social media using the #CraftingTheCulture hashtag and tagging us on Twitter @ConnectEDDBooks We would love to hear from you!