Tom Waters

Multiplying results, multiplying your network, multiplying strength in others, multiplying your team's effective - these are all traits of multipliers (here's the amazing book by Liz Wiseman ). On the flipside, there are many actions that can diminish in spite of being spurred by good intentions. In this post, I'll share with you 6 types of accidental diminishers : The Optimist The Rapid Responder The Pace-Setter The Rescuer The Idea Guy Always On Marci Houseman shared the graphic below on Twitter, and I thought it would be perfect to share with you. The Wiseman Group " Being a multiplier means being aware of those times when we have a tendency to be an accidental diminisher. To build capacity we must provide others with the opportunity to learn and grow—even if something is done “differently” than we would have done it." - Marci Houseman The Optimist Being an optimist is a strength, and it's much needed. However, the strength...

Building Trust Through Change How do a principal and school leadership team lead change without starting a mutiny? Because you very well know that mutinies are real, and even good principals can be thrown overboard if they make the wrong missteps. Namely, if there is strong distrust on campus. So let's stay on the ship. Safely with our crews...so to speak. Today I want to share the great advice from other educational leaders and principals that can help you build trust through times of change. Building Trust With Your Staff Let's start with a big challenge: staff members or teachers who we perceive aren't "keeping up" with the profession. Change for them is usually the hardest. "Yes but how do we get that thought through to those who aren't keeping up with their professions...without it looking like "top-down" initiatives? Blame-shame for 3rd parties is so much easier." @LaneWalker2 Blame and shame usually lead to...

Collective purpose is such a buzz-type word. But the concept is more than buzz. It's the foundation of good teamwork . In practice, it is not as common as you would think. At least not as common as it should be with the surge in "collaboration" over the last 5 years. Everyone talks collaboration. Working together. Yet, it is not uncommon for many teams to actually collaborate with collective purpose. What is collective purpose? There are four basic features at the core of collective purpose. Here they are from big picture down to technical detail. 1. When a team shares a vision about what needs to happen and where they intend to be. 2. When a team shares what they hope to achieve and the goals they have to reach along the way. 3. When a team understands  how they go about their business. 4. When a team accepts the roles and plays those roles with passion and strength. Collective purpose can empower and awaken a team to move in the same directio...