Accelerate Your Performance

When schools, students, and families work together, everyone wins. The truth is that teachers, families, and students have the same goal – student success. Therefore, building teams that allow everyone to work together for this shared goal helps bring the goal to fruition. Everyone has a valued voice on the team, and… Read more

Teachers are a gift to the world, and the work they do each day is transformational. They leave special marks on our lives, and their work is impactful. Teachers need to be reminded how remarkable and appreciated they are; they need to be reminded that their work matters in so many ways. This episode is about the big… Read more

Good leaders are effective at showing care and concern for others. Acts of care and concern can be demonstrated in both expected ways (such as check-in meetings) and unexpected ways (such as difficult conversations). The bottom line is that when people feel cared for, they are more engaged, feel a deeper investment to… Read more

Getting and keeping employees engaged is hard, intentional work, but it's worth the continuous time and effort. As Lana Fontenot, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and External Relations at South Louisiana Community College, states, "Engagement is not a one-time thing, it happens day in and day out,… Read more

Employee engagement is key to a successful organization, and getting team members engaged should begin even before their first day of work as a new hire. New hires naturally feel a mix of excitement and anxiety, but leaders must capitalize on the excitement while minimizing the anxiety to stimulate employee engagement… Read more

Continuous improvement is grounded in learning. In fact, continuous improvement necessitates a mindset that focuses on continued learning and growth and that acknowledges that there is always something new to discover. Through this learning, growth occurs, and growth facilitates improvement. As Brian Alaback, Director… Read more

In today’s episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher implements her own advice to “face the brutal facts” in education. As educational leaders in both K12 and higher education face a changing landscape, Dr. Pilcher explains that it’s crucial for leaders to attend to the bottom line to provide what’s best for students. Listen as she… Read more

Dr. Howard Spearman, one of the 2026 Studer Education Difference Maker Award winners, believes that knowing your "why" is essential for a leader. Without knowing your why, Dr. Spearman shares that a leader can "lose their way." When a leader knows their why, students and communities thrive, and outcomes are met. Dr.… Read more

Even the best leaders know that they can continue to learn. That mindset is partially what makes them good leaders; they continue to seek ways to improve. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks with Dr. Vincent June, one of those great leaders who continues to seek ways to improve. His leadership has had a… Read more

Change is everyday business for leaders, and employees rely on leaders to guide them through change by effectively managing and leading change efforts. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the idea that change is everyday business and shares three key concepts related to how leaders can effectively manage and lead… Read more

People want to do good work, and they want to work in an organization that has a positive work environment. According to Kelly Krostag, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resource Services for Escambia County Public Schools in Florida, a positive work environment “is the culture,” and she shares that developing,… Read more

On the heals of Studer Education's 2026 Destination High Performance Higher Education Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the event and her takeaways. She calls out an idea shared by Dr. Brendan Kelly, President of Eastern Michigan University: the idea that education institutions serve and support students best… Read more

As Dr. Kristine Strickland, Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College, proposes in this week’s episode, strategic plans are important…if they don’t sit on a shelf to collect dust. Rather, as Dr. Strickland shares, strategic plans must be “alive” in daily work and conversations to keep everyone in an… Read more

Employees want to feel valued and heard at work. When they feel this way, they feel safe sharing ideas, are motivated to do their best, and see the impact of their contributions and the contributions of others. In these ways, value and voice build a strong workplace culture. Rounding and recognition can help add value… Read more

Bright spots of good work are all around us in organizations. It is a leader's responsibility to create ways for people to harvest the stories of these bright spots. These stories reinforce why someone's work is valued, the impact it has on others, and how individual contributions make a positive impact. “Connecting… Read more

In preparation for an upcoming webinar, Dr. Janet Pilcher provides a brief introduction to the idea that feedback is a gift. She discusses how feedback is a two-way gift – leaders must provide and receive feedback. Feedback is a gift that provides valuable data that informs solid decisions, but it must be received… Read more

Every day in an organization, good work is being done. Ensuring that all this good work is aligned and focused on the same goals and outcomes is what Superintendent Michael Maine of Martin County, Florida calls getting “locked tight,” and Superintendent Maine is a master at this alignment process. In this episode, Dr.… Read more

Getting feedback is one thing; capturing feedback with the mindset that it is a gift is another. The idea that “feedback is a gift” relates to proactively seeking feedback to better understand what is working well and what needs improvement. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher and, Kathy Myles, a Studer Education Leader Coach, as… Read more

Good leaders continuously seek improvement; they want to grow and learn. They lead the way in growing, improving, and surpassing status quo. The 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence frame these kinds of continuous improvement efforts and shape how leaders execute effective leadership practices. The Pillars offer the… Read more

"Words have power," which is why Dr. Janet Pilcher issues a call for leaders to be thoughtful of words, choosing them carefully and using them in positive ways. Leaders model how to use words effectively, and operationalizing values, including those related to how words are used, encourages the use of words that build… Read more

Improvement is a team effort, and teams must support one another to be able to move forward together. As Dr. Jennifer Kubista, Superintendent of Central School District 13J in Oregon states, “You have to be reflective and working hard together.” Survey data provides the data and feedback for an organization to reflect… Read more

In this episode, Dr. KK Owen, a leader coach at Studer Education, shares that “our best chance of success is through our people.” As she explains, it’s for this reason that people need to understand that they are valued and that they bring value to an organization. Building a people-first mindset allows for this kind… Read more

According to Dr. Reggie Todd, the guest in this episode, “Service excellence is critical because it directly shapes the experiences people have with an organization.” The truth is that service matters, and service excellence is an all day, every day, all-in proposition. What does it mean to have great customer… Read more

Do you want to improve your communication skills but don’t know how to get started? This episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast is for you! Join Dr. Janet Pilcher in the third episode in a series focused on communication and Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment, part of the 9 Pillars of Leadership… Read more

Effective leadership necessitates effective communication. If you want to grow your communication skills, join Dr. Janet Pilcher this week for the second episode in a series related to Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment. In this episode, she shares specific communication barriers and ways to tackle to those barriers.… Read more

“Great leadership requires leaders to be great communicators.” That’s why Dr. Janet Pilcher shares a deeper dive into Pillar 3: Communicate for Alignment, one of the overarching 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence. Join her for the first in a series of episodes exploring: the importance of communicating effectively;… Read more

Sometimes, a pause is all that is needed to get an organization moving faster. This may sound counterintuitive, but, as Dr. Casey Blochowiak explains, pausing to reflect on what may be bogging down systems and processes allows organizations to refine their work, improve processes, and operate more efficiently. Listen… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, Founder and President of Studer Education, as she reflects on four decades in education leadership and shares why this moment calls for greater focus, consistency, and action. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher explains the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence —a practical leadership operating system… Read more

Are you looking for an effective way to shift organizational culture? Listen to hear why Ms. Marni Herrington, Deputy Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of the Oxford School District in Mississippi, can confidently proclaim, “rounding has changed our culture.” Find out how the Oxford School District is using… Read more

When applied consistently and effectively, one simple practice can have a tremendous impact on culture and create a ripple effect across your organization. What is that practice? Rounding. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Samantha Sands, Director of Customer Success for K-12 Rounding , to discuss how small,… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, Founder and President of Studer Education, as she welcomes the new year with reflections on a longstanding commitment to worthwhile work that helps educational leaders make a meaningful, lasting difference. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher introduces the 9 Pillars of Leadership Excellence —a… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, Founder and President of Studer Education, for the final Accelerate Your Performance episode of the year as she reflects on the moments, partnerships, and lessons that shaped Studer Education’s path. Dr. Pilcher expresses her deep gratitude for the early leaders who helped lay the foundation… Read more

It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day challenges of leadership, but what if our most powerful tool is simply focusing on what's working well? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher explains how recognizing bright spots creates a powerful loop of purpose and builds the sense of belonging that helps employees know they… Read more

Consistent practices keep the organizational flywheel spinning, and one practice is essential, especially during the holidays: gratitude. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher explains how intentional appreciation connects people back to the core values of purpose and worthwhile work. Listen to learn how to connect an… Read more

"Culture and strategic improvement—those are inseparable." This is a guiding philosophy of Dr. Jamie Burkhart, Director of Women in Leadership at the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) . Joining Dr. Janet Pilcher, Dr. Burkhart discusses her leadership journey and demonstrates why "going slow to go… Read more

"Education is truly the conduit to freedom." This powerful belief drives Superintendent Dr. Tremayne Clardy of the Verona Area School District . Joining Dr. Janet Pilcher, he discusses how the district is strategically establishing literacy as the driving force behind all its work. Dr. Clardy explains why, in today's… Read more

Recurring problems demand a shift in focus. In this final rapid-fire episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three essential steps to move away from blame and toward process improvement. Learn what it takes to reframe discussions, conduct a system audit, and hardwire new, standardized processes for better performance and… Read more

External noise is a constant, yet you can be a source of stability and trust. Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three actionable steps educational leaders can take to proactively share their story and build strong allies. In five minutes, learn how to anchor conversations to your scorecard, lead with what's right, and ensure… Read more

October burnout is real, and the first 90 days are critical for new hires. Don't leave retention to chance. In this second rapid-fire episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares three intentional executive actions to help leaders secure their best people and create a culture where staff want to stay. Recommended Resources:… Read more

In the first of four rapid-fire episodes, Dr. Janet Pilcher delivers three essential steps educational leaders can take right now to protect their mission and secure their future. Listen now and learn how to operationalize your budget with discipline and strategic focus. Recommended Resources: Build Trust to… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she welcomes Joseph Murley, Director of Finance for Barren County School District , to discuss how a district-wide survey revealed a surprising breakdown in the district's online fundraising system. Joe explains how he then modeled a new survey to pinpoint the root cause of the problem.… Read more

Visions in Education , a charter school serving nine counties across Northern California, is thriving—even as many districts face declining enrollment. Listen as Chief Operations Officer, Tom Tafoya, discusses their evolution to meet the changing needs of their students and families in their unique online environment.… Read more

In this final live episode from the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Dr. Heidi Eliopoulos, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona . With over two decades in education, Heidi shares her leadership journey—from an "accidental superintendent" to a… Read more

In another live episode recorded at the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Superintendent Dr. Casey Nye of D.C. Everest Area School District . Listen as Dr. Nye shares his approach to building and sustaining a strong culture of caring and continuous improvement. He… Read more

In this live episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Dr. Cory Strasser, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Rapid City Area Schools . In a special conversation recorded at the Destination High Performance K-12 Leadership Conference, Dr. Strasser shares his proven approach to building a "people first"… Read more

This week, we close our series celebrating the release of Quint Studer and Dr. Janet Pilcher's book, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers . In this moving episode, Dr. Pilcher shares two more powerful stories about the educators who shape our lives. First, hear from Dr. Pat Greco as she recalls how the simple moments… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher celebrates her new book, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers , by sharing powerful stories from two Studer Education team members. Listen as Tiffany Latshaw shares how a fourth-grade teacher's belief transformed her life, and hear from Dr. Casey Blochowiak about the school community that became a… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she sits down with her co-author, Quint Studer , to discuss their new book, The Extraordinary Gift: Our Teachers . In this special episode, Quint shares his personal and emotional story of how three teachers changed the course of his life and inspired him to become a special education… Read more

Welcome to a truly special episode of Accelerate Your Performance! In this 400th episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher takes us back to the roots of the podcast, celebrating six and a half years of sharing extraordinary leadership stories and journeys of continuous improvement. This episode also kicks off a powerful month-long… Read more

Continuing our series on Douglas School District 's successful recognition strategies, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes School Nutrition Coordinator Jennifer Garner. Jennifer shares her heartfelt approach to staff appreciation, from personalized notes and engaging team activities to transparent communication. Learn how her… Read more

In the second part of a two-episode series, Dr. Janet Pilcher continues her conversation with Superintendent Rashon Hasan of Plainfield Public Schools . Drawing on his unique blend of education and business experience, Rashon shares advice on building powerful, transparent relationships between school boards and… Read more

In the first part of a two-episode series, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Superintendent Rashon Hasan of Plainfield Public Schools . With a unique background spanning education and business, Rashon shares how rounding has become a cornerstone of his leadership, building trust and continuous engagement across his district.… Read more

Principal Jeannie Clark and second-grade teacher Ms. Laressa Finney share how Francis Case Elementary is taking gratitude to the next level. Listen as they join Dr. Janet Pilcher to explore the impact of recognition and appreciation on school culture, relationships, and morale. Learn how small, intentional gestures… Read more

It's one thing to acknowledge outcomes that miss the mark; it's quite another to intentionally transform them into rich learning opportunities. Listen as Dr. Peter Stiepleman , leadership coach and retired superintendent , shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher the foundational principle of his podcast : the importance of… Read more

What if two simple practices could significantly improve your district's culture? Tune in as Superintendent Kevin Case of Douglas School District joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss the impact of intentional rounding and heartfelt recognition. They'll talk about how leaders going first in these practices creates a… Read more

What inspires the Glencoe School District to keep working toward excellence every day? For Superintendent Dr. Catherine Wang, it all comes back to the students. Tune in as she shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher how her commitment to organizational development is shaping a thriving school district where leaders are… Read more

How does a high-achieving district continue to elevate its performance? According to Dr. Kelly Tess , Superintendent of Winnetka Public Schools , the answer lies with leaders who never stop learning and who embrace simplicity in their strategic approach. Tune in as she joins host Dr. Janet Pilcher to share how she and… Read more

Behind every educator is a driving purpose. For Jill Robinson-Wolgamott, Director of Teaching and Learning for K-5 in Bethel School District , that "why" is a powerful story of overcoming obstacles and dedicating her career to literacy education. Join host Dr. Janet Pilcher as Jill shares her inspiring journey,… Read more

It's one thing to talk about service excellence, another to define it collaboratively and actually put it into practice. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher and Superintendent Dr. Derek Bub to learn how West Ada School District actively engages diverse voices to define shared service standards and uses a feedback process to build… Read more

Why should educational leaders consider adopting a startup mentality? Dr. Janet Pilcher answers this question and guides you through the essential leadership and mindset shifts needed to thrive in today's evolving educational landscape. Tune in and learn which behaviors to embrace and which foundational principles to… Read more

In Martin County School District , if it's important enough to measure, it's important enough to improve. Join Superintendent Michael Maine as he sits down with Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss his data-driven approach to continuous improvement. Listen now to hear how the district strategically gathers and shares… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she thoughtfully revisits the highlights and key takeaways from Studer Education's recent virtual Destination High Performance conference. Listen as she describes the four essentials elements at the core of leadership and emphasizes what it means to do work that is purposeful, worthwhile, and… Read more

Don't miss this special cross-over episode with our partners at Escambia County Public Schools and their Voices United in Education podcast. Meredith Hackwith Edwards interviews Dr. Robin Largue, a retired Leader Coach from Studer Education. Dr. Largue shares how the strategic use of data and goals, combined with… Read more

"An organization with a hero is a sign of weakness,” begins Dr. Heidi Eliopoulous, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona . Join her and Dr. Janet Pilcher as they dismantle the myth of the lone-ranger leader, focusing on the impact of collective growth. Discover why investing in leadership development,… Read more

Whether you're building a championship team or a successful organization, consistent effort and a structured approach will get you to the finish line. At El Dorado County Office of Education , short cycles of improvement are a core part of their winning strategy. Tune in as Dr. Janet Pilcher sits down with Dr. Ed… Read more

Strong cultures empower winning strategies, and well-executed strategies reinforce strong and healthy cultures. But how do you actually begin the work of transforming a school district's culture? Join Dr. Adam Leckie , Superintendent of Casa Grande Elementary School District , as he discusses with Dr. Janet Pilcher… Read more

Are you seeing the impact you want from your organization's efforts? Tune in now and discover strategies to enhance operational efficiency with Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco. Gain insights on improving processes, maximizing outcomes, and identifying hidden inefficiencies. If you’re committed to better serving… Read more

Do you want to see your district’s strategy thrive? Start with your culture. Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco unpack the crucial link between school district culture and strategic execution, sharing inspiring examples from superintendents and partners at AASA ‘s NCE conference. Listen now to learn how to build a… Read more

Following the AASA conference and reflecting on recent episodes, Dr. Janet Pilcher highlights the importance of feedback loops in improving organizational performance. Listen as she emphasizes how leaders can use surveys and rounding conversations to gather input, identify areas for improvement, make data-driven… Read more

When Superintendent Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum looks back at his career and wishes he’d started one thing sooner, it’s rounding. Tune in as he explains how the practice of rounding has transformed the San Benito High School District —from the boardroom to the classroom. Listen now to learn how this approach to gathering… Read more

Showing gratitude is an often overlooked yet essential practice for leading organizations effectively. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher reveals three practical ways to embed gratitude into your organization and connect your team to their purpose. Recommended Resources: Cultivating a Culture of Gratitude and Continuous… Read more

"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 7 Superintendent Bradley Roberson of Oxford School District is a leader who understands that true improvement transcends individual schools. He's committed to scaling successful practices across his district, throughout the state of Mississippi, and beyond. Join him in… Read more

"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 6 How do you empower students to set learning goals and track their own data? Principal Lori Phillips of Oak Grove Elementary shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher how a schoolwide scorecard drives both student achievement and teacher collaboration. Listen as she shares how… Read more

"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 5 Escape the reactive cycle and become a solutions-focused leader. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she returns for Part 2 of her interview with Dr. Holly Ellis. Listen as Janet reveals how a systems approach to leadership creates an engaged and productive work environment… Read more

"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 4 In this special episode, Studer Education's very own Dr. Holly Ellis flips the script and interviews podcast host Dr. Janet Pilcher. Listen to the first half of their conversation as Janet shares her reflections on recent conversations with Dr. Christi Barrett and Dr.… Read more

"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 3 Tune in to hear Dr. Ryan Carpenter, Superintendent of Estacada School District , share how he implements short cycles of improvement to build momentum and achieve results. Listen as he candidly discusses with Dr. Janet Pilcher how one short cycle of improvement often… Read more

"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series, Part 2 In part 2 of the series, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes back Dr. Christi Barrett , Superintendent of Hemet Unified School District , to dig into the impact of daily leadership huddles. Listen as Christi shares how this tool has reshaped her district's approach to student… Read more

"Leaders as Great Coaches of Teams" Series Premiere Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education , as she kicks off a new series that empowers leaders to become great coaches of their teams. In this short solo episode, Janet highlights four key focus areas for driving peak organizational… Read more

As the year comes to a close, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on the beauty of the holiday season, the lessons we can learn from A Charlie Brown Christmas , and the importance of finding purpose in the small things that bring us joy. Join Janet for a short, heartfelt episode as she reminds us to celebrate the messy yet… Read more

What does it mean to "start where you are," and how can leaders leverage a cadre of the willing to drive meaningful change? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Julie Giannini-Previde to hear how she’s leading McKinleyville Union School District in their continuous improvement journey. Learn how… Read more

What does it take to lead a school district through tough facilities challenges? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Coy Sasse , Chief Financial and Operations Officer of Rapid City Area Schools , to hear how he champions a culture of excellence and positive accountability. Listen as Coy shares the strategies he… Read more

How do you set goals that deliver results? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she unpacks the goal-setting process to help you prepare for the year ahead. Discover her "bull's eye" approach to identifying focus areas and growth opportunities, and hear her personal example of how effective goals must be achievable, believable,… Read more

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, join Dr. Janet Pilcher for a heartwarming solocast celebrating the impact of kindness. Drawing on the message, "Be kind," she shares how her parents and a beloved teacher instilled the values of compassion and generosity in her upbringing. Finally, she closes with a warm wish for… Read more

Expressing gratitude and recognizing a job well done are powerful leadership practices. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher describes how these practices build stability in both our personal and professional lives. Learn the importance of being specific and genuine in your appreciation, and be encouraged to thank those who… Read more

What does it mean to be a people-first leader, and what impact does that have on a school and community? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher sits down with Dr. Adam Leckie , Superintendent of Casa Grande Elementary School District , to hear how his district is creating a culture of gratitude by intentionally recognizing and… Read more

How does going slow to go fast build a strong foundation for continuous improvement? Join Superintendent Ira Porchia and Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Marroquin of Tulare City School District as they share with Dr. Janet Pilcher how a thoughtful, deliberate approach is building alignment and fostering a sense of… Read more

What is a rounding road show, and how is it being utilized by Oldham County Schools to achieve service excellence? Listen as Superintendent Dr. Jason Radford shares how he takes this tactic on the road so his leadership team can gain valuable input from all 1,500 employees. Learn how it positively impacts the… Read more

Are you attending What’s Right in Education? Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher previews Studer Education’s thirteenth annual K12 leadership conference, where leaders will gather to share impact stories and demonstrate how they apply the Nine Principles® Framework daily. Even if you're not able to attend, she invites you to… Read more

To build excitement for the upcoming What's Right in Education conference in Colorado, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Superintendent Mike Crawford from nearby Mapleton Public Schools to talk about his continuous improvement journey. Listen as he shares how he maintains strong relationships with the school board, promotes… Read more

Developing skilled leaders is a top priority at Manitou Springs School District 14 . Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she speaks with Superintendent Sean Dorsey about his dedication to building a robust leadership pipeline. Listen as he shares how his partnership with Studer Education empowers him to provide this development… Read more

What's a better mindset than "failing fast and failing often"? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she explores how reframing this phrase with positive language shifts the focus from failure to growth—exactly where it belongs in education. Recommended Resources: Why I dislike the phrase "Fail Fast, Fail Often," Continuous… Read more

Hardwiring systems is non-negotiable. If we want to take calculated risks, we need stable foundations and reliable processes to weather disruptions. Listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher defines what it means to hardwire excellence in education and how this approach builds trust with employees, empowering them to feel deeply… Read more

What would a school look like if all faculty and support staff regularly met to discuss student successes and challenges? It would look exactly like Mountainside Success Academy in El Dorado County Office of Education . Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Principal Maria Osborne and Instructional Strategist… Read more

How can you create departments that people want to work in? Amy Andersen and Meghan McAndrews, both operational leaders in El Dorado County Office of Education , join Dr. Janet Pilcher to share about their improvement work in human resources and transportation. Listen and learn how they’ve successfully implemented… Read more

Throughout the summer, Dr. Janet Pilcher has had the privilege of interviewing exceptional leaders and teachers from educational organizations across the country. Join her as she reflects on how these individuals demonstrate a strong commitment to excellence through their relentless focus on continuous improvement.… Read more

What can you achieve when you collaborate with students to identify their learning barriers and make a plan to overcome them? According to Kristen Anderson, Director of Instructional Development, and Cheyenne Roberts, Teaching and Learning Specialist, the answer is collective efficacy. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher along… Read more

As Dr. Christi Barrett from Hemet Unified School District reminds us in this episode, "Hope is not a plan." For meaningful improvement to occur, she emphasizes that leaders must use hope to fuel intentional actions. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages with Christi to discuss Hemet's ongoing improvement journey, with… Read more

Creating a learning environment modeled on a healthy family unit might sound unconventional, but at Child Development Centers of Erie, Pennsylvania, it works. Join County Director Pam Sampsell and Lead Preschool Teacher Kaylee Kellerman as they share with Dr. Janet Pilcher their unique approach to help students ages… Read more

Can you believe we've reached episode 350? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher in celebrating this milestone as she expresses her heartfelt gratitude to you. Listen as she encourages you to recognize someone this week by handwriting a thank-you note. And be inspired as she shares her own note of appreciation for you. Recommended… Read more

Good leaders listen humbly, and as Dr. Janet Pilcher often says, they pay ridiculous attention to details. Join Janet and Dr. Kraig Sproles , Superintendent of Bethel School District , as they explore the intersection of analytical and interpersonal approaches in their leadership practices. Listen as Kraig shares his… Read more

How do leaders stay true to their values during challenging times? And how do they respond to critical incidents and make tough decisions? Listen and learn as Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco continue part two of their reflective conversation from last week where they address these questions and underscore how… Read more

What is impactful leadership? According to Dr. Janet Pilcher and returning guest, Dr. Pat Greco , it's all about making a difference, having a clear purpose, and creating meaningful and positive experiences for those they lead and serve. Listen now to hear part one of Janet and Pat's conversation about their key… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pincher for a special conversation with Dr. Chris Hartley , Deputy Executive Director at the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence . Together they discuss the evolving educational priorities from both state and national perspectives. They also dig into California’s approach in building… Read more

What's more important than accountability? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Bradley Roberson from the Oxford School District , who emphasizes the importance of focusing on daily actions that truly make a difference. Listen as he highlights the significance of creating a workplace culture that… Read more

What learning gains can students make when their teachers and leaders are practicing a growth mindset? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Principal Patches Calhoun and teacher Ms. LaTonya Smith from Della Davidson Elementary in Oxford, MS . Listen now to learn what it takes to create an inspiring workplace where… Read more

It may be the start of the summer, but it's prime planning time for educational leaders. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she explores three ways to think about building inspiring workplaces for our staff and inspiring classrooms for our students for the upcoming school year. Listen now as she highlights how educators and… Read more

How can school districts effectively cascade and communicate strategic plans? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Superintendent Todd Antony and Principal Jared Schaffer from the School District of Onalaska to hear how they emphasize clarity and alignment so people at all levels can be highly engaged and… Read more

What insights and lessons can be unpacked from the previous school year? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Charan Cline , Superintendent of Redmond School District , to hear how he utilizes reflective practice to identify both bright spots and challenges. Listen as Dr. Cline elaborates on how scorecard and… Read more

Purposefully pausing and reflecting paves the way for improvements and adjustments to be made in the upcoming school year. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Kathy Oropallo, a Leader Coach at Studer Education, to hear how she coaches her partners to evaluate the effectiveness of past strategies, celebrate… Read more

The end of the school year is packed with obligations and events, but making time to pause, reflect, and plan for the upcoming school year is essential for continued growth. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she advises leaders to pause and reflect on organizational results and the alignment and consistency of leadership… Read more

Can effective leadership create ripple effects that extend beyond school walls? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she connects with Lisa Nellessen Savage of the Pensacola News Journal to highlight the impact of CivicCon on the Pensacola community, and continue listening as she interviews Dr. Angela Bush of Jefferson County… Read more

What strategies can leaders use to navigate resistance to change and encourage employee buy-in? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages in a conversation with Mrs. Aubree Short, Principal of Los Tules Middle School in Tulare, California, to hear how surveys and rounding have proven to be pivotal tools in her journey… Read more

Inviting input from high performers early and often in the change process is one of the major keys to managing resistance in organizations. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she welcomes Dr. Charlotte Boling, a Leader Coach at Studer Education, to share how she coaches her partners to proactively prepare employees for success… Read more

How can leaders support high performers through organizational change? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher to hear actionable strategies for managing resistance to change among top performers. Listen now to hear how leaders can effectively guide employees through each phase of change, ensure a smoother transition process, and… Read more

What is rounding like in action? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Dr. Deanna Ashby, Senior Director of Coaching at Studer Education, to hear about how rounding has positively impacted three of her partner districts in Kentucky. DeDe shares insights into how Graves County , Oldham County , and Meade County… Read more

How do we build great workplace cultures to keep exceptional employees on our team? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education ,, as she explains how rounding is key to building environments where employees feel motivated and deeply connected to their work. Janet emphasizes how rounding helps… Read more

How can school districts prioritize amplifying student voice? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education , as she explores the impact of student feedback with Dr. Candace Pelt-Perez , Superintendent of Central Linn School District , and Celeste Van Cleave, District Business Manager. Together,… Read more

It’s one thing to create a strategic plan, but it’s another altogether to execute it with precision. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education , as she speaks with Superintendent Brian Sica of Banks School District to hear how he initiated the strategic planning process and began regularly… Read more

How do leading organizations stay ahead of the curve? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education , as she delves into the intricacies of strategic planning with Dr. Casey Blochowiak, a Coach Senior Director at Studer Education. As a companion to last week’s high-level overview of strategic… Read more

Balancing the emotional and rational aspects of leadership is complex, but with strategic planning, organizations can build alignment to drive success. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education, as she outlines the steps involved in creating a strategic plan and identifies questions that… Read more

Service excellence is a cornerstone of thriving organizations. Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she revisits past episodes with Donna Kirby, Vice President of Experience at the Pensacola Blue Wahoos , to hear how she’s created a culture of service excellence within her team. Hear how Donna transforms customers into loyal… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education , wraps up her deep dive into mastering the art of constructive feedback. Joining her on this episode is Jon Malone , the Director and CEO of the Northwestern Illinois Association, to discuss the use of the three to one ratio in providing positive… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education , continues the conversation from last week about the pivotal role of feedback in achieving important people outcomes within organizations. Joining her is Dr. KK Owen , a leader coach at Studer Education, to explore effective tactics for delivering… Read more

Receiving positive feedback is transformative. It builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and helps individuals improve. Listen now as Dr. Janet Pilcher, author of Hardwiring Excellence in Education , emphasizes the importance of praising what’s right and sets the stage for future episodes on tactics you can use to give… Read more

What is goodwill, and how do we know if we’re practicing it? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she guides us through the journey of measuring our own personal goodwill and explains how we can radiate it to others, even during the busiest season of the year. Listen as she reflects on how even the most routine of encounters can… Read more

How can leaders use Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals (BHAGs) as a strategic tool to achieve successful outcomes? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher for the latest episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast where she defines what a BHAG is and urges organizations to set such long-term goals guided by core values and purpose to… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she engages in a conversation with Dr. Shelly Viramontez , Superintendent, and Ms. Whitney Holton , Associate Superintendent, of Campbell Union School District in Campbell, California. Dr. Viramontez discusses her commitment to leadership development, particularly focusing on aligning systems… Read more

How do gratitude and goodwill enhance the quality and richness of life? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she invites us to reflect on the power of small acts that, when multiplied, shape a more harmonious and compassionate world. Listen as Janet reminds us to create a context of warmth and balance with every gentle gesture… Read more

Join us for part two of Dr. Janet Pilcher’s thought-provoking conversation with Superintendent Rob Clayton of Warren County Public Schools . In this episode, they dive into how Mr. Clayton has built trust, courage, ownership, and commitment with his team by leading with intention and transparency to achieve… Read more

Join us as Dr. Janet Pilcher sits down with Mr. Rob Clayton of Warren County Public Schools for a compelling conversation about accountability, leadership consistency, and the transformative power of intentional communication. Tune in as Mr. Clayton describes the role of accountability in achieving organizational… Read more

Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she delves into the core principle of leadership accountability from her book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education . Janet explains that leadership is more than just a title; it's about modeling the right behaviors and fostering ownership within an organization. Listen as she explores the… Read more

What does reward and recognition look like in practice? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher for an insightful conversation with Dr. Jennifer Lowery from the Tea Area School District where we dig into this core principle of Reward and Recognition from Dr. Pilcher’s new book, “Hardwiring Excellence in Education.” Hear how Dr. Lowery… Read more

What role does intentionality in connections play in shaping a strong organizational culture? Join Dr. Janet Pilcher as she interviews Mr. Al Betry of CESA 9 to discuss the strategies he uses to drive improvement, achieve remarkable outcomes, and create a culture where people want to come to work. We’ll explore the… Read more

As we begin to focus on the principle of rewarding and recognizing others, please join us for a special episode where Dr. Janet Pilcher shares four valuable life lessons from one of her most influential mentors and friends, Ms. Georgia Blackmon. Although Ms. Blackmon recently passed away, her legacy as a visionary,… Read more

Would you like to strengthen communication within your organization? Listen along as Dr. Ryan Carpenter of the Estacada School District discusses how he establishes effective two-way communication through his implementation of daily huddles and scorecards. He explains how scorecards drive success and enhance… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Ryan Carpenter, Superintendent of the Estacada School District, to discuss his efforts at enhancing communication at all levels in his district. Effective communication is a key part of an improvement mindset that extends to the… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Angela Bush, principal of Erwin Middle School in Birmingham, Alabama, to discuss how she has moved her school from low-performing to now the top-ranked school in the Jefferson County School District for attendance. They were also ranked… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Nannette Johnston, former Studer Education Leader Coach and 2014 Superintendent of the Year, awarded by the Kentucky Association of School Administrators. She joins us to discuss what it takes to succeed in the continually changing K12… Read more

What does it take to facilitate meetings people look forward to coming to? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses her approach to designing better meeting agendas and strategies that have helped her become a better coach and facilitator. Listen now to learn more about… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how professional development for leaders can impact employee retention and workplace environments. She explains the importance of helping leaders learn how to build inspiring workplace environments that build strength in teachers… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how leaders can foster a workplace environment where employees feel engaged and connected to their work in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Today's focus is employee engagement, a key leadership principle she discusses in her new book, Hardwiring Excellence in… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews Superintendent Dr. Christi Barrett, of Hemet Unified School District in Hemet, California, on this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode. During their conversation, they discuss Christi's commitment to leadership development, student safety, community opportunities, and improvement… Read more

Featured in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast is Superintendent Dr. Matt Hillmann of the Northfield Public School System in Northfield, Minnesota to discuss leadership development. Dr. Janet Pilcher also highlights him in chapter 4 of her book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education as an example of… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Amy Mikesell, principal of Estacada High School, and Kate Dean, instructional coach, as guests on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Amy and Kate share their continuous improvement journey and the strategies, such as PDSA, rounding, and Plus/Delta, that have helped them… Read more

Recently, Dr. Janet Pilcher participated in a podcast hosted by Dr. Brendan Kelly, University of West Georgia President, called Off the Cuff. Dr. Kelly is featured in the second chapter of Janet's newly released book Hardwiring Excellence in Education . In today's episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, we… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher welcomes Dale Shaver, Director of the Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use in Wisconsin. He is a model leader in how he uses measures that matter to achieve successful outcomes. Listen now to learn how Dale and his team use this… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Janet invites two leaders who exhibit the first principle in the Nine Principles Framework, Commit to Excellence. Listen to the Chancellors of Fletcher Technical Community College, Dr. Kristine Strickland, and Bossier Parish Community College, Dr. Rick… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Jon Malone, Regional Director and Chief Executive for the Northwestern Illinois Association, and Alicia Hulin, Executive Director for Human Resources and Strategic Engagement at South Louisiana Community College, as guests. They are… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Matt Renaud and Dr. Kyle Thompson, who both serve as Regional Superintendents for the Regional Offices of Education in Illinois, to discuss how they each work to help recruit and retain teachers in their districts. Listen now as they… Read more

This episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast will be the first in a series to highlight some of the stories and results chronicled in Dr. Janet Pilcher’s newly released book Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework . The first guest to be interviewed is Dr. Pat Greco, Senior… Read more

How do you build an improvement-focused culture of engagement and service excellence? This is what the new book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework , helps leaders focus on. The book is written by our own Dr. Janet Pilcher. Listen to this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites CheyAnne Fant, Director of Nutrition Services at Barren County Schools in Glasgow, Kentucky, to the show. Eight schools in CheyAnne’s district have been named Healthiest Schools in America, awarded by Alliance for a Healthier… Read more

Is my role as a leader to have the answers, or to impress upon people that I am the expert? Am I set on continuing to learn as a leader? How can I better serve others? These are some of the questions our host Dr. Janet Pilcher regularly reflects upon so that she can grow as a leader. In this episode of the Accelerate… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher invites a multi-international award-winning photographer, author, and soon-to-be teacher, Mary Davis, as a guest on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Mary discusses her journey and how she came to the decision to enroll in TeacherReady, our online teaching certification… Read more

What must our organizations do today to help our country maintain its greatness and to sustain the democracy? What does business owe the world? In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses these questions posed by Frances Hesselbein in order to understand the importance of creating… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Sergio Mendoza, Superintendent of Burton School District in Porterville, California, to discuss his retirement announcement and journey as a leader in education. Listen as Sergio discusses key tools, such as scorecards and PDSA… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Casey Blochowiak, Director Coach, as a guest on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Casey shares tips on how you can create time and space to intentionally slow down, pause, and reflect on the past year and prepare for the next school year. Casey encourages leaders to… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Sarah Miller, Senior Director of TeacherReady, as a guest on this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Dr. Miller explains how we utilize a continuous improvement process to update and advance the TeacherReady program, an alternative path to teacher certification. Listen as… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance Podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses her soon-to-be-released book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework . The book reflects our team's and partners' work across the country with the Nine Principles. Listen now as Janet explains the importance… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Matt Hillmann, Superintendent of Northfield Public Schools, to discuss the progress and successes his district has had along their continuous improvement journey. Dr. Hillmann cultivates a culture of positivity and recognition through… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Bradley Roberson, Superintendent of Oxford School District in Oxford, Mississippi, to share how he implements intentional systems with tactics such as rounding and scorecards to further continuous improvement in his district. Mr.… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum, Superintendent of San Benito High School District, and the district's Board President, John Corrigan, to discuss the great impact leader rounding has had on their district. This has allowed them to understand how… Read more

In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Lupita Hightower, Superintendent of Tolleson Elementary School District, to share about her district's successes and learnings from their continuous improvement journey. Dr. Hightower was recently awarded Arizona Superintendent of the… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Sergio Mendoza, Superintendent of Burton School District; David Shimer, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services; and Julissa Leyva, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, to discuss their improvement journey and the… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites back Terrie Morgan, Superintendent of Hardin County Schools, to discuss how she uses different leadership and strategic tactics to improve her district. Terrie discusses how tactics, such as scorecards, strategic planning, and… Read more

In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Terrie Morgan, Superintendent of Hardin County Schools, as a guest on the Accelerate Your Performance podcast. Terrie discusses how she got involved with Girls, Inc. The initiative inspires the future of young students and serves as their connect to purpose so they can learn… Read more

How can you grow your commitment to excellence by leading with transparency and trust? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Rob Clayton, Superintendent of Warren County Public Schools, to discuss how he effectively models “cascading information” and leads with… Read more

In a Harvard Business Review article, Jesse Sostrin stated, "One of the most difficult transitions for leaders to make is the shift from doing to leading." In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher utilizes this article to discuss the importance of a leader's understanding of how to… Read more

How can you work to overcome division, create unity, and strengthen relationships in your district? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Ed Manansala, County Superintendent of Schools for El Dorado County in California, and Dr. Ken Futernick, writer and educational… Read more

What habits might be holding you back? In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how starting the year with a "stop doing," or bad habit to break, can help you be a better leader, employee, and person. She explains how she will practice the act of leaving behind her phone and… Read more

What impact would it have on children's futures if they were dramatically prepared to enter Kindergarten? That's the mission of our guest in today's Accelerate Your Performance Podcast episode. Today, Rina Irwin, CEO of the Child Development Centers, Inc. and a 2022 Difference Maker Award winner joins us to discuss… Read more

What does it mean to be a learning leader? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Mark Bielang, Superintendent of Portage Public Schools and winner of a 2022 Difference Maker award, to be a guest. Mark discusses why being a learning leader helps him lead his team, and he… Read more

Striving to be an excellent leader and accomplish great goals in an organization takes commitment and hard work. In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Xavier De La Torre, Superintendent of Ysleta Independent School District and recent recipient of a 2022 Difference Maker… Read more

What does it take to be a collaborative leader who leads transparently and commits to improvement in an organization? In today’s Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Jeff Dellutri, Superintendent of Fox Point-Bayside School District, to discuss his ‘why’ for committing to the work of… Read more

"We have to know we will prevail and do so by facing the brutal facts." - Dr. Janet Pilcher. Sometimes having an overly optimistic attitude and disregarding perceived negative data can be harmful to an organization and individual. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Pilcher discusses how… Read more

How do you gather, analyze, and implement data in order to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion? In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Angela Frazier Arthur, Vice President of Student Services at Waukesha County Technical College, and Sherry Simmons, Chief Diversity and… Read more

Recently, we hosted our annual What's Right In Education (WRIE) conference in Pensacola, Florida, where we heard from leaders in education across the country about the successes and struggles they have encountered on their continuous improvement journeys. In today's Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr.… Read more

In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites back a guest we have had the pleasure of hosting before, Dr. Jennifer Lowery, Superintendent of Tea Area School District in South Dakota. Dr. Lowery discusses how she has fostered growth in her school district through commitment to… Read more

Steve Jobs once said there is something that separates successful entrepreneurs from non-successful ones... perseverance. What does it take to lead with perseverance? According to Dr. Janet Pilcher in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, you need passion to fuel your perseverance and enhance your… Read more

Two-way communication is key between leaders and board members. In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dr. Nate Nelson, Superintendent of the Porterville Unified School District, and Lillian Durbin, President of Trustees at the district, to share with us how they foster a strong… Read more

Communication can be one of the biggest challenges for an organization. In this Accelerate Your Performance podcast episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares several tips on how leaders can work towards being better communicators. She explains how to quickly get to the heart of a topic when communicating and how to do it… Read more

How can you appeal to both logic and emotion to properly communicate and cascade the right information to the right people at the right times? This week on our Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites back Dale Shaver, Director of Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, and Laura… Read more

"A kind act, a selfless sacrifice, and a sincere connection may make a difference in someone's day... in someone's life." This week some of our colleagues have been struggling with sadness, grief, and the pain of loss. In this Accelerate Your Performance episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher explains the value of kindness and… Read more

The health of a school district is a leading indicator of the health of a community. That's what our guests in this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast share. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher invites Dale Shaver, Director of Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, and Laura Catherman, Director of the… Read more

There is a subconscious behavior that is common in organizations and can be dangerous to the culture. It's called We/They communication. We/They communication occurs when a leader or employee positions themselves positively at the expense of someone else. We've all done it at one time or another, probably not… Read more

What does it take to develop high-performing leaders? In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Sally Sugg, the Superintendent of Shelby County Public Schools in Shelbyville, Kentucky, joins us as our guest. Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews Dr. Sugg on the importance of leadership development. Dr.… Read more

The teacher is the most important variable that affects student achievement. Going into this new academic year, our schools face significant teacher shortages. In the last few podcast episodes, we have focused on this topic and ways to work toward a solution for teacher recruitment and retention. In this episode of… Read more

A current issue many leaders in education face is lower numbers of teachers entering the field and a growing number of teachers leaving. What will it take to address this issue? How can leaders help keep their high-performing teachers and help them feel satisfied in their jobs? This podcast episode is a call to action… Read more

How can leaders keep their high-performing teachers? Recent studies indicate that helping employees feel valued and appreciated is key. One study found that 93% of employees who reported feeling valued at work said that they are more motivated to do their best. Another study found that 79% who left their job reported… Read more

55% of educators indicate they’re ready to leave the profession earlier than planned due to burnout. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, Dr. Sarah Miller, Director of Partnership and Student Services for TeacherReady, and Dr. Amy Fowler, Coach Director Studer Education Team join us to talk… Read more

Safety is debatably one of humanity's foremost values. We desire to not only survive but to also feel safe and secure. How much more important is this ideology to the development of children? The safety within schools and colleges should be sought after with determination, not only for the students, but for the… Read more

Many leaders within education are experiencing higher turnover rates than usual. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that 300,000 teachers and school staff left the field between February 2020 and May of this year. In this episode of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses a… Read more

What does it take to help prepare students for life beyond the classroom? As you'll hear in today's episode, our guest, Dr. Mark Martin, shares that dreaming big and thinking outside the box have a tremendous impact on students. Dr. Martin is the Superintendent of Meade County Schools in Brandenburg, Kentucky. His… Read more

In preparation for our in-person event, Destination High Performance: Organizational Excellence , on July 28th and 29th, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses how leaders can practice synthesizing to help them see the bigger picture. Most individuals and leaders stop at analysis, but Dr. Pilcher explains how it is important to… Read more

Making sure that parents and students feel heard and that students feel supported in their learning and growth are key responsibilities for a leader in education. How can you sincerely, methodically, and purposefully show them that you are doing everything you can to listen to them and take action? Listen as Dr. Janet… Read more

We all face adversity from time to time at work. Maybe we don't achieve the goals we had hoped to. Perhaps an unexpected challenge keeps us from making the progress we wanted to. It's these times when our inner drive must keep us going. Our inner drive helps infuse us with a sense of purpose in our work and brings… Read more

Can implementing health and wellness practices positively impact leadership and the performance of an organization overall? According to Krystal Lomanto, County Superintendent of San Bonito County Office of Education, developing and supporting the health and wellness of employees can not only impact leadership and the… Read more

Each day we are faced with our own battles and wars that we must push through, whether that be in the workplace, at home, in our own minds, figuratively, or literally. As many people know, there is a current battle being waged in Ukraine, and while we frequently hear about it on the news and from those around us, life… Read more

Have you ever positioned yourself in a positive light while delivering difficult news or information at the expense of another colleague or department? Has a coworker ever done this to you? Placing blame in the workplace can subconsciously erode the organization’s culture. It can create lose-lose scenarios for all the… Read more

Learn how gratitude can transform the culture of your organization. Tune in as Dr. Janet Pilcher provides three concrete steps to integrate gratitude into your daily operations, creating a workplace where your team feels valued and deeply connected. Recommended Resources: Make Recognition a Habit , Building an… Read more

Have you ever worked with someone who did the minimum just to get by? Maybe you've even heard someone say "That's not my job." These are examples of people not owning the work. To be our best at work, we must be owners of our work. When we own our work, it builds confidence, and it positively impacts our colleagues as… Read more

How can we do better? That is the question that drives a culture of continuous improvement. It involves listening to people and taking an authentic look at the data on how the organization is performing. It involves accountability in measuring the important things an organization values. That's how our guest in this… Read more

Do you ever feel reluctant to give the people you lead big challenges? How do you know when it's time to push an employee out of the nest to allow them to grow as a leader? When we step back, we can give our people a chance to problem solve, shine, and build a sense of ownership. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher… Read more

Clarity in focus is critical for organizations to stay on track in challenging times. As you'll see, our guests today are shining examples of staying the course amid uncertainty and change. In this episode, Dr. Kelly Thompson and Jeff Petersen from Muskego-Norway Schools in Muskego, Wisconsin join us. Kelly serves as… Read more

Belonging is essential to human beings. Psychologists rank our need to belong on par with our need for love. People need to feel like they belong at work. This is more important than ever in workplaces, especially following the disruptions many of us have experienced due to COVID. We don't see our co-workers as often,… Read more

The work of continuous improvement is a journey. It requires commitment and hard work, the results of which can be so powerful, as the story of our guests in today's episode attests. In this episode, the Superintendent of the Estacada School District, Ryan Carpenter, joins us, along with Studer Education Leader Coach,… Read more

The landscape of the educational system is continuously changing-- and particularly so right now. Across the country, there is a struggle to fill the demand for teaching positions in high-need areas. As today's guest puts it, it's calling us to unthink and rethink teacher preparation programs. In this episode, Dr.… Read more

Expressing sincere appreciation to others for great work is a culture changer. It boosts morale and motivates others to continue their great work. It increases engagement. Rewarding and recognizing people takes little time, and the impact is significant. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher talks about the power of… Read more

Achieving excellence in an organization is a journey that requires commitment, constant effort, and reflection on where you are and where you need to be. It requires total commitment to the work of continuous improvement. This topic will be front and center at the upcoming 2022 Carnegie Summit . As our guest in this… Read more

The academic year is in full swing, and now is also the time leaders are beginning to plan and budget for 2022 and 2023. What actions can leaders take to set themselves up for a successful next school year? What areas are especially important to analyze before springing forward? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher and… Read more

It's been a time of monumental change that has presented many challenges at work for leaders. With more on people's plates at work in these uncertain times, it's more important than ever that leaders recognize and appreciate members of their teams for their good work. Reward and recognition is timeless. It never gets… Read more

When leaders are authentic, it helps build a culture that is inclusive. It helps foster an environment where employees will feel free to also be authentic. Our guest in today's episode is a shining example of this. In this episode, Dr. Heidi Eliopoulos, Superintendent of the School District of Altoona, joins us to… Read more

Is your communication clear and concise? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher references an article written by Bill Murphy in Inc. Magazine, titled, " How Emotionally Intelligent People Use the Mark Twain Rule to Become Exceptionally Persuasive: Let me Get to Point " . As Janet reflects over the key points in the… Read more

Spring is just around the corner, and now is a great time for leaders to recommit and recommunicate what matters most to finish strong this school year. Our guest today shares how you can harness your leader superpowers of culture and communication to create a great experience for students, families, and your team the… Read more

It can be a balancing act to achieve and sustain results over time while also remaining emotionally, mentally and physically healthy. That's especially true in challenging, uncertain times. Taking care of ourselves while working toward our goals will help keep us motivated in our work. In this episode, Dr. Janet… Read more

An organization with a strong and healthy workplace culture is where you are likely to find employees who are engaged at work and find purpose in the work they do. But how do leaders shape a positive workplace culture in challenging, uncertain times? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher and our guest, Dr. KK Owen,… Read more

Being proactive at work increases our sense of purpose in the work we do and helps build self-confidence. When we come to work focused on being positive and happy, we persevere to overcome any obstacles that come our way. It feels good to have a take-action attitude. It also has a positive impact on our relationships… Read more

In a time of change and uncertainty, it is more important than ever for leaders to communicate with authenticity and to live that out every day. In this episode, hear the second part of our two-part interview with Dr. Lisa Herring, Superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools. In this conversation, Dr. Janet Pilcher asks… Read more

We spend a lot of time at work for our jobs. It's worth spending our time there being happy. So what if we're not feeling happy in our jobs? As our host, Dr. Janet Pilcher , explains in this episode, we can take action to manage our happiness at work, and we are in control of our happiness. Listen as Janet shares… Read more

The past 22 months have brought ample challenges for leaders across the country. Schools leaders have all had to make difficult decisions. Staying connected to our purpose can help keep us fueled with passion during difficult times. Our guest today models this so well. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Herring , the… Read more

Curiosity opens up our minds and connects us to one another. Curiosity in the workplace breeds creativity and ideas. It is essential and will help us reach new heights, no matter what our position. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher has a conversation with the new producer of the Accelerate Your Performance Podcast,… Read more

It's a new year. Let's make a conscious choice to have a positive mindset in 2022. People who have positive attitudes are healthier, happier, and more productive. They are more likely to develop deeper relationships, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals. Strengthening our mindset starts with being positive… Read more

Time is the most valuable thing we have. It is precious. How we spend it is important. We can't get it back. Because of that, it is also the best gift we can give -- to those we work with, to our loved ones, and to our friends. In the spirit of the season of giving, let's consider how we can be more intentional about… Read more

As educators, our role is to help students learn. However, we often end up learning a lot from our students. The last 22 months have challenged us to connect with and engage with our students more intentionally, as both educators and students have all felt more stress. In this episode, Student Orchestra Director… Read more

For many of us, the holiday season represents time with family and friends, great food, and football. Coming off the heels of the biggest week of college football rivalries, Dr. Janet Pilcher turns her attention to her team, Florida State University and their long-standing rival, the Florida Gators. She looks to an… Read more

Student voice and perspectives isn't just a 'nice-to-have'; it's a must-have. Students have experienced a lot of change and stress over the last 21 months. As school districts plan for the future, it is essential we hear from students and include them more intentionally and deeply. As our guest, Leader Coach Gayle… Read more

We've all done it at one time or another-- felt sorry for ourselves about a situation at work that feels out of our control. Maybe it's a challenging project we've been assigned, or perhaps it has seemed like other divisions are given more resources or attention. Perhaps it's feeling sorry for ourselves because it… Read more

As the season of gratitude is quickly upon us, we are focused on sharing stories of purpose with our listeners. This week, Coach Support Analyst, Whitney Patterson shares how she was called upon to discover a purpose outside of work in an unexpected way. Dr. Janet Pilcher and Whitney discuss what she's learned from… Read more

Start your week by preparing your heart and mind for the upcoming holiday season. As we get closer to Thanksgiving, it's important to focus on our connections with people and stretch ourselves to practice loving kindness. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on her recent experiences and leads listeners through a loving… Read more

To become a first-choice University requires winning the hearts and the minds of young people. While this is no easy feat, Universities are filled with untapped talent and resources. That's what our guest, Dr. Tressa Kelly, the First Lady of the University of West Georgia , realized quickly after getting on campus. As… Read more

Is it burnout? Exhaustion? Disengagement? It's a feeling people can't quite put their finger on or understand exactly why. Lately, it seems difficult to feel motivated or joyful. If you've recognized similar feelings in yourself, you're not alone. Organizational Psychologist, WorkLife podcast host, and NYT author,… Read more

How can improvement help us solve complex challenges in schools? Executive education leaders from across the country came together last week to answer this very question. After an energizing What's Right in Education conference, Dr. Janet Pilcher and Dr. Pat Greco came together to reflect on the impact of bold leaders… Read more

Being bold doesn't necessarily mean big, it means to consistently do the things that make the most difference. Bold leaders understand the strategic direction, big aims, and what the institution is striving to become. Bold leaders continuously strive to be at their best and help those around them be their best as… Read more

Can you imagine combining the first day back to school during a pandemic with a raging wildfire threatening students, employees, and the entire community? This is exactly what Estacada School District experienced in September of 2020. As district leaders switched to a crisis response model, people found new and… Read more

What about the students? What are the effects of 20 months of disruption on them? Young people are feeling more stressed than ever before. Their lives are difficult to understand for adults. We often think about how students are feeling from our adult lens, yet they don't have the adult experiences we've gained. How… Read more

Embedding the context of local culture into classrooms results in a more successful, memorable experience for students. It's likely that your community has a rich culture and history, much like Lac du Flambeau in Northern Wisconsin. Today, we revisit an interview with Lac du Flambeau School District Superintendent Dr.… Read more

Why are teachers choosing to leave the profession at even higher rates than before? Teachers have a great passion for helping students learn, yet the stress has increased and teachers aren't feeling heard. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses why there is a disconnect between school leaders and teachers, and what… Read more

Changing the culture of an organization doesn't happen overnight. However, when leaders focus on the fundamentals to build trust a positive culture can emerge. Today's episode revisits an interview with Dr. Pat Greco , who shares how the School District of Menomonee Falls stayed 8 months ahead of other districts.… Read more

Being a leader of an organization is never easy. Not to mention leading an organization that is experiencing constant change in relatively unpredictable times. Today, Janet shares three important suggestions to apply 100% of the time to best manage change. This episode addresses questions, such as: What usually goes… Read more

Our school systems, leaders and educators have role-modeled tremendous resiliency since March of 2020. Despite the challenges the pandemic has brought, there have also been bright spots and bold leaders encouraging their teams to thrive. Today, we revisit a conversation with Tea Area Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Lowery… Read more

Bold leadership isn't about a position. Bold leaders use their hearts and minds to make a difference in the lives of others. Our profession calls on you to help young people realize their hopes and dreams - that is where educators find purpose. Bold leaders focus on the right small things that make a difference for… Read more

Have you ever felt like you're running around your organization putting out fires? Today, Superintendent Ryan Carpenter , Estacada School District shares the communication tactics his team has in place that help him feel less like a firefighter. You'll also hear how these decisions were deeply rooted in data and… Read more

We all know that a leader's behavior has a significant influence on the employees of an organization. Great leaders are reflective, have self-awareness and are connected to the people they serve. On the other hand, bad leaders often cause employees to seek out another work environment. How can we become the type of… Read more

Hiring a High School Principal is a can't-miss situation. Due to decreases in qualified applicants for these positions, one school district found a unique way to find the best candidate. Joining Janet today is Sand Creek Zone District 49 , Superintendent Sean Dorsey , who shares how to hire boldly and authentically… Read more

The northern gulf coast is home to millions of residents who are no strangers to natural disasters. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher reflects on our education partners who have suffered tremendous damage due to Hurricane Ida. The storm has brought major loss to the students, employees, and community members of Fletcher… Read more

Ensuring learning progress despite disruptions to learning has been no easy feat since the pandemic began. However, at Erwin Middle School leaders worked together to decrease student absences by over 40% and decrease the number of F's and incomplete assignments by 51%. Today, Principal Dr. Angela Bush joins Janet to… Read more

The skills that students need to be successful after school ends are rapidly changing. What it means to be career-ready tomorrow, will look different in 2025. To best support students for the future, leaders and community members in Oak Ridge School District have made a collective commitment to advance their strategic… Read more

Are you trying to find the next silver bullet solution? Or are you focused on evidence-based leadership and improvement practices? Focusing on the next shiny silver bullet will often lead to organizational chaos. Today, Janet shares another way leaders can prepare their teams for change and build leadership… Read more

Get comfortable being uncomfortable. It's a saying you've likely heard before, and one that today's guest says applies to being a Superintendent. As an educator for 29 years, Deanna (Dede) Ashby, recently retired Superintendent of Hopkins County Schools joins Janet again to share how she helps others develop a vision… Read more

New academic years begin with new faces everywhere you look. Whether people are new to the organization or new to their role, Janet recommends two tactics that build confidence and support employees in a new position. To be an excellent organization, we strive to apply these practices and train all of our team members… Read more

Being a Superintendent can bring out the best in people, as well as highlight our most glaring mistakes and blindspots. Today, retired Superintendent, Tim Wyrosdick joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to share what he has learned from 36 years as an educator in Santa Rosa County, Florida. Listen as Tim explains why it's important… Read more

How can we tackle declining student performance? After over a year of difficult transitions and decisions, Janet shares why we need to rethink and unlearn what schools have done in the past. Most people in our educational systems want to contribute to student success - it is our purpose. Using the book, Think Again:… Read more

Leadership development is often viewed as a "nice to have" in organizations. Today's guest, Dr. Pat Greco , shares why leadership development is core to the capacity of the organization and a lifeline to everyone it supports. School systems aren't static - they are continuously changing with new students, teachers,… Read more

The words we use matter. Messages that focus on the customer's perspective build relationships and reinforce how important the customer is to an organization. Customers are always seeking to understand, 'what's in it for me?' Communication with this as the focus engages the people we serve. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher… Read more

Organizations sustain high performance when people are aligned and understand where the organization is headed. Although there will always be people who are resistant to change, the best leaders persevere through pushback to help create incredible results in our school systems. Such as, Hudson School District… Read more

Families are a great resource for educators. They offer a unique perspective and window into the life of our students. When we approach building relationships with families the same way we approach building a team within our organization, students are more successful. Today's guest, Dr. Holly Ellis shares how leaders… Read more

Leaders want employees who are happy, productive and invested in the organization's future. However, retaining these people requires leaders to become aware of what it takes to meet employee's needs in the workplace. Hear about those needs and the fundamentals we use to support confident and engaged employees from… Read more

What can we do when an individual hoards conversation time, constantly interrupts, provides unsolicited advice and puts others down? These behaviors can be interpreted as manipulative and can damage individuals on our teams and organizations. To maintain working relationships, and be authentic to ourselves and those… Read more

As educators, it's our goal to help students progress, achieve, and build confidence in themselves and their learning. We are witnessing schools do so by using simple continuous improvement strategies in the classroom. To share what this looks like, we've interviewed Leader Coach, Dr. Kathleen Orapollo , an expert in… Read more

Within our organizations, there are people who will do whatever it takes to be successful. Sometimes people who we believe are high performers are actually lethal employees and manipulators. To gain power, people hoard information, shut others down, avoid seeking input and insist on always having control. Saving… Read more

What does it mean to be a high performing employee? What if we all had an athlete’s mindset at work? Today Janet closes this series about defining high performance by discussing the final 8 personality traits of high-performing athletes from the Sports Management Degree Guide . Ultimately, it takes hard work and… Read more

We all want to attain excellence - some of us are just more systematic and focused on how to get there. Today's guest, Dr. JoAnn Sternke cautions, " You'll never achieve excellence if you don't have purpose, focus and alignment." In this episode, Janet and JoAnn discuss how to better align operational leaders and… Read more

What if we all had an athlete’s mindset at work? What would that look like? Today Janet discusses 6 more personality traits of high-performing athletes from the Sports Management Degree Guide . The best teams provide opportunities for people to feel connected to the work and each other to achieve results. It’s the… Read more

How can we really make improvement work across an organization? What enables people to solve problems and make the best decisions at every level? We begin by helping people understand improvement is a connected, system-wide process deeply rooted in the capabilities of the people within the organization. Today, we hear… Read more

What if we all had an athlete's mindset at work? What would that look like? Today Janet discusses 6 personality traits of high-performing athletes and how we can use those to assess ourselves and further define high performance in the workplace. To be a high-performing team, we need all people engaging in the… Read more

Why is it important to align your district values to the values found in the homes of students in the community? Today, Superintendent Dr. Larry Ouimette shares how his small northern Wisconsin school district incorporates the local Native American Ojibwe Tribe into all aspects of education. Dr. Ouimette explains that… Read more

To garner our high-performing team, all employees are expected to be productive - and we say all very purposefully. Chris Porteous outlines 7 Traits of Supremely Productive Employees that we can use to communicate expectations to everyone on our team. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses these traits and what we can do… Read more

Last September, one of the largest wildfires in central Oregon's history came within a mile of schools and downtown Estacada. While still navigating the ever-changing Covid-19 pandemic, all 1800 of Estacada School District 's students, families, and employees were evacuated from their homes. However, Superintendent… Read more

There is no greater compliment than trust. As educators, we have a great responsibility to do what is best for children entrusted to us. This is the foundation of the moral compass used by the Tea Area School District team led by Superintendent Jennifer Lowery . In this episode, Dr. Lowery shares how her team created… Read more

The time has come in which organizations are thinking about how to return to work with a new perspective and understanding. As we begin to engage with each other again in person and come to work in new ways, one simple tactic will be more important than ever. Rounding with purpose results in a better culture of… Read more

How can we engage people to become champions of improvement? Today, we share how one school district stayed eight months ahead of the national conversation by investing in the brainpower of its people to solve its toughest challenges. Listen as Dr. Pat Greco and Janet discuss how the right measures and processes… Read more

Change has accelerated for all of us over this past year. External demands and pressures are calling for leaders to change the way they do business. While the majority of our employees want to help the organization achieve excellence, not everyone feels this way. Our responsibility as leaders is to focus on building… Read more

Leadership is a full-time job that requires relentless commitment. For leaders living in rural communities, there is an added challenge of everyone knowing you personally as well. Today, Randy Drost , Superintendent of Rice Lake Area School District joins Janet to share about leading in his hometown community, Rice… Read more

A goal of many organizations is to build an inclusive, positive workplace culture that achieves positive results. Doing so requires us to address how our individual behavior contributes to the culture. The truth is, we are all biased at times, and those biases can cause conflict and even toxicity in the workplace.… Read more

It's no secret that higher ed hasn't worked at the speed of business. Yet the past year left institutions with no choice other than to transform - and transform quickly. This week, Georgia Southern University President, Dr. Kyle Marrero joins Janet to discuss how his institution has used its mission and values to… Read more

Do you know someone who seems to be unable to control their emotions? Maybe you feel this way yourself at times. We all have varying degrees of emotional intelligence. Although it's difficult to face our challenges and shift our behaviors, it can be done. During today's episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares 9 Signs of Low… Read more

How do we maintain the momentum and elevate an already outstanding higher education institution? The way we've defined transformation in the past has been put to the test over the past year. Today's guest, South Louisiana Community College Chancellor, Dr. Vincent June, explains to become the best resource for his… Read more

Although there are differences between rural and urban communities, many of our problems are the same. We are all interconnected as we are solving these critical issues in America. While Janet reflects on our Strengthening Rural America event, she explains, "the quality of life in our country is dependent on our… Read more

How can higher education transform to inspire a new generation of learning, thinking, and imaginative invention? We can start by listening to those we serve and embracing the call for diverse learning and experiences to overcome the status quo. Today, Dr. Brendan Kelly, University of West Georgia President , joins Dr.… Read more

Have you ever worked with a leader who is physically there, yet psychologically absent? Someone who avoids ownership, meaningful engagement, and shifts the blame to others? This type of leader can be difficult, if not impossible to please - slowly killing productivity and engagement in the workplace. While an absentee… Read more

Conversations about the need for transformation in education aren't new. However, this past year has demonstrated that transformation is possible - and at greater speeds than we ever realized. As we look ahead to the future of higher education, it's filled with both excitement and uncertainty. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher… Read more

Loyalty and trust go hand and hand. Great teammates have both loyalty OF the team and create loyalty TO the team. Listen as Janet shares insights from the article, Why Loyalty is Crucial to Basketball Excellence and how we can transfer those to our work teams. A good coach can't play the game with their team, but a… Read more

Strategic plans and goals are created with the best intentions to propel an organization into the future. There are also situations that require us to refresh these goals and readjust the next steps. Today, Dr. Sue Savaglio-Jarvis , Superintendent of the third-largest school district in Wisconsin, Kenosha Unified… Read more

As leaders of teams and organizations, it is never our intent to create distrust. However, there are times when employees will observe our behavior and distrust can ensue. Today, Dr. Janet Pilcher, continues her thoughts from episode 163 Lead by Example , to reflect on what leader actions contribute to the… Read more

Rural communities are inspiring places to live - people are always there to lend a hand and support one another through challenges and disasters. Rural communities also face unique challenges - the outmigration of talented workers, aging infrastructures, and consolidation into larger, less local systems. A Huron… Read more

People in leadership and government roles, teachers, and sports coaches have one thing in common: their roles are positions of power. People look to leaders like these for inspiration and to provide guidance and direction. Just like leaders in society, if we say one thing and then do another, we may lose our team's… Read more

In rural areas and small communities, we often find health and school systems are the largest employers. These industries are more alike than different in several ways. Today, Quint Studer and Janet Pilcher discuss the intersection between healthcare and education, and how these two industries have the power to… Read more

As we progress through phases of transitioning back into something that resembles life before the pandemic, people will need their leaders to lean into the emotional side of the workplace more than ever. This change won't happen overnight, rather we will move through stage after stage - each requiring us to build… Read more

Inspiring an entire organization of people to commit to continuous improvement and service excellence is an admirable goal - one that will also pay off through challenging situations. Returning from episode #158 , three leaders from the School District of Menomonee Falls share how a foundational culture of shared… Read more

Change is continuous, and in our organizations, leaders have the responsibility of balancing employees' emotions with the rational side of work. This past year has taught us that it's easier to lead with agility to manage change when we hardwire leadership fundamentals in our organizations. Today, Janet shares the… Read more

What happens when an organization committed to improvement has to transform everything they do in 5 days? People let go of being perfect and rely on their relationships, values, and communication to achieve results. Joining Janet today are three leaders from the School District of Menomonee Falls; Casey Blochowiak,… Read more

As the world continues to change at a rapid pace we need to help people in our organizations more than ever hardwire leadership fundamentals. To do so, we focus on the Nine Principles for Organizational Excellence . The best organizations continuously transform and review their practices to identify opportunities to… Read more

What makes employees engage, commit, and connect with their organization? Leaders that listen and use feedback to transform the culture of the organization. Today's guest, Tim Hire, Superintendent of Schools , Tulare County Office of Education reminds us that there will always be plenty of work to do - make sure it's… Read more

How can we leave our workdays feeling less stressed and exhausted? This is a common question for many leaders. After days filled with meetings and unexpected interruptions, there is often little time left over for deep-thinking or other critical tasks that contribute to our organization. In today's episode, Janet… Read more

Sports and athletics have offered many of us an opportunity to develop critical leadership and life skills. Today's episode features a special guest who faced a unique set of circumstances requiring him to remain agile and authentic throughout his childhood and young career. His focus on being persistent and… Read more

What are the signs of a workplace culture in need of shifting? Are you noticing a disconnect between what leaders are trying to accomplish and what employees are internalizing? Do your employees continue to ask questions about what the organization can do for them, rather than speaking to how their lives are better… Read more

Dale Shaver returns from epsiode #151 to share the biggest challenges their data reveal and key takeaways for all leaders willing to collaborate to find creative solutions to community wide problems. Waukesha County Government was no stranger to partnering with schools, however, this pandemic brought about an… Read more

Recently we've been hearing conversations around data demonstrating that with certain approaches to safety, students can return back to school in classrooms. Dale Shaver from the Waukesha County Government returns to the podcast to share the strategic efforts their county has applied to connect public health and k12… Read more

A leader's most important challenge is to keep the organization from falling. To remain good, or even great depends on how we roll strategy, people, and service into how we approach leadership in the next decade. As change becomes ongoing and more complex, a traditional strategic plan will no longer suffice. To… Read more

Some topics are easier to approach in the workplace than others. Conflicting issues and viewpoints often leave leaders stuck between a rock and a hard place. Discussing topics like diversity and inclusion can feel risky for leaders who don't know how their teams will react. With these leaders in mind, Dr. Gayle Juneau… Read more

Reflect on the last time someone gave you constructive feedback... did it feel like a gift? That likely depends on the intent of the person providing the feedback. Within our own teams and organizations providing constructive feedback to one another is a necessary step in the improvement process. Yet feedback that is… Read more

To have any chance at alleviating the growing number of teacher shortages , traditional and nontraditional institutions responsible for educating teachers have to consider new business models that meet potential teachers where they are in their lives, careers and educational journeys. It’s time for a wholesale… Read more

Routines provide structure and comfort within our teams. Rituals go beyond providing structure to instill a deeper meaning behind a sequence of actions. As we continuously navigate change, we need structure to reduce people's anxiety and increase their confidence. People need to know their work has purpose and is… Read more

What skills do we need to cultivate now to lead our organizations into the future? In this episode, Janet challenges the solution of reorganizing the hierarchical structures within our organizations and recommends we focus on increasing agility to manage through consistent and continuous change. As leaders our most… Read more

Politics, violence, hate... These topics aren't often discussed in our workplaces. Yet people on our teams are feeling pain, disbelief, fear, anger, confusion, and frustration. As leaders, our teams are looking to us to lean in and provide support to manage these feelings. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares an… Read more

Continuous improvement is a process, a mindset, and a set of tools. It's organization-wide and specific to each individual. At its core are the people who do the work. Through sustained, system-wide improvement, teams can deeply understand and solve problems, while thriving through crises. Two experts in continuous… Read more

There is a lot of information out there about continuous improvement and lean thinking. But, do we know what is really at the core of those methodologies? Dr. John Toussaint and Dr. Christina Dixon join Janet today to dig deep into the core of improvement work. It is no secret that many systems struggle to sustain… Read more

In this ever-changing climate, continuous improvement is more vital than ever, and it's something today's guest, Dr. Ed Manansala , County Superintendent of Schools at El Dorado COE , and the President of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association are deeply committed to. Listen as Janet… Read more

Have you ever felt a particular duty or aspect of your work was insignificant, small, or maybe even meaningless? No matter how small, every action has a ripple effect and contributes to the greater good for our organizations and teams. In this episode, our host Dr. Janet Pilcher shares a story that exemplifies this--… Read more

2020 has been the kind of year where we've all felt more stress and anxiety due to continuous change and uncertainty. As we turn our heads to 2021 now is a good time to reflect and self-assess. Has the stress we've understandably felt led us to be impatient with others? What kind of energy are we bringing home and to… Read more

"When you shut down vulnerability you shut down opportunity"-- the words of Brene Brown challenge us to get honest with ourselves and self-reflect. What does vulnerable leadership look like? We know it involves opening up and being real, but how do we approach vulnerability in our organizations? In this episode, Janet… Read more

Great leaders are curious leaders. Curiosity makes us more aware, opens our minds to new possibilities and solutions, and leads to better communication between people and teams. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher discusses why curiosity is critical in our workplaces and what we can do to increase our curiosity. This… Read more

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best, let's rate ourselves for each statement: I make a difference on my team , I'm refreshing to work with , and I'm always willing to lend a hand . Now, how would your coworkers rate you? When it comes to relationships with colleagues, every interaction counts. In this episode,… Read more

The end of a year is a great time to reflect. How far have we gone over the year? Did we hit our goals? If not, what kept us from achieving them? In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher describes a process that engages employees in reflective conversations to keep our organizations moving in the right direction. This… Read more

While the holidays are often times of joy, they can also be difficult times for some, and this year has sure brought challenges for all of us. With this in mind, let's consider how we can recognize the people in our lives and how we can effectively express our appreciation. In this episode, Dr. Janet Pilcher shares… Read more

Since March, we've all understandably felt more stressed at times. Research shows gratitude can help balance out the impacts of uncertainty on our wellbeing. In this episode, listen as Dr. Janet Pilcher shares ideas for how we can cultivate more gratitude on our teams after weathering a long year of living in a… Read more

When challenges seem numerous or even insurmountable, it's important we stay connected to our purpose and that we help our teams do the same. It is the fuel that will keep us going and infuses meaning into our work. Having a sense of purpose calls us to growth and to step out of our comfort zones. Staying connected to… Read more

When humans are faced with change, we often deny, rationalize, and negotiate before we accept our newly found situation. Within our organizations, change can amplify stress and hinder productivity. Our goal as leaders is to build relationships and help individuals move through their anxiety. We do this by asking… Read more

Children who experience a strong early education are more likely to be successful in life. This is why today's guests strive to support families and seek out innovation for children and early childhood education. In this episode, Rina Irwin, CEO of Child Development Centers (CDC) in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Scott… Read more

When we are faced with change we have an opportunity to respond with creative solutions. Today, our guest shares how her organization is inspired to navigate change by the vision: one team, one mission, one community. Superintendent of Hopkins County Schools , Deanna Ashby explains, "our mess has become our unified… Read more

Building relationships with people is more important than ever as we shift to more virtual environments. Not only are relationships key, they also help us all get through obstacles and challenges. In this episode, we are joined by Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Chris Hartly , and Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Colby… Read more

To deliver exceptional service we need to embrace vulnerability and courage. When leaders model this behavior in organizations, employees are encouraged to take risks and know that it's okay to fail. Today, Jon Malone , Director and CEO of Northwestern Illinois Association discusses his organization's commitment to… Read more

Quint Studer has joined us as a guest on our podcast throughout 2020, sharing his stories and experiences from his career that we can learn and grow from. In this episode, we have collected highlights from these interviews and we revisit some of Quint's top tips and advice for leaders who want to be their best. This… Read more

Is your workplace culture vibrant? Is it a place where people want to stay and work? Is it a place that attracts top talent? In this episode, Quint Studer is back to share more about his experience in education and healthcare, and his current focus -- communities. Listen as our host Dr. Janet Pilcher asks Quint about… Read more

How did Quint advance his career from a High School Special Education Teacher to a Hospital President to a Founder and CEO? In this episode, we continue Quint Studer’s story from episode #122 and hear about one of his major life transitions-- a key moment when he took a risk and followed his heart. Listen as Quint and… Read more

2020 has been a psychologically challenging year for leaders and employees across all organizations. At the same time, disruption can be our greatest innovator, and we've all learned important lessons from this year that will stick with us. In this episode, Ocean Springs School District Superintendent, Dr. Bonita… Read more

We all want to make a difference in our work. Whatever the path maybe that has brought us to this point in our careers, our experiences along the way are valuable and have shaped us into who we are. In this episode, we take a look at Quint Studer’s path—from his childhood to his journey in education and healthcare.… Read more

How do we speak our truth, while deepening our connection with others? Executive leader coach and author, Terre Short joins us to discuss more mindful, communication that comes from the heart. In episode 120 Janet and Quint discussed Terre’s book The Words We Choose: Your Guide to How and Why Words Matter . Today,… Read more

Words help us get where we want to go. Our words can make others feel better, or worse. Our words can diffuse difficult situations, or escalate them. This is why effective communication is so vital in every workplace. In this episode, listen as Quint Studer and our host Dr. Janet Pilcher discuss what leaders should… Read more

Hurricane Sally recently impacted our local area in Pensacola, leaving thousands with damage, flooding, and even the loss of an essential bridge between our communities. But what left the greatest impression on our host, Janet Pilcher was the small, yet powerful acts of thoughtfulness that emerged among the mess.… Read more

How can our teams reach the goals we set out to accomplish? What does it mean for our teams to be successful? Using the right metrics to track progress and engaging in conversations to problem-solve are keys to helping us get there. In this episode, listen as our host Janet Pilcher discusses tools and tactics to help… Read more

When we think of micromanaging, we typically think of it as a negative thing. But the reality is, extra supervision and coaching are sometimes necessary before some individuals are ready to leave the nest. In today's episode, Quint Studer and Janet dive into the topic—discussing what micromanaging is, when it’s… Read more

2020 has intensified the need for a partnership to exist between teachers and parents. While parents are appreciating the role of teacher now more than ever, today's guest explains, the role of learning coach has always belonged to parents. In today's episode, listen as Dr. Erica Karr and Janet discuss practical tips… Read more

What kind of impact does the energy we bring to work have on others? There are three things leaders will want to avoid in order to inspire positive attitudes and productivity on their teams. In today's episode, Quint Studer and Janet discuss seemingly harmless, yet dangerous patterns of thinking that can be… Read more

" Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity ." — Nat Turner That’s how our guest, Leader Coach Dr. JoAnn Sternke started today’s episode. Due to uncertainty and a rapidly changing external environment, leaders are being bombarded with questions. It's critical for us to respond with messages that… Read more

We all have preconceived notions of what a CEO should look like, or act like. But the truth is, the best leaders have a variety of qualities and no two are the same. There is one thing successful leaders have in common: they are true to themselves. We have to know who we are as leaders, and most importantly, we have… Read more

Feeling depleted is something many of us have probably experienced at some point during 2020. Maybe you’ve heard others you work with say they feel tired or burnt out. Can you relate? In the midst of COVID-19, a Presidential election, and racial tensions we face an ambiguous loss. We are not in control. There have… Read more

It’s not easy when employees leave. Sometimes people leave to advance their careers in another organization. Sometimes they leave because we are forced to make layoffs. Other times, it may be because it's time to let a low-performer go. Whatever the reason, people are watching how leaders treat those who exit. In this… Read more

We've finally reached the start of a new school semester and with that comes the execution of new plans. On today's episode, Studer Education Coach Dr. Melissa Matarazzo , and Studer Education Coach Dr. KK Owen , join Janet to discuss their perspective around returning to learn based on their experiences with school… Read more

At the beginning of any academic year, students, families, and school personnel experience an array of emotions. However we all know by now, 2020 has come with a unique set of challenges and emotions to manage. Today, Principal MaryJo Raczkowski-Shannon, describes the excitement students and teachers are feeling… Read more

It seems right now there are no easy decisions. It's uncomfortable for us as leaders to be living in a place of uncertainty. But as today's guest explains, leadership isn't comfortable. When faced with a crossroads of choosing character over comfort, most leaders will say they choose character however, subconsciously… Read more

When Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents work together, every child has the best chance to be prepared for their future. In this episode, we hear a story that testifies the powerful role school personnel play in students’ success. Enga McClendon, a former teacher at N.B. Cook Elementary School , shares how two… Read more

As we start to welcome students back to school, leaders are focused on how to help ease the anxieties of students and families. Dr. Michelle Rodriguez and her team at Pajaro Valley Unified School District have built systems and processes to do just that. This school district exemplifies how a heart service can help… Read more

Some leaders may find themselves agonizing over decisions that will impact students, families, and communities this fall. This is a time where there are no easy choices or decisions. Yet, when we collaborate with others, we can help ease the weight and also discover victories worth celebrating. In this episode, Dr.… Read more

School leaders are facing multiple angles ahead of the fall semester. Strategies for instruction, how to screen students, and manage transportation are just some of the decisions being made right now as leaders plan for multiple scenarios amid uncertainty. Today’s guest represents a school district planning for four… Read more

People may come to work for a paycheck, but they’re motivated to work where they feel valued. As we're working with others, overcoming obstacles we've never seen before, we must remember to recognize our people. Studer Group Flame Award winner, Paige Bindi, joins Janet on today’s episode to discuss what recognizing… Read more

In our work and personal lives we all want to feel that what we do matters. Staying connected to our purpose can infuse meaning into all that we do. Giving, serving, leaning into our values, and thinking about others can all help fuel us with a sense of purpose, as our guests today share. In this episode, listen as… Read more

We often hear about purpose talked about it in a singular way. For many of us, this may resonate—we know beyond a shadow of a doubt what drives us and why we find meaning in our work—but that’s not always the case for everyone. Perhaps we have many interests and our work roles have evolved and taken many different… Read more

In uncertain times, it’s more important than ever that we stay connected to our purpose. Connecting to the meaning behind our work keeps us going. Purpose keeps us motivated and fulfilled in our work, despite the obstacles that come along. As leaders, we can encourage individuals to find meaning to invigorate their… Read more

With many schools re-opening in a few weeks, school leaders across the country are busy finalizing reentry plans and making decisions. Change often comes with pressure and stress, but as today’s guest points out, change also brings opportunity for creativity. In this episode, listen as Sergio Mendoza , Superintendent… Read more

Establishing a system of continuous improvement doesn’t have to be complicated. Our partner, Ryan Carpenter shares how the Estacada School District started slow to go fast while implementing Evidence-Based Leadership℠. Hear how their team improved results by developing deeper relationships and including community… Read more

Most would agree adopting a continuous improvement effort is good for a team or an organization. However, after implementing improvement science, many leaders find themselves wondering if they are in fact making any improvements and find it difficult to define and sustain progress. In this episode, Superintendent Ryan… Read more

As fall quickly approaches we are seeing that school leaders are in various stages of planning and communicating to their communities. Some are still waiting for answers and guidelines from local agencies and organizations, some have begun announcing plans for the 2020-2021 school year. In this episode, Dr. JoAnn… Read more

Leading through challenges requires honest conversations, resiliency, and a positive outlook. Currently, leaders are facing pressure to make difficult decisions regarding the health and safety of their communities. Recommendations are uncertain and ever-changing. In episodes 93 and 94 we heard Waukesha County… Read more

Reentry is top of mind for school leaders across the country. Many of these leaders are struggling with how to move forward with little guidance. They’re preparing for best- and worst-case scenarios. As we work to keep employees and students safe, collaboration across communities is key. In this episode, Waukesha… Read more

Crisis times expose who we are and what we’re made of. For those who have committed to relationships and the process of improvement work, crisis times can be an opportunity for an organization’s strengths to shine through. Our partners in Waukesha County exemplify this—having a foundation that has helped them thrive… Read more

As schools and organizations across the country prepare for reentry, leaders are feeling the pressure to be decisive. We are facing a wide variety of scenarios—many unprecedented. Due to the uncertainty, emotions at the forefront for both leaders and their people. Dr. KK Owen is one of our coaches helping partners… Read more

We’re in changing, challenging times, and the emotions that go along with that are very real. Our people are feeling them and need our support in order to thrive. That’s why it’s more important than ever for leaders to be intentional in how we support and serve our team members. In this episode, listen as Studer… Read more

The best leaders are always learning. They are curious. They seek to better understand. That hunger to constantly grow is crucial in order to lead at the highest level, and a focus on relationships is a critical part of that. In this episode, Studer Education coach Dr. Melissa Matarazzo weighs in on this topic,… Read more

The work of improvement creates the backbone for real change where it matters. Focus on continuous improvement yields valuable results and radically changes outcomes in a number of fields, but in education, momentum has struggled. In the words of today’s guest, the education field hasn’t hardwired the deep skillset of… Read more

Improvement work in organizations is not easy, but it’s essential for good organizations that strive to be great. Engaging in effective improvement work entails learning the basics of improvement—but also—learning from how others are doing it, as our guest in today’s episode, Tony Bryk , explains. Tony is the ninth… Read more

In organizations where employee engagement and productivity is high and turnover is low, you’ll likely find trust is the foundation. But the reality is most employees don’t trust their leaders. According to Gallup data, only one in three employees trust their organization’s leadership. Trust is essential for… Read more

Currently, many of us are feeling the strain of change and transition. Doing improvement work in organizations is always important, and in times of disruption, we can’t let this work slip. Improvement work is more important than ever as funding is being cut in many organizations and systems are stressed. In this… Read more

Times of disruption bring opportunities to innovate. And innovation is easier than you may think. The reality is, it’s a matter of looking at doing things effectively and more efficiently. In this pandemic, Quint Studer says this is an ample opportunity to innovate that leaders should not miss. We often get paralyzed… Read more

We’re right in the middle of changing , challenging times, and most industries are feeling it. Change often comes with resistance in both our professional lives and our personal lives. Change is rarely comfortable. When the Blue Wahoos baseball stadium was built in downtown Pensacola about a decade ago, Quint Studer,… Read more

Innovation is a topic we hear a lot about in the workplace, but it’s often misunderstood. Being innovative means more than just coming up with cool things to do. Innovation doesn’t have to be big and different, and it’s not something only geniuses do. Innovation comes as we look at who and how we serve as an… Read more

As organizations and schools prepare to re-open, the safety and wellbeing of employees is a top priority. With many anxious about returning to work and school, we need to think about how we can create spaces that reduce these tensions—to help our employees and students do their best work and be successful. In this… Read more

In the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve seen a heightened appreciation for teachers and nurses. Now quite often, we see love and gratitude and appreciation for them shared publicly on social media, in the news, in commercials, and on billboards. In our conversations, we talk about them and we share their stories.… Read more

All leaders face challenges, but women in leadership roles experience unique obstacles. Our guest today, Jackie Gaines , who has more than 40 years of leadership experience, explains the importance of mentorship for women leaders. That’s why Jackie decided to write a book with “rules of the road” for women who aspire… Read more

Leading from the middle is not easy. In the words of Quint Studer, middle managers have the “toughest job anywhere.” If you’re a mid-level leader who can relate to this feeling—good news—you don’t have to stay stuck here. In this episode, Quint shares practices from his book, The Busy Leader’s Handbook , to help guide… Read more

As schools and organizations across the country prepare to re-open, it won’t be business as usual. Safety will be front and center. While learning remains a priority, the safety, health, and well-being of students, teachers, and staff will be just as important. So what will it take to successfully transition back into… Read more

During times of uncertainty, it is easy to get caught up in feelings of chaos and confusion. The rapid spread of COVID-19 across our countries has forced organizations and leaders to adapt quickly and make tough decisions. Tea Area School District leaders, Dr. Jennifer Lowery, and Dr. Tonia Warzecha join Janet on… Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented change for schools all over the country. Education has been forced to transform before our eyes. Our schools are rising to the challenge, serving as a model for change and transition, despite the obstacles. Casey Blochowiak shares how leaders in her district made… Read more

Times of crisis often come with tough decisions for leaders, like the pressure to cut costs. And while budget cuts are something no leader wants to have to do, Quint Studer points out there’s an opportunity here organizations will want to seize. In this episode, Janet and Quint discuss how leaders can cut costs in… Read more

As a leader, authenticity increases the likelihood that those we lead will believe us and follow our requests. Becoming an authentic leader is not necessarily easy, but the concept is simple. People can be committed to and passionate about something, but this by itself is not enough. Authenticity is more than when we… Read more

Nothing stays the same. In fact, if we keep doing things the same way we’ve always done them, it’s likely our performance will decline. Change is the only constant in our organizations and in life, and for most, change is uncomfortable. For organizations to stay relevant and innovative, teams must work through fears… Read more

Dr. JoAnn Sternke returns from episode #35 Pursue Performance Excellence , to reveal the most common questions she is hearing from our education partners and share her expertise and experience around how to effectively communicate during difficult times. JoAnn explains in situations like we are currently facing, no… Read more

Quint Studer joins us on the podcast today to share his insight and talk about a recent article he wrote, What Churchill Can Teach Us About Defeating Coronavirus. Quint explains why leaders like Churchill are able to inspire and motivate their teams to keep going, even when the challenge they face seems impossible.… Read more

As parents, students, and employees within the School District of Menomonee Falls began preparing for the effects of COVID19, Superintendent, Corey Galla, reflects on the remarkableness of his entire staff to come together and accept the challenges they were facing. Rather than focusing on their anxieties, teams… Read more

Healthcare professionals across the country and the world are maintaining a “Warrior Mentality” as they head to the frontlines of the COVID19 pandemic. On today’s episode, Rich Bluni, with more than 25 years of nursing, risk management, and leadership experience, shares his perspective on the frontline professionals… Read more

How engaged is your workforce in times of crisis? Have you helped them define what success looks like? Have you defined what customer success looks like? In this episode, Dale Shaver, Director of Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land, reveals how his organization’s investment in culture has paid dividends… Read more

As we all began to experience the COVID 19 pandemic, Dr. Natalie Harder and her team at South Louisiana Community College sprang into action. SLCC was able to have 95% of their courses online and ready for students within 48 hours and enabled 90% of their staff to work remotely within 24 hours. Natalie joins us on the… Read more

Basil Kuloba used his experience with math and science to develop a much-needed nonprofit organization, INERTIA , which has quickly become the largest after school program in Escambia County Florida. Basil joins Janet on the show today to share his story of blending his passion and entrepreneurial skills to start a… Read more

As we close the first quarter of a new decade, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on the past decade before planning for the next ten years in front of us. Are you where you thought you would be right now? As the decades keep passing by, what can we do to ensure we achieve the goals that will matter to us most in… Read more

While attending a company event, Janet Pilcher had the opportunity to sit down with Jim Roth, co-founder, and CEO of Huron Consulting Group, to discuss how we prepare clients for their future. Jim’s leadership positions Huron to be highly committed to hiring talented people, building an engaged work environment, and… Read more

In a world where we no longer view human connections as natural, and instead, insist on using technology, even in the presence of others, Dr. Janet Pilcher encourages her listeners to get off their devices and start talking to people. Research tells us that people in general feel worse and less connected when they mix… Read more

Utilizing social media platforms is a natural way to enhance transparency. On a personal level, people use social media to connect with others and stimulate conversations. In time, organizations have recognized the many benefits of using social media to humanize their brand and connect with their communities. If… Read more

Every day we are customers to someone we do business with. We buy groceries, fill our cars with gas, dine at restaurants, engage with retail services, and do business with professional service firms. We often remember the negative interactions more than the positive ones, and it may only take one negative interaction… Read more

The way people learn today is continuously evolving, and with the rise of technology people expect answers at their fingertips. The life of a professional skill is much shorter today than it was in the past. Mandy Gagliardi, the Senior Media Manager on our team joins Janet today to share the way she focuses on the… Read more

Does the path you are traveling have a heart? Courage is the quality that distinguishes great leaders from excellent managers. In this episode, Janet discusses why courage is vital to a leader’s success, what can happen when a leader lacks courage, and what we can do when we find ourselves on the wrong path. This… Read more

John Maxwell’s Law of the Lid explains that leadership ability is the lid that determines a person’s level of effectiveness. Today’s guest, Nannette Johnston, believes it’s true; people can only rise as high as the lid of their leader. Not only does she recognize the importance of professional development for herself,… Read more

We all have our favorite brands, but what makes them our favorite? Is it because we place value in the organization? Is it the way we are treated by the company? How do we know if the company is accountable? More and more organizations have been making it a priority to increase connection and invite customers to take… Read more

How can school districts and school boards work together to achieve the goals of the schools and the surrounding community? Faith VanderHorst, School Board President from the School District of Menomonee Falls, joins Janet on this episode to talk about how the relationship between the superintendent and the board… Read more

Sabrina Hebeler, Michigan native, and Chief of Staff at Michigan State University for the division of Infrastructure Planning and Facilities joins Janet Pilcher to discuss one of the key tenets of Sabrina’s role; to help everyone understand and follow the strategic direction of IPF. This comes from her passion for… Read more

As you get ready to put 2019 to rest and welcome in 2020, Dr. Janet Pilcher reminds you to reflect on the moments of joy, and the moments of sorrow over the last year. It’s during those difficult times you can often learn the most about yourselves. This holiday season take a moment to appreciate and celebrate life and… Read more

Executive leaders are the role-models of an organization, responsible for establishing the culture and leading teams to be successful. During this episode, Dr. Natalie Harder, Chancellor of South Louisiana Community College joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to share her story and her secret for building kick-ass leadership… Read more

As individuals strive for growth in their professional and personal lives, there is often a gap between where people are and where they want to be. While individuals are excited for growth and opportunities, this excitement can lead to anxiety and tension. These feelings can cause people to give up and ignore… Read more

When we establish recognition systems in our organizations or on our teams, we focus on employees by understanding what makes them shine and what keeps them engaged. Focusing on expressing appreciation for the contributions people make to our organizations motivates individuals to continue their hard work. Sincere… Read more

Rewarding and recognizing the right behaviors and excellent performance isn’t just a nice thing to do. Lack of employee recognition is a top reason for employees leaving an organization. With recognition we are able to engage, retain, and motivate most employees to sustain high performance. Recognition is so important… Read more

Several years ago, the decision was made to transform TeacherReady, a Studer Education online self-paced teacher certification program, to meet students where they are today. Transforming TeacherReady wasn’t something the organization took lightly, Dr. Julie Kunselman was instrumental in helping to review significant… Read more

Organizations are facing more pressure than ever to transform their practices in order to improve their outcomes. Competition is fierce. The speed of information and higher demands from consumers forces leaders to shift the way change is approached. Commonly, there is much anxiety attached to change, people like to do… Read more

At some time in your professional or personal life, you have probably experienced the let down of an empty promise. It’s also likely you’ve promised a friend or a colleague something you’ve let slip through the cracks at least once or twice. These empty promises, no matter how small, erode trust and jeopardize… Read more

How do you turn passionate employees and leaders into people who have the ability to make a difference not only in their work, but in their communities? Janet is joined by Dr. Pat Greco today to talk about continuous improvement. Pat is an award-winning retired superintendent who served 38 years in public education… Read more

As a leader do you tell your teams, “Don’t bring me problems, bring me solutions.” ? Or maybe as an employee you’ve worked for a leader who believes in this philosophy. While presenting solutions to problems is ideal, it’s not always possible. So, what can leaders do to create safe environments for teams to bring… Read more

Changes in an organization can occur that team leaders may have little control over. What we can control is how we adapt and react to the change in our daily business. When we utilize team meetings with structured, thoughtful discussions, and analysis, someone will propose a winning solution or solutions for the team… Read more

For the first time in history we are operating with five generations co-existing in the workforce, and there are more young professionals joining every day. Dr. Pilcher talks with Ruthie Speight, the Executive Director of Pensacola Young Professionals (PYP) about their mission and impact in our community. PYP provides… Read more

Service excellence is more than just being polite or being ready to offer the unsatisfied customer a discount. Join Donna Kirby and Janet Pilcher this week as they conclude their conversation about the value of service excellence. Donna Kirby reveals her top 3 tactics for applying customer service excellence within… Read more

Service Excellence differentiates your organization from others in your industry. Great leaders place importance on how to become the best service provider for what they do. Donna Kirby returns this week to discuss why prioritizing service excellence is necessary for success and what core drivers keep her focused on… Read more

Donna Kirby, the Vice President of Operations at the Pensacola Blue Wahoo’s AA Baseball team, joins Janet Pilcher this week to talk about Donna’s journey to becoming a leader of best practices in minor league baseball. Donna and her team at the Blue Wahoo’s stadium are sought after as an example for creating the… Read more

Many successful, hardworking Americans experience burnout more than once during their careers, even people who are passionate about what they do. High performers can be obsessed with achieving excellence and exceeding results to the point of exhaustion. And when the candles are burning at both ends for too long, we do… Read more

The way we provide feedback makes a difference in how people receive and act on the feedback. If our goal is to provide feedback to change behavior for the right reasons, we need to message our feedback in the right way. Dr. Pilcher dissects real-life situations where feedback was given that wasn’t asked for, or that… Read more

There’s a fine line between giving feedback for improvements and leaving an employee feeling criticized and deflated. Few of us respond well to someone telling us what to do or how to fix ourselves. Yet when feedback is provided in the right way, individuals are motivated to learn and improve. To create excellent… Read more

Making intentional connections with employees is especially important when the employee is within the first 30 and 90 days. Research shows that up to 22% of turnover takes place within an employee’s first 45 days of employment. 30-day conversations reinforce that leaders are committed to retaining the new employee and… Read more

Why is a commitment to excellence important as a leader and as an organization? Dr. Janet Pilcher interviews Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award recipient, Dr. JoAnn Sternke, to get her perspective on what it takes to pursue performance excellence. As a superintendent of Pewaukee School District, JoAnn led the… Read more

It’s difficult to become a great organization, and even more difficult to sustain that success. This week, Dr. Pilcher explores the 5 stages of defeat as identified in Jim Collin’s book ‘How the Mighty Fall’ and what you can do as a leader to get up before you fall too far. This episode addresses questions, such as:… Read more

How can organizations set themselves apart and provide their stakeholders with unmistakable value? It all starts with effective leadership and a culture focused on purpose. Dr. KK Owen joins Dr. Janet Pilcher to discuss how she helps organizations mold a culture around unmistakable value in real life. This episode… Read more

Are you really listening to your employees? Many employees don’t think so , in fact, more than half of employees say their company fails to act on good ideas, and a third of employees feel their ideas are ignored. Why? Because leaders demand action without input, receive feedback and avoid making changes, and lack a… Read more

One of a leader’s greatest responsibilities is to ensure teams are engaged and productive. People are motivated to increase productivity when leaders take time to get to know them personally, make them feel comfortable, and help remove barriers in the workplace. When we connect with employees in ways that are… Read more

Thriving workplaces depend on trust to continue to grow and excel. However, most of us can recognize; trust isn’t given, its earned. Building positive relationships in the workplace lays the groundwork for trusting teams that can perform and adapt at high levels. When leaders start prioritizing trust in the workplace,… Read more

Receiving feedback is an emotional experience, it’s often difficult to take in. Whether the feedback is positive or negative, we humans are quick to respond emotionally, sometimes overreacting, even to the point of denying the data is accurate. Feedback is also a powerful gift, it helps organizations understand what… Read more

Organizations perform at different levels, some are poor, others good, and very few are excellent. What makes an organization excellent? It’s their relentless commitment to continuous improvement. Great organizations are willing to get their hands dirty and face the brutal facts to improve, even when things are going… Read more

Is it really enough to provide good, or even, very good customer service? When your organization treats service recovery as just another refund, it misses a valuable growth opportunity. Excellent service recovery turns people with a poor experience into your biggest brand advocates. Listen now to hear the 4 steps to… Read more

Despite best efforts, sometimes we fail at providing the outstanding service our customers deserve. During these times, a service recovery process can turn a negative customer experience into an opportunity to satisfy the individual and for the organization to improve. Using a real-life example, Dr. Pilcher identifies… Read more

Why do leaders need to address toxic behavior immediately? Because negative behavior drags the entire organization down. 66% of employees who deal with a toxic team member said their performance declined in a recent HBR Study. In this episode, we reveal an approach you can use to support low-solid performers, the 8… Read more

It’s the leader’s responsibility to provide a structure within the organization to help people know when they’re not performing at their best. When the right system is in place, leaders can support their employees in owning their own performance. Sometimes that support may appear in the form of transitioning someone… Read more

How do the varying human performance levels affect the overall organizational results? What happens when leaders avoid managing employee performance levels? We achieve higher performance with less variation when we tighten the performance curve. In this episode, Dr. Pilcher addresses how leaders have an important role… Read more

60 – 70% of individuals in our organizations are solid performers, making them the backbone of every organization. When we give them our best, they will give their best to us and our organizations. This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses how to connect with your solid performers. When you give solid performers feedback the… Read more

Are you a high performer? Do you want to retain your high performing team members? This week, Dr. Pilcher offers an approach for connecting with your high performers and Erica Callaway joins her as a guest to model what this connection should sound like. Meeting with high performers the right way, so they know they… Read more

Low performers take up the majority of our time as leaders and cause their better performing coworkers stress. Today we address the types of low performing behaviors and what happens if we ignore them. This episode addresses questions, such as: How do we enable low performers? What are low performer behaviors? What… Read more

While we navigate through work and life, we may occasionally find ourselves in over our heads. The harder we try to fight, the deeper we fall. For leaders Dr. Pilcher recommends 4 ways to help your solid performers avoid the quicksand and an additional 3 ways to avoid stepping into the quicksand yourself. This episode… Read more

Middle solid performers make up half of our organization and have a lot to offer. It’s important for leaders to give them direction and opportunities to grow. Today we focus on 5 actions you can take to best support middle performers. This episode addresses questions, such as: What do middle performers want from their… Read more

When we speak of performance, we think of both an individual’s will and their skill. Do the members of our teams have the desire to do their best work and continue to get better? Today, we focus on the tremendous impact we can have on organizations when we have strong will or fire in our belly. This episode addresses… Read more

What are the 5 characteristics of high performers and why they are crucial to keep on your team? High performers do their best and their best makes a difference; they deserve for us to give our best to them. Learn how to identify your high performers, and how to retain them using the 3 techniques provided this week.… Read more

Dr. Pilcher explains what an emotional bank account is, and why it’s necessary to maintain a positive balance with your teams and coworkers in this week's episode. Master how you can provide feedback for improvement without damaging your relationships and find out 7 ways to nurture an emotional bank account with your… Read more

Through kindness we have a greater opportunity to achieve higher results. Individuals who combine their skills with kindness and drive can’t be stopped. Studies even show leaders who project warmth are more effective than leaders that lead with toughness. This week, Dr. Pilcher provides you with 8 quick actions you… Read more

Can you recall a time when you’ve been frustrated with another department in your organization, and you were told nothing can be done to solve the problem? Are leaders fighting about who is supposed to be responsible for something and blaming others when things don’t get done? The best solutions come from the people… Read more

This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses the common job we all come to work to do each day: Execute Well. Do we take quick decisive, meaningful actions every day? Or do we find ourselves waiting for our next assignment, redoing our work, or missing deadlines? Executing well plays a critical role in moving organizations… Read more

How can you avoid the trap of negative thinking? Overcoming obstacles is never easy, but when we don’t let shortcomings get (and keep) us down, we become more resilient. This week, Dr. Pilcher exposes how to eliminate this behavior from the workplace. This episode addresses questions, such as: How do we change our… Read more

This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses being an owner versus a renter. Pride in our organizations occurs when we take ownership of our roles, cultivating a positive environment so strong, it is no longer susceptible to negativity. This episode addresses questions, such as: What do leaders who take ownership look like? How… Read more

‘It’s not me, it’s them!’ – We’ve all heard it before, the blame game. But seriously, if they could just get their work done, I wouldn’t have to bring it up right? This default communication has lasting negative effects on team performance and results. Dr. Pilcher advises how to eliminate we/they behavior in the… Read more

56% of American workers claim their boss is mildly or highly toxic. We all deserve to work for high performing leaders, but what can you do if this isn’t your experience at work? Do you grin and bear it? Quit? Confront the boss? To continue the discussion from episode 7 on poor work behavior, this week Dr. Pilcher… Read more

How do you handle leaders who say they’re on board, but act like they’re not? Leadership team alignment is vital for high performing organizations to be successful. This week, Dr. Pilcher discusses how to address leaders who choose to deviate from strategy. Leaders who exhibit negative behaviors are noticeable by all… Read more

You’re probably familiar with the saying, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast,” but how is it that organizations cultivate a positive, inspired culture? And possibly more difficult, how can leaders turn a negative culture around? Dr. Pilcher explains the steps necessary to begin shifting the culture in the right… Read more

All of us are energized by something. It’s up to us to dig deeper within ourselves to stay connected to our passions as we live through new experiences. Dr. Pilcher returns to her tennis days from episode 4 Losing Our Way to show how she worked through her temporary loss of passion. She addresses the role leaders play… Read more

Anyone can fall victim of losing their passion at some point or another. Results from Gallup’s State of the American Workforce reveal disengagement at work happens to over 50% of employees. Yet organizations with higher employee engagement perform at higher levels, so what can leaders do to keep teams engaged. Dr.… Read more

This episode is the final part of a three-part series. It introduces and gives a brief overview of Principles 7-9 of the Nine Principles®. These Principles are: 7. Align Behaviors with Goals and Values. 8. Communicate at All Levels. 9. Recognize and Reward Success. Recommended Reading: Hardwiring Excellence By: Quint… Read more

This episode is part two of a three-part series. It introduces and gives a brief overview of Principles 4-6 of the Nine Principles®. Principles 4-6 are: Create and Develop Leaders Focus on Employee Engagement Build Individual Accountability Recommended Reading: Set Up: Timeless Leadership Skills for your Success By:… Read more

This episode in one in a three-part series. It introduces and gives a brief overview of the first three of the Nine Principles®. The first three principles are: Commit to Excellence. Measure the Important Things. Build a Culture Around Service. Recommended Learning: Commit to Excellence & Measuring What Matters & Why… Read more

Dr. Janet Pilcher explains why she wanted to host a podcast, and what you can expect from the Accelerate Your Performance show. _________________________________________________________________________