Just Say “No!” with Charles Williams
Power Quote: “Somebody has to be able to say “pause!”
Description:
Have you ever listened to one of those podcasts where the host asks a question, the guest gives an answer and it goes back and forth in a way that feels more like a school lecture than a discussion? This Is not that episode! It’s almost the opposite. It took me 10 minutes to get to the first question. This interview went in directions I hadn’t expected, but each time I began to wonder if we were going down a rabbit hole, I would find us back at base camp. Listen carefully – there is a lot of wisdom in today’s show and it all leads back to the same place, a place I’ll try and explore a bit more in the wrap up.
Sponsor Spot 1:As we get started, I’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel at customizing trips based on your unique context, needs, and goals. Kaleidoscope offers exceptional travel experiences for students (and their group leaders). Thinking about student travel? Reach out to Kaleidoscope using the link in the show notes.
Show Intro
Guest Bio:
Charles Williams is an educator, speaker, and consultant with nearly 20 years of experience. As a Chicago school leader and founder of CW Consulting, he specializes in culturally responsive practices, equity, and mental health. Through keynotes and workshops, Charles empowers educators and leaders to "Learn, Grow, Lead," driving innovation, inclusion, and resilience in schools and communities.
Warmup questions:
- We always like to start with a celebration. What are you celebrating today?
- Is there a story that will help listeners understand why you are doing what you do?
Questions/Topics/Prompts
- In helping leaders move from being urgent to being strategic, I share three Epiphany’s. The first epiphany is that we can’t get everything done. The second Epiphany is if we can’t do everything then we choose what does and doesn’t get done. You talk about this a lot in your book, Learn, Grow, Lead. Why is the idea the we can choose so difficult to embrace?
- Every yes is a no to something else. It seems like if we could just remember this, it would go a long way in helping us to make better decisions about where to invest our time. Thoughts?
- Are there techniques or considerations for saying no?
- The third Epiphany is that our choices reflect our values, so if I’m not making decisions based on my values how can I get back on track?
Sponsor Spot 3:I want to thank IXL for sponsoring this podcast…
Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions.
And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.
Everyone talks about the power of data-driven instruction. But what does that actually look like? Look no further than IXL, the ultimate online learning and teaching platform for K to 12. IXL gives you meaningful insights that drive real progress, and research can prove it. Studies across 45 states show that schools who use IXL outperform other schools on state tests. Educators who use IXL love that they can easily see how their school is performing in real-time to make better instructional decisions.
And IXL doesn’t stop at just data. IXL also brings an entire ecosystem of resources for your teachers, with a complete curriculum, personalized learning plans, and so much more. It’s no wonder that IXL is used in 95 of the top 100 school districts. Ready to join them? Visit ixl.com/assistant to get started.
Closing questions:
- What part of your own leadership are you still trying to get better at?
- If listeners could take just one thing away from today’s podcast, what would it be?
- Before we go, is there anything else that you’d like to share with our listeners?
- Where can people learn more about you and your work…
Sponsor Spot 4:Before we wrap, As a loyal listener to this show, you know I am a big advocate for short, targeted observations, so I’m excited about DigiCoach sponsoring this podcast. DigiCoach makes it easier to follow up on observations with meaningful feedback. I love that you can focus on specific elements and that there is a ready-made bank of items to use for telling teachers what they are doing well! You can learn more about DigiCoach at digicoach.com or click the link in the show notes.
Summary/wrap up
- We don’t have to have all the answers!
- Adults work to solve problems they face – PD implications
- Task versus person focus
- Saying no to bad processes
- Ignore bad role models (set the vision, all the answers, do everything)
- If I wasn’t already doing it, would I start today?
- “Somebody has to be able to say “pause!”
- Intention
Thank you to our sponsors!
- IXL: https://www.ixl.com/assistant
- SummerPops: https://summerpopsworkbooks.com/sample-request-page/
- Kaleidoscope Adventures: https://www.kaleidoscopeadventures.com/the-assistant-principal-podcast-kaleidoscope-adventures/
- digiCOACH: https://digicoach.com/
Charles’ links:
Book - Amazon
Frederick’s Links:
Website: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/
Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a
The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520
