Generations at Work

Many educators and youth leaders struggle to motivate kids or to keep them engaged for any period of time. It's worth periodically reminding yourself: that students, particularly those who may misbehave often, face struggles when they're not in the classroom. Because of that, students should always be given a second chance to get their behavior in check. When we don't […]

Most people view happiness as a positive emotion. Without thinking, we may say, "I wish I were happy all the time!" However negative emotions play a useful role in our lives. Happiness is not the goal and unhappiness is not the enemy. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss their top books of 2023 and stop to highlight the insightful […]

We live in a society that loves to "binge" on things we like. These can be addictions to drugs or alcohol, but they can also be simple pleasures like Netflix, TikTok, or even junk food. There's a sort of "seesaw" or "teeter totter" inside our brains that goes up and down, releasing chemicals we need to remain stable. Feeling low, […]

Please be advised: The sound quality may be affected due to the podcast host and guest being in different locations. We still recommend that you listen to the amazing words of advice from our guest speaker because we believe it is incredibly relevant to the world we live in now. Thank you for your continuous support.   Brett Hagler is […]

Often, students become interested in solving a problem; later, they identify as an activist; and eventually, they become a leader. It begins with the desire to "right a wrong" and soon becomes much bigger than merely acting as an individual. It becomes about influencing others. Thanks to social media, an act of kindness or service can multiply. In this episode, […]

When asked, "What is the most important thing that needs to be addressed when you think about this upcoming school year?" two subjects that rose to the top of the list for parents, teachers, and administrators were the safety of the school building and addressing students' mental health and emotional well-being. We all agree that mental health and emotional well-being […]

Dr. Jean Twenge is a Professor of Psychology at San Diego State University and is the author of several books including her latest entitled: "Generations: The Real Difference Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and the Silent Generation." Dr. Twenge frequently gives talks and seminars on generational differences and technology. Her audiences have included college faculty and staff, parent [...

Today many educators, coaches, and leaders look for a "life hack" or fresh ideas on how to keep often distracted students engaged in the fun of learning. When we better engage students, we help them to perform better. In this episode, Tim and Andrew give practical advice on how to keep students engaged in a world of distractions. Find out […]

Content Warning: To skip the mention of suicide, jump to 5:36. As teachers, parents, coaches, and youth workers watch young people (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) grow up, they're seeing a distance in how they view life. Their perspective has evolved beyond where Gen X and Gen Y stood decades ago. These worldviews can be put into three categories: Pre-Modern […]

Jon Acuff is the New York Times bestselling author of nine books, including "Soundtracks," "Your New Playlist," and the Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller "Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done." When he's not writing or recording his popular podcast, "All It Takes Is a Goal," Acuff can be found on a stage as one of INC's Top 100 Leadership […]

Today we are experiencing a pandemic of loneliness. It's global. And one of our interns this summer has been on a personal journey to discover the "human side" of this epidemic we all keep talking about. Kiera Colson was an intern with us at Growing Leaders this summer, but she actually started partnering with us last fall when she […]

When we bake a chocolate cake, we know there are essential ingredients that make the recipe work. For that matter, baking or cooking anything tasty is not random. There are fundamental ingredients that must be added to reach a flavorful outcome. Similarly, when leaders cultivate healthy, young leaders out of students, there are four ingredients that always go into the […]

Daniel H. Pink is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. With Pink's signature blend of big ideas and practical takeaways, captivating stories and crisp humor, The Power of Regret offers an urgent and indispensable guide for a life well lived. His other books include the […]

The negative effects of smartphones and social media are being recognized by today's teens and many of them are not waiting for young adulthood to begin questioning the validity of their digital lifestyles. In this episode, Tim and Andrew talk about the many ways teens are starting to view their phones and how parents and educators can help to help […]

We all know that today's young people are distrusting institutions and leaders in greater numbers today than ever before. Often our individual preferences take precedence over the needs and preferences of those around us. Because of these realities, it can be difficult to know how to have conversations with them about the importance of the social world around them. In […]

Dr. Gary Davison is a successful high school administrator and K-12 teacher. In his 33 years of service to students, he has developed dozens of young leaders into executive-level positions within the field of education. His proteges are leading schools and school systems all over the country. In this episode, Tim and Gary discuss the lessons he's learned and some […]

When a person (who may or may not be in a leadership position) possesses capabilities, qualities, or skills that others don't have, they accumulate social capital. They earn influence. Their growing authority often has nothing to do with a badge or title. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss the rules for building social capital and how we help younger […]

You've probably heard of ChatGPT. It's been all the rage the first few months of 2023. It is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by Open AI that initially launched in November 2022, but had its stable launch on March 14, 2023. By January 2023, ChatGPT reached over 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application to date. In this episode, Tim and […]

In this episode, our very special guest Randy Hain is here to discuss his brand-new book, Upon Reflection: Helpful Insights and Timeless Lessons for Busy Professionals. In this interview, Randy offers timeless lessons and practical ideas on a myriad of topics drawn from his thirty-plus years of senior leadership, executive coaching, and consulting experience to help fuel the career success […]

While personal growth is important, the goal of social and emotional growth is greater than the benefits it gives young people in job qualification, behavioral improvements, or even academic performance. Soft skills are the beginning of the leadership journey for many young people. In this episode, Tim and Andrew discuss how social and emotional skills are not only for ourselves […]

You may be facing a combination of factors right now that have come together to create your very own version of whiteout conditions. Whiteout conditions are situations where a storm gets so bad that you can't see even a few feet in front of you. These conditions are most frustrating for leaders who have been previously successful in their roles […]

An identity crisis is defined as a period of uncertainty or confusion in a person's life and can occur when a person's sense of identity comes into question. These crises can happen in both the young and the old and the symptoms can include questioning your character, anxiety, unrest, altering your values and inclinations, and difficulty answering questions about yourself. […]

Please be advised: As we were recording this podcast, we unfortunately had a technical difficulty that could not be fixed behind the scenes. We apologize for the sound quality of this podcast. We still recommend that you listen to the amazing words of advice from our guest speaker because we believe it is incredibly relevant to the world we live […]

As leaders, we must demonstrate our compassion by walking alongside the young adults in our lives as they face consequences that may come from their actions, showing them our care and belief along the way. In this episode, Tim and Andrew review the case of Zion Brown and how the actions of the adults in his life demonstrate what it […]

Over the past few years, our department managers have hired people who are young, and we learned some valuable lessons along the way. Some of them were wrong hires. They weren't bad people, just not a fit for our organization. Others were a good fit, but leaders had to learn how to effectively communicate with them. Conversely, I often hear […]