Stony Creek Strategy

I was listening to a podcast where the person being interviewed just trailed off and said, "Nothing feels right." At the end of a hectic week, I added some new framing and have re-posted a Talking Out of School article from November, 2024 because I think people need some reassurance that if you're feeling leadership is hard right now, indeed it is. New posts on Talking Out of School next week - a #TopFiveTuesday on listening and a new article next Friday! #leadership #unprecendentedtimes #tired Stony Creek Strategy https://lnkd.in/eRW-Yf9t

This week's #TopFiveTuesday is a bit on the sober side - first a brief reflection on five years since March 2020 and then five ways to deliver bad news. All leaders face the moment when they have to have That Discussion with someone over their duties or their employment status as a whole. I talk about the first one I ever had and then point out ways to make this important moment as respectful as possible. https://lnkd.in/ew9Eq7E2

It's a Talking Out of School Friday! Once a quarter, I do a links and resources post for paid subscribers except for one link - and this link is a good one! (Honestly, the whole post has some very valuable stuff in it in my humble opinion and you can do a free trial if you want to check it out.) The free link is to Shipman & Goodwin LLP's school law resource page - of course NOT to substitute for legal advice from your school's attorney, but a very good resource. And in addition to that, an excellent summary of options for pivoting in a demographic "apocalypse" and an academic technologist muses about how AI will impact academic administration. Also - I am currently in mid-adjustment of contacts and glasses so I feel like I'm making more typos than usual - I appreciate your patience as I get this sorted. I've always had terrible distant vision and now the close stuff is a problem too and it's been more complicated than I expected to get it just right! https://lnkd.in/ea4xJjvC

For #TopFiveTuesday, five tips on saying one small, powerful word - no. And tomorrow, March 12, I'll be joining the division directors cohort of the Association for Academic Leaders for a conversation about challenging conversations and we will definitely be talking about feeling the fear of saying no - and doing it anyway. Practice makes perfect - and it creates space for other people to step up. Sarah Hanawald Kim Harris Louisa Polos Condon https://lnkd.in/efCyxi7F

It's Friday. It's Spring Break for many indy school people and it actually feels a bit like spring out there today in southern New England. I hope everyone gets to enjoy some time off. And it's time for another Talking Out of School. This one is a plea to stop poo-pooing "management." Bold leadership has its place but good leadership is good management and vice versa. There, I said it.

It's the first Tuesday of the month so here's the Happenings newsletter from Stony Creek Strategy. Come for the link to an interview with Playboi Farti (a pseudonym chosen by... a 14 yo boy) on kids and use of AI for doing homework, stay for the link to the new Principles of Independent School Governance workshop! https://lnkd.in/euq_p3Vj

We are thrilled that former head of school Julie Faulstich of Stony Creek Strategy is sharing her tips for school leaders to improve their communication skills, manage difficult situations, and create authentic connections with families. Check it out: https://blkb.co/3WjL6I0

We are thrilled that former Head of School, Julie Faulstich of Stony Creek Strategy is sharing her tips for school leaders to improve their communication skills, manage difficult situations, and create authentic connections with families. Check it out: https://blkb.co/3WjL6I0