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MITIGATING BIAS IN DECISION-MAKING

Head of School Leadership | Date : Sep 19 2016 | Author: Thomas P. Olverson

I used to assume that quality decision-making was an innate leadership skill, more a matter of instinct and personality rather than something learned. Turns out, I was wrong.Recently, I read Chip Heath and Dan Heath’s book Decisive, which explores th...

Idea, Vision, Reality, Trustees, School, Leading, change, principles, fundamentals, resources, talent, targeted, initiatives, transformative, goal, meaningful, sell, strategy, important, execute, Ted, Talk

WHAT WE NEED IS ONE IDEA: MAKE YOUR VISION REAL

Management | Date : Aug 16 2016 | Author: Thomas P. Olverson

Early in my tenure as a 34-year-old Head of School, a small group of trustees, the athletic director and I were chatting about the many ways in which we could make the school better. We were on a roll, one idea leading to another. After about ten min...

“AT THE EDGE OF INSIDE.” WHERE HEADS NEED TO BE

Management | Date : Jul 01 2016 | Author: Thomas P. Olverson

One of the most powerful tools an independent school leader has is perspective, an ever-evolving practice of seeking deeper and deeper insights into the landscape of reality. Those insights can lead to better strategic thinking and better strategic d...

Head, Mentorship, professional, development, focus, skills, leadership, operational, decisions, enrollment, financial, board, trustees, NAIS, mentors, consultants, responsibilities, president, relationship, trust

FURTHER THOUGHTS ON HEAD MENTORSHIP

Leadership Transition | Date : Jun 15 2016 | Author: Thomas P. Olverson

Recently I heard about the struggles of two first-time heads of school. Their missteps are a reminder of the importance of a head’s on-going professional development that focuses on the practical skills of leadership.Within a year and a half of begin...

Head, School, Value, judgement, crisis, reflective, identifying, critical, management, consequences, decisions, experience, knowledge, response, thoughtful, rationale, behavior, Harvard, Ron, Carucci, Ten, Year, study, Business, Review

HEADS WITH SOUND JUDGMENT

Management | Date : May 04 2016 | Author: Thomas P. Olverson

Being a successful Head of School is more than just adding value to the school – it requires good judgment. Case in point: the crises involving sexual misconduct that some independent schools are currently facing. Yet sadly, the typical independent s...

As part of our on-going effort to cultivate and support independent school leadership, our RG175 consultants take turns writing a monthly blog on issues ranging from Strategic Thinking, Governance and Management.