Because It Is Important to You Does Not Make It Important to Them
I like to think that I am a pretty bright guy but every now and then something happens that makes me doubt it. One of those all too...
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Michelman's Musings
- Apr 17
Ignore the Phone; Listen to the Person
My mother had the uncanny ability to develop deep relationships with a wide variety of people. Her nieces and nephews were close to her,...
- Apr 10
No Surprises, No Panic
In Durham, where I live, the public school district has been working hard to increase wages particularly for its non-teaching staff....
- Apr 3
Let the Sunshine Through
Last weekend, I traveled to Topsail Island on the North Carolina shore and wondered if it would be warm enough to comfortably sit on the...
- Mar 27
Hobson's Choice
I was recently thinking about Hobson’s Choice due to a blog post by Seth Godin. Godin points out the (supposed) origin of the phrase:...
- Mar 20
Feedback vs Micromanaging
I read a great deal about leadership. One consistent theme is that good leaders do not micromanage but do give honest and sometimes...
- Mar 13
"Yeses
When I was middle school director at Flint Hill School in Oakton, Va, the Head of School approached me. He informed me that the lower...
- Mar 6
How Can You Be Heard (At All)?
I recently spent a few nights in a large apartment complex. At 3:30 am on our first night, I heard an irritating loud noise coming from...
- Feb 28
Trust Strangers but Not Co-Workers?
Driving home the other day, a driver made an unexpected left. I jammed on the brakes to avoid a crash. After silently muttering an...
- Feb 21
Leaders Need Keds
Don’t try to make an appointment with me on Wednesday morning. Every Wednesday, rain permitting, I play tennis. Two Wednesdays ago, I...
- Feb 14
Water Under the Bridge; No Surprises
We have been having water trouble lately. Recently, a water main near our beach house burst. And in an effort for symmetry, we had the...
- Feb 7
Till the Soil, Let the Plants Grow
We have lived in our current house for twenty years and until last year could not grow grass in the backyard. We affectionately called...
- Jan 31
Leaders Should Always be Learners
I recently presented at the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools’ (NCAIS) conference for Head of Schools, board chairs, and...
- Jan 24
New (But Not Too New)
I am currently listening to Woodstock sung by David Crosby joined by Michael League, Becca Stevens, and Michelle Williams. I am mentally...
- Jan 17
Tell the Whole Truth
At the risk of sharing too much, I recently went for a teeth cleaning and the dental hygienist took me to task for not doing as good a...
- Jan 10
That's How the Light Gets In
I have recently been on a Leonard Cohen kick listening to his original s as well as cover albums. (Let me suggest Here It Is: A Tribute...
- Jan 3
Five Resolutions for the New Year
In this season of resolutions, I thought I would suggest five that might make a difference as we navigate our professional and personal...
- Dec 27, 2023
Why Do We Want a White Christmas?
When I was driving last week, the ubiquitous White Christmas came on the radio. As I listened to the lyrics, I began to lament that once...
- Dec 20, 2023
Vacation Leadership
I recently returned from a hiking trip in Patagonia. (The picture on the blog is one I took on one of my hikes). The trip was wonderful...
- Dec 13, 2023
When a Question is Not
I have a bad habit of using a question to make a statement rather than to actually gain information. When one of my children is driving...
Welcome to Michelman's Musings where I share some thoughts on leadership, team dynamics, education, and general observations of life.
I hope that you enjoy and feel free to comment.
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