I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Dr. Deborah Wortham, nationally recognized educator, author of the bestseller Setting the Atmosphere, and CEO of Wortham Educational Enterprises.

Dr. Wortham shared powerful insights on how leaders move systems forward by focusing on culture, confidence, and consistency. If you’re leading a system and striving to create the conditions for lasting transformation, here are 3 key takeaways:

✨ 1. Setting the Atmosphere & Belief-Driven Leadership: Dr. Wortham grounds her leadership in creating a cultural field that gives people permission to grow, develop, and succeed.

🤝 2. Collaborate in Circles, Not Silos: Dr. Wortham structures collaboration through concentric circles: Teacher Circle, Student Circle, etc because “one is too small a number to achieve greatness.”

📚 3. Embrace a Learning Goal Orientation: Leadership means acknowledging imperfection and using it for growth. As Dr. Wortham reminds us: “It’s okay not to know, but it’s not okay not to know and not to learn.”

🎧 Tune in to the full conversation for powerful stories, including the secret behind her daily rallying cry: “Smart is not something you are; smart is something you get.”

#EducationalLeadership #SettingTheAtmosphere #Superintendent #SchoolCulture #LeadershipDevelopment #CollectiveEfficacy #LearningGoalOrientation #ImperfectLeader

------- 

Follow Host Peter Stiepleman on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-stiepleman-76004819a/
Website: https://imperfectleader.com/

YouTube (video of conversation):  

https://www.youtube.com/@animperfectleaderleadershi5144/featured

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animperfectleader/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@animperfectleader 

Follow Co-host Jamie Almanzán on:

Connect with APC Leadership Collaborative for support in navigating complex leadership situations: https://www.apccollab.com

------- 

An Imperfect Leader is sponsored by Yondr. 

Schools around the world are seeing the damaging effects of phones on student engagement, social development, and mental health.

Yondr has developed a unique product and program to allow schools to become phone-free, from arrival to dismissal.

Learn why 1 Million Students use Yondr every day.

MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS. MAXIMIZE LEARNING POTENTIAL.

Go to overyondr.com to learn more.

 <img border="0" height="124" src="data:image/png;base64,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