Stop Asking "What Do I Do?" and Start Asking "Who Am I?" — with Dr. Chad Dumas cover art

Stop Asking "What Do I Do?" and Start Asking "Who Am I?" — with Dr. Chad Dumas

Stop Asking "What Do I Do?" and Start Asking "Who Am I?" — with Dr. Chad Dumas

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 📣 The Ruckus Report Quick take: Most leaders ask the wrong question. They obsess over what to do next instead of who they're becoming. In this episode, Dr. Chad Dumas unpacks how self-awareness, non-verbal cues, and intentional presence shape your entire school culture before a single decision is made. 🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Dr. Chad Dumas is an international consultant, author, and award-winning researcher who helps educators build capacity for self, team, and system improvement. A former teacher, principal, and central office administrator, he's the author of Let's Put the C in PLC, An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC, and The Teacher Team Leader Handbook. 🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules In this episode, Danny Bauer and Dr. Chad Dumas dive deep into the inner work required to lead effectively. They challenge the surface-level "what do I do?" mentality and replace it with a leadership identity rooted in humility, empathy, and self-awareness. 🧠 Key Insight #1: Start with Who, Not What What's broken: Leaders jump straight to tactics — constantly asking, "What do I do?"The shift: Begin with who you are as a person and a leader. Your mindset, humility, and assumptions shape every result that follows.Impact: When leaders ground their actions in identity, they build trust, clarity, and authentic connection across their schools. 🧠 Key Insight #2: Leadership Speaks Before You Do What's broken: Non-verbal cues are ignored — rushed meetings, shallow breathing, and reactive tones quietly erode safety and collaboration.The shift: Master the pause, breathe deeply, and use intentional body language that communicates calm, curiosity, and respect.Impact: The culture shifts from tense to trusting. People start showing up with ideas because they feel seen and safe. 🧠 Key Insight #3: Conflict Is a Catalyst — Not a Threat What's broken: Leaders avoid hard conversations, turning tension into silence or resentment.The shift: Reframe conflict as a space for growth. Separate the person from the problem, focus on shared goals, and invite multiple perspectives.Impact: Teams move from defensiveness to collaboration. The best ideas emerge, and relationships deepen through honest dialogue. 💬 Quotable Ruckus "It's not about the do. It's about the who. Who you are as a person and as a leader — that's where everything starts." — Dr. Chad Dumas 📈 Your Do School Different Challenge Ready to implement these ideas? Start here: Tomorrow: Before your next meeting, take one deep breath and pause before you speak. Notice how it changes the tone. This Month: Identify one assumption you hold about your staff that might not serve you. Replace it with the belief that they're doing their best. This Semester: Build time for reflection into your team meetings. Make space for silence, processing, and joy. 🔗 Connect & Continue 🎯 Get the full episode transcript here 🔗 Follow Dr. Chad Dumas: Website, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn 📌 Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning? This show isn't about doing school better. It's about Doing School Different — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible. 🎯 Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey: 📬 Subscribe to the Free Newsletter — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: ruckusmakers.news 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel to transform your campus: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions® — Transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education IXL — Empower teachers with adaptive instruction and data that drive results. 🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders Play Piper — Hands-on STEM kits that turn curiosity into engineering confidence. 🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?
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