Teach Like A Rock Star

Teach Like A Rock Star - Tour April 2010

2010-04-26T13:25:00.009-05:00

Just a FANTASTIC month, for sure!!

We started this month's tour off in Hollywood, FL and it was a great event. It never ceases to amaze me: there are just so many wonderful teachers that show up to our TLARS professional development events. We had teachers and principals from all over the area join us, including educators from Broward, Miami-Dade, Lee, Brevard and Sarasota schools to name just a few. We even had one Rock Star Teacher - Kristine Maraganis - join us from Chelmsford High School. No, NOT Chelmsford, Florida - Chelmsford, Massachusetts!! That's right, she made the 1,500 mile trip all the way from Massachusetts! Kristine wore her Teach Like A Rock Star t-shirt and sat in the front row and we even had a few minutes to chat. I'm telling you - she's an AWESOME educator who loves her students and is making a difference in their lives each and every day. (Kristine, we put a few gifts in the mail for you and you 4 boys. Look for them soon!)

From Hollywood we flew north to Jacksonville, FL. We had about 100 teachers join us for another FANTASTIC day. Districts like Duval, Clay, Pasco, Wayne, and Leon sent their most influential educators to bring back the information to their schools. The largest group - and, they were so much fun, too - came from Durbin Elementary School in St. Johns County. These 13 Rock Star Teachers smiled, and laughed, and shared the entire time. I LOVE groups like this! They really do add so much to the day! (Thanks for sharing the "game card" with me, Durbin Rock Stars! You guys crack me up!!!)

Our final stop this month was in one of my favorite cities - NEW ORLEANS! (That would be 'Nawlins, phonetically speaking.) We held our event at the newly remodeled Crowne Plaza Airport. Wow, what a great venue! We'll be heading back to this hotel for sure. For our first time to New Orleans, we certainly had an AMAZING group of teachers. St. Mary Parish, St. Charles Parish, Union Parish, and Calcasieu Parish all sent us their Rock Star Teachers. And, we even had a few teachers from Okaloosa, FL make the drive over.

Be sure to check out our upcoming dates! We have 12 events over the next 2 months. Get ready Albany, Boston, Dulles, Baltimore, Midland, Longview, Nashville, Memphis, Phoenix, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, and Charlotte! Here we come!!!

Here's just a few pics for our April Teach Like A Rock Star Events:

Teach Like A Rock Star - November Tour 2009

2009-11-24T13:58:00.001-06:00

What an AMAZING time we had on the road this past week. Four GREAT events in four days. I must say, the travel was grueling, but, in the end, we just might have had our 4 best events EVER.

We started off the week in Atlanta with about 100 excited and passionate teachers. It was a great day - we laughed and learned a lot. From there we moved on to Charlotte, NC. Talk about Rock Star Teachers!! Wow! I'm so impressed with the quality of educators at that event!! After the Charlotte gig was when things got a little . . . well, interesting.

Our flight to St. Louis was delayed, which meant we missed our connecting flight to Nashville. So, after lots of looking, we finally found a car to rent and drove all night (yes, you read that right, ALL NIGHT) from St. Louis to Nashville. We made it there just in time to shower and set-up and had an amazing turn out with about 150 teachers.

Also, while in Nashville, we had a chance to see our new "merch" designs. Mike "Merch Monkey" Arnott brought our new shirts, and stickers, and window clings, and lanyards, and mugs all with the TLARS logo. This stuff is AWESOME!! See for yourself at The Rock Shop. (GREAT stocking stuffers!!)

After Nashville, we flew to Jacksonville. We arrived at the hotel just before 11pm. It was then that I knew for sure we were going to have a great show the next day. When we arrived, there were about a dozen teachers hanging out in the lobby already engaged in . . . "staff development", if ya know what I mean. ; )

In fact, the event turned out great. There were groups of teachers from all over the state. It was an amazing day and I made lots of new friends that I hope to see again soon when I go to speak at their schools.

Thanks to EVERYONE who made the week so INCREDIBLE & MEMORABLE. It was awesome!

Next up in December: Phoenix, AZ - San Diego, CA - Los Angeles, CA - Oakland, CA. See all of our Tour Dates HERE.

Rock on!

~Hal

From Rock Star Principal Pete Hall!

2009-11-23T12:21:00.000-06:00

10 Things I've Learned From My Students

Here I was, thinking -- as the principal of a 500-student elementary school -- that I was in charge of the instruction occurring within our walls. I was scrutinizing the teachers’ lesson delivery; strengthening the implementation of curriculum and informative assessments; building capacity through professional development, intentionality of best-practice teaching, and relentless self-reflection; and ensuring that every student had access to the highest-quality instruction on this side of Pluto.

Then it hit me.

Education isn’t just one way. It, like most avenues of life, travels with reciprocity. And as the principal, the Chief Everything Officer and Instructional Leader, I found myself simultaneously astonished and inspired at the lessons that were delivered to me by the very students to whom I’ve pledged to deliver lessons.

Every decade is special. The 1970s had bell-bottom pants and disco music. The 1990s introduced us to interns with thongs. The 1770s were full of revolutionaries with white wigs. Well, the school year just ended marked my 10th in school administration, so I thought I’d wax poetic a little bit as I stroll down memory lane.

However, like the Roman god Janus, I’ll maintain my forward vision as I’m peering back. Today, while I reminisce about the last eventful decade, I will scrutinize the lessons taught to me by the students I’ve known so that our future endeavors in the principalship might yield even better, stronger, more consistent results.

10. Never give up. I was cussed at, spat upon, shoved, insulted, threatened, and told I have pointy elf-ears…all by a boy named Marcos. Nevertheless, it was my responsibility -- nigh, my obligation -- to remain steadfastly professional, respectful, and optimistic, so I sought deep to see the talents and gifts of this 12-year-old. Beneath the bullying exterior was an intelligent, athletic little boy -- who was destined to be a leader. Keeping a strengths-based view allowed Marcos to stay in school, to eventually turn that scowl into a smile, and become a leader on his high-school track and field team. Without the consistent support and chances to be successful, he may have been a coulda-been drop-out street punk.

9. Nothing works for everyone. Exceptions prove the rule, don’t they? Whether we’re talking about behavior plans, lesson delivery, classroom management, assessments, extracurricular events, or even daily schedules, it’s important to consider the individual students’ strengths, tendencies, goals, and motivations. Let’s allow Danielle to stand during circle-time since she’s antsy; let’s permit Conner to doodle in his journal during a lecture because it actually helps him listen; let’s sanction Barney’s 15-minute break every hour because it will prevent a 3-day suspension for destruction of property when he throws his desk in frustration from the demands of being a quiet student. Though each of those actions violates the school rule, the exceptions are necessary for the individual child in question. Without them, it hits the proverbial fan.

8. We’ve got two ears, too. We need to listen to our kids. A student named Michelle used to be a chronic castaway from the library because she refused to sit down for the read-aloud. The teacher gave her the obligatory three chances, then sent her away for being disobedient. Upon arrival in the office, she’d accept her punishments with a scowl and sadly count the days ’til the next library class. Turns out Michelle had a bone condition that prevented her from sitting on the floor for extended periods of time, yet her teacher had never allowed her the opportunity to explain herself. Once it got out in the open, a simple solution presented itself: she could sit in a chair on the fringe of the group. Without intending to do so, by not listening, we were damaging this girl’s love of stories and learning.

7. Relationships, relationships, relationships. I heard a good quote the other day: “They won’t care to learn until we learn to care.” I’m not sure who gets credit for it, so I’ll leave it at that. Nevertheless, I had a young man named George, who came to his teacher one year with a tremendous reputation for being a troublemaker. He spent the majority of the year as a troublemaker, and had conflict after conflict with his hapless teacher. They had never bonded and built the rapport necessary for his own sense of efficacy. Before considering a move to a more-restrictive behavior-intensive program, we moved George to a neighboring classroom with a teacher he respected and who returned that respect. George turned over a new leaf and flourished -- because of high expectations, a sense of effort-optimism, and a strong teacher-student relationship.

6. It takes a village. I used to think it was my responsibility to reach just one student in a deep, profound, grasshopper manner. Then I sought to reach ’em all. Well, to the ol’ Pete I say Good luck, pardner. Relinquish control. It’s not just you, the principal, that makes a big difference. Every child needs an adult, not always the CEO. If I relate to a particular student like a shin and a shin-high rose thorn, but another adult has a magnificent bond, fantastic! If I don’t have any ideas to support Althea’s learning goals, but a team of six staff members comes together and brainstorms a plan that will work, wonderful! They’re our children, not just mine and not just yours.

5. Set goals. Without a goal, we’re just meandering down the river of life paddling for the sake of paddling. If we don’t know where we’re going, we’ll never know when we get there, and we’ll be awfully tired and grumpy along the way. Katie, a first-grader, took one look at an end-of-first-grade reading passage and crossed her arms defiantly. She said she’d never read all those words, but when we divided the words into more manageable portions and set short-term goals, she met ’em easily! She was reading like a second-grader by the time the snow melted in April.

4. Attend to the Whole Child. I worked with a fourth-grade girl named Lori who was a miserable student, full of self-doubt, and whose shyness made her difficult to approach socially. She struggled in school and struggled with making friends. Academic tasks had no meaning and she began to spiral downward. Then we had a special performance of a dance troupe, and they asked Lori to join them on stage, in front of our entire student body, for a dance-off. Shy, uncomfortable little Lori sprang to life before our very eyes. Oh, could that child move! From then on, she beamed as classmates recalled her skills and poise, and she began to connect with peers and, subsequently, academics. What if we had noted that skill earlier in her school career? Could we have staved off her insecurities and tapped into her esteem?

3. Simple is good. We sometimes think the most sophisticated computer games, the most elaborate playground structures, and the most otherworldly activities are the answer for our students’ TV-like five-minute attention spans. Foster, a fifth-grader, is one of many I’ve seen who can sit under a giant tree, pick at the dirt with a stick, and pretend to unearth fossils of creatures from yesteryear. I’ve had a group of 20 play soccer with a broken chunk of a bike helmet when I lost the ball-shed key. Countless students have figured out how to slash and jab at each other with invisible light sabers. Abe Lincoln, not one of my students, learned to write by scratching coal on the smooth side of a shovel. Creativity and imagination are our friends, and we ought to encourage them.

2. Laugh. What are our faces telling those around us if they aren’t smiling? One particularly rough day, when the discipline seemed to fall from the sky like gumballs pouring out of a wrecked gumball-delivery truck, the teachers were grumpy as a green Muppet from Sesame Street’s famous garbage can. I must have been seething and fuming down the hallway when a first-grader stopped me and asked, “Mr. Hall, are you mad?” I didn’t answer right away, but then said, “Well, yes, actually I am.” Then he replied, innocently, “Is that why your face and your socks turned red?”

We all have a Marcos, a Danielle, a Foster, a _______ (you fill in the name), and each has a story. How do we view them? What lessons are they teaching us? How can we use those lessons to turn a profit (in human capital) in our high-stakes educational system? Those lessons, and all that follow, take us to the #1 lesson…

1. Always strive to be a better you. What did you expect? The time is now. Let’s learn our lessons.

Pete!
Article by Pete HallEducation World®Copyright © 2009 Education World
08/17/2009

Education World ® Administrators Center: Pete Hall: Ten Things I’ve Learned from My Students

Business, Schools, Blueberries, and Kids

2009-10-22T21:39:00.004-05:00

Jamie Vollmer's classic that deserves a re-read every once in a while:

“If I ran my business the way you people operate your schools, I wouldn’t be in business very long!”

I stood before an auditorium filled with outraged teachers who were becoming angrier by the minute. My speech had entirely consumed their precious 90 minutes of inservice. Their initial icy glares had turned to restless agitation. You could cut the hostility with a knife.

I represented a group of business people dedicated to improving public schools. I was an executive at an ice cream company that became famous in the middle1980s when People Magazine chose our blueberry as the “Best Ice Cream in America.”

I was convinced of two things. First, public schools needed to change; they were archaic selecting and sorting mechanisms designed for the industrial age and out of step with the needs of our emerging “knowledge society”. Second, educators were a major part of the problem: they resisted change, hunkered down in their feathered nests, protected by tenure and shielded by a bureaucratic monopoly. They needed to look to business. We knew how to produce quality. Zero defects! TQM! Continuous improvement!

In retrospect, the speech was perfectly balanced - equal parts ignorance and arrogance.

As soon as I finished, a woman’s hand shot up. She appeared polite, pleasant – she was, in fact, a razor-edged, veteran, high school English teacher who had been waiting to unload.

She began quietly, “We are told, sir, that you manage a company that makes good ice cream.”

I smugly replied, “Best ice cream in America, Ma’am.”

“How nice,” she said. “Is it rich and smooth?”

“Sixteen percent butterfat,” I crowed.

“Premium ingredients?” she inquired.

“Super-premium! Nothing but triple A.” I was on a roll. I never saw the next line coming.

“Mr. Vollmer,” she said, leaning forward with a wicked eyebrow raised to the sky, “when you are standing on your receiving dock and you see an inferior shipment of blueberries arrive, what do you do?”

In the silence of that room, I could hear the trap snap…. I was dead meat, but I wasn’t going to lie.

“I send them back.”

“That’s right!” she barked, “and we can never send back our blueberries. We take them big, small, rich, poor, gifted, exceptional, abused, frightened, confident, homeless, rude, and brilliant. We take them with ADHD, junior rheumatoid arthritis, and English as their second language. We take them all! Every one! And that, Mr. Vollmer, is why it’s not a business. It’s school!”

In an explosion, all 290 teachers, principals, bus drivers, aides, custodians and secretaries jumped to their feet and yelled, “Yeah! Blueberries! Blueberries!”

And so began my long transformation.

Since then, I have visited hundreds of schools. I have learned that a school is not a business. Schools are unable to control the quality of their raw material, they are dependent upon the vagaries of politics for a reliable revenue stream, and they are constantly mauled by a howling horde of disparate, competing customer groups that would send the best CEO screaming into the night.

None of this negates the need for change. We must change what, when, and how we teach to give all children maximum opportunity to thrive in a post-industrial society. But educators cannot do this alone; these changes can occur only with the understanding, trust, permission and active support of the surrounding community. For the most important thing I have learned is that schools reflect the attitudes, beliefs and health of the communities they serve, and therefore, to improve public education means more than changing our schools, it means changing America.

*Jamie Robert Vollmer, a former business executive and attorney, now works as a motivational speaker and consultant to increase community support for public schools. His new book, Schools Cannot Do It Alone is available on his website www.jamievollmer.com

This Kid is a Total Rock Star!

2009-10-19T08:49:00.003-05:00

I just love this student! Check him out speaking at the Dallas ISD back to school opening ceremonies. I can't wait to see where this kid ends up in life. I have a feeling that a pretty big future lies ahead for this little guy!!

Stevens HS Rocks!!

2009-10-12T10:57:00.002-05:00

On Sunday I made my trip west on I-10 to San Antonio to speak at Stevens HS in Northside ISD. Talk about a phenomenally BEAUTIFUL campus!! Wow, this place was amazing. Using the same architects as Cy-Fair ISD, just northwest of Houston, Northside ISD built an incredible school for their kiddos. I can always get a "feel" for a school as soon as I walk in a school. And, when I entered Stevens HS, it was obvious by the cleanliness and the organization and signs that this was a place full of spirit and pride where teachers really care about their students.

The first person I met was Michelle Craig, the Academic Dean of the school. She arranged for me to come to the school and was a wonderful host. She's a dynamic lady and obviously worked exceptionally hard to put together a wonderful day for the teachers. It turned out to be a great day speaking to their team.

I even had a few minutes to re-connect with a student I had not seen since she was in kindergarten -Nikki Sweirc. I taught with her mom Peggy Sweirc and her dad "Big Sammy" Sweirc in Pettus ISD almost 20 years ago. Peggy and Sam are now in Kemp ISD and are both some if the finest educators of have ever met. So much of what I learned about effective teaching I learned by watching them. Nikki followed in her parents' footsteps and is now a teacher at Stevens HS. Wow! What a reminder of just how old I am!!

On a side note: On my way to San Antonio, and on my way back home, I ALWAYS make a special stop along the way at Bucee's. For those of you not from Texas and have never been, Bucee's is one of those places that you'd have to see to believe. Just imagine: a gas station in the middle of nowhere with dozens and dozens of pumps that you have to wait in line for no matter what day of the week where you can also buy jewelry, buffalo jerky, homemade fudge, a sling shot, and just about everything imaginable that you could print a beaver on. Like I said, you'd have to see it to believe it!

Rock on!

Fun Stairs!

2009-10-09T10:26:00.000-05:00

Just quick video about stairs and fun. A GREAT concept to apply to our classrooms!!

I Love Garland ISD!

2009-10-07T10:08:00.005-05:00

What a fantastic day yesterday in Garland ISD!! We had a few hundred teachers attend Teach Like A Rock Star at the Garland Special Events Center (a totally beautiful venue, by the way). I knew it was going to be a great event because when Georgia booked the gig, she said, "I just talked with the absolute coolest principal on the planet! Her name is Kenda Willingham at Davis Elementary!!"

Georgia was telling the truth! Kenda was AMAZING. The venue was incredible, the teachers were awesome, AND I even got to have lunch with some super-inspiring educators.

OH! Let's not forget my new BFF - Gwen! She was so fun to have on stage. And, I found out later it was her birthday!! How perfect is that?? I hope that standing ovation you experienced made for a great day, Gwen.

Thanks to EVERYONE in attendance yesterday. You all made it a very special experience!

Rock on!

Teach Like A Rock Star - Midwest Tour 2009

2009-10-01T09:07:00.002-05:00

What a GREAT week!! Matthew "Rock-Star-Roadie-Extraordinaire" Krejci and I started off leaving Sunday for Indy. Bright-n-early on Monday morning we had 150+ Rock Star Teachers join us for the day. What a great group!! After a FANTASTIC day, and with Matthew behind the wheel of our Hyundai Accent (next time we'll take the upgrade), we headed for Louisville and checked in to the next venue - The Hilton Garden Inn. Talk about Total Rock Star Treatment!! L'ville is always a great tour stop for us. This state is full of super-talented educators. After the event, Matthew flew home and I went onto St. Louis where I met up wit Stacie-Marie McCleod. Stacie is our rockin' Director of Operations. Many of you talk to Stacie-Marie on the phone when you call our offices. This was Stacie-Marie's first time out on the road with us and she had a great time! We finished up the week in Kansas City where we met lots of super teachers and even made some great new friends.

It was a phenomenal week. Thank you soooo very much to all those teachers that joined us.

Next month: Denver, Columbus, Minneapolis, and Chicago!!

TEACH LIKE A ROCK STAR VIDEO!!

2009-09-22T15:56:00.001-05:00

Here ya go! Here's the latest music video. All the footage was captured over the last few weeks by Rock Star Roadie Matthew Krejci at Teach Like A Rock Star professional development events for educators, teacher conference keynotes, and back-to-school convocation keynotes. ENJOY!

What the . . . . . ?

2009-09-10T15:13:00.002-05:00

Honestly, I'm not sure what's going on in this class. But, whatever it is, it sure looks like fun. Teacher "Neil" cracks me up!

Now THIS is a Rock Star Teacher!!

2009-09-04T22:44:00.002-05:00

We always show this video at our Teach Like A Rock Star professional development events for educators. And, here on the site it's one of our most requested. Buckle up, here's a Total Rock Star Teacher in action:

Canyon HS in Comal ISD has a Rock Star Principal!!

2009-08-21T08:13:00.000-05:00

Brad Brown, the principal over at Canyon HS in Comal ISD, gave us a call about coming to speak to his teachers just a few days before the school year started. But really, it was more than that. Brad invited not just his teachers, but instead ALL the teachers in his feeder patter. What a genius idea!! He put all of his HS teachers along with all those teachers from the elementary schools and middle schools of those kiddos that will eventually be coming to his school in the gym together. It was an AWESOME couple of hours that we spent together! Thanks for being such a Rock Star Brad!

Teach Like A Rock Star In Temple, TX

2009-08-19T16:11:00.001-05:00

I've seen LOTS of school districts over the last two decades and I'm telling you, Temple ISD has it going on!! Great teachers and administrators. Here's a few pics from my day speaking at their New Teacher Training.

Deer Park ISD R-O-C-K-S!!

2009-08-08T23:19:00.001-05:00

Deepwater Elementary School and the ECC!! Amazing schools with world-class teachers!! Kids start making emotional associations from the first second they walk in the door of their first classroom and meet their first teacher. Thank goodness these are the teachers those kids are meeting - absolutely incredible!! An AMAZING day. I loved every second!!

Teach Like A Rock Star at Seneca HS!!

2009-08-06T19:59:00.001-05:00

Lana Kaelin, Assistant Principal at Seneca High School, contacted us about bringing our staff development event to Louisville for her teachers. When I walked in that morning to present, this is what I found.

It was then that I knew this was going to be a great day!

Thanks for having us Lana!!!

Teach Like A Rock Star in Bath County, Kentucky!

2009-08-04T23:54:00.000-05:00

I've been to hundreds of schools, districts, teacher conferences and conventions to present my Teach Like A Rock Star workshop or keynote address. And, one thing I've learned over the years is that you just never know what your going to get when you show up at these things. So, when I heard we were going to Owingsville, Kentucky to present to the teachers of the Bath County Schools, I thought, "Hmm, this will probably be a really small gathering of a couple dozen teachers at a really tiny venue." Wow, I couldn't have been more wrong. This was a HUGE event at GIANT venue with HUNDREDS of teachers. It was a fantastic day to say the least. I met lots of incredible educators and made lots of new friends! What an impressive school system in Bath County!!

July = Research, Recharge, Relax, and Baguettes

2009-07-27T15:10:00.004-05:00

After a super-intense June (which followed a super-intense year!), we decided to take a few weeks in July to recharge our batteries a little bit and to do some research. There's a few concepts I've been wanting to add to our Teach Like A Rock Star events and educator conference and convocation keynotes. And, I've really been wanting to take some time to look at the data and research that supports my latest brainstorms. I know it doesn't really sound all that exciting, but here's what's pretty nice: I recharged, relaxed, and researched in France!! A few days in Paris and a week in Provence - it was . . . well, AMAZING!! The pic was taken in Monet's garden. Very cool.

Now, back to reality. Time to get back into it!! Headed to Kentucky tomorrow to speak to teachers at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and then back to Texas to speak at Barbers Hill ISD.

Betsy Lane High School Teachers ROCK!!

2009-07-04T20:30:00.002-05:00

Not only do I present my Teach Like A Rock Star conferences where we have teachers drive and fly in from all over, but also I go to schools and districts to present on-campus inservice presentations and keynotes. In my travels I occasionally come across a faculty that are, well, fun. Well, in the case of Betsy Lane High School, "fun" might just be a bit of an understatement. I had an absolute BLAST spending the day with these fantastic educators. They decided to go to the great Smokey Mountains where they held their staff retreat. With their kids and spouses in tow, we all met in Pigeon Forge, TN (yes, THAT Pigeon Forge - the home of "Dollywood") and had a wonderful time together.

And, by the way, I was going to try to describe Pigeon Forge for those of you that have never been. But truly, you'd have to see it to believe it.

Can you imagine?

2009-06-05T08:46:00.000-05:00

As teachers, we're all pretty much the same when it comes to kids that we've had in our classes who are now doing great things. Honestly, we like to brag. Teachers LOVE to talk about the kids they've had who are all grown up and enjoying successful lives because of, well, US!

So, can you imagine being Miss South Carolina's history or government teacher? You know those teachers called ALL of their friends and family to tell EVERYONE that their little super star from class is on TV tonight competing in the Miss Teen USA Pageant. Then, as all those people watched, they saw this:

Ummm, ouch.

Free Hugs from Bowman!

2008-06-11T16:25:00.002-05:00

Here's one of those videos that I think EVERYONE should re-visit ever few months. Food for the soul:

MANAGE TEEN WORKERS EFFECTIVELY. Or, you just might get beat-up by a gang of angry bag boys.

2008-05-15T23:26:00.000-05:00

During my research for my book on leading teen workers, I was chatting with a group of teens who were recently hired at a local grocery store. They were all boys and all had the same job. According to them, the extent of their job description was to, “sack the groceries, offer to help carry the bags out to the car, and roundup the carts that lazy-ass shoppers leave out in the parking lot.”

Obviously, those are their words, not mine.

At this meeting, we were talking about their job performance and how the quality of their performance depends on which manager is working the front checkout area at any given time. There are some managers to whom they “react,” and there are some to whom they “respond.” The young men were telling me about one of the managers named Chuck. (By the way, none of the names have been changed, so if your name is Chuck, you might want to pay close attention to this part.) One teen named Kevin was telling me about an experience he had a couple weeks ago with his manager. This is what Kevin shared with me about Chuck, word for word (minus the profanity – it was just a little too extreme). Kevin said, “So, like I’m up there doing my job, ya know? I just sacked the groceries and stuffed the bags into this lady’s cart and asked her if she wanted some help out to her car, right? She says, ‘No’. So, I start walking to another checkout lane to sack some more groceries for this old dude. Just as I’m about to ask gramps if he wants paper or plastic, Chuckles calls out my name from way across the store and says, ‘I need you out in the lot rounding up carts! Now! Let’s go! Right now! We have customers waiting! Move it!!’ And he says it just like that, too. I’m like, ‘Seriously? Move it? Are you really telling me to ‘Move it’? Can you believe this guy is talking to me like that? Who does he think he is?’”

It was the very moment that I heard Kevin say, “Chuckles” that I knew there was going to be an issue with this particular manager. But I played along and asked what most adults would ask if they were in the middle of this conversation, “So, what’s the problem? Listen, you said yourself that rounding-up carts was part of your job.” Kevin fires back with, “yea that’s a part of my job, no doubt. But, he doesn’t have to call me out in front of everybody, like he’s my BOSS or something!” I couldn’t help but reply, “Umm, well, didn’t you just say he IS your manager? Doesn’t that mean that he IS your boss?”

That was it. I’ve managed to push Kevin, my teen research subject, way over the top and he’s heading down hill fast, “Hell no! He’s not MY boss! Not after that! Not for $6.50 an hour he’s not my boss! He can forget it if he thinks I’m EVER going to do anything HE tells me to. That ___________ piece of ___________ can kiss my ________ because I’m not his __________ so he can ____________ and then he can _______________ and then I’m gonna…….. “

I think you can clearly see where this conversation was now headed.

What’s particularly interesting is looking at this situation from the manager’s point of view. Chuckles has no clue that this kid even feels this way. None. He probably doesn’t even remember asking Kevin to roundup the carts in the first place. But, here we are 2 weeks later and this teen is still seething about it. And, it’s not just Kevin. It’s all his buddies and every other teen that was in earshot of Chuckles, as well. Unfortunately, Chuckles is under the impression that he only asked him to roundup the carts. In reality though, that’s not even close to what actually happened – not in the mind of his teen workers anyway. What came out of the mouth of Chuckles may have been, “I need you out in the lot rounding up carts! Now! Let’s go! Right now! We have customers waiting! Move it!!” And, I’m sure that’s all he meant. Truthfully, getting carts for customers probably was his only intention. But, that doesn’t matter because what Kevin, along with every teen in the vicinity, heard was, “Attention shoppers! This is the Almighty King Charles. I want you all to witness how I publicly humiliate and belittle this peon. Hey you, I’m talking to you, Bag Boy. Now be a good little Bag Boy and do what I tell you to. Go fetch me some carts and be fast about it. Don’t keep me waiting. King Charles doesn’t like to wait, Bag Boy!” That’s the reality of Chuckles’ message.

Pretty interesting. Chuckles just wanted some carts, but instead what he got was a group of angry bag-boys that high-five when they talk about beating him up out back by the dumpster.

(Incidentally, I’m aware that it’s probably immature of me to keep calling him Chuckles. But, I just can’t help myself.)

So, what should have Chuckles done? Really, just about anything other than what he did would’ve been better. But, just for starters, what if Chuckles made the 15 second investment required to walk over to the teen, look him right in the eye and with all the sincerity he can muster, say, “Kevin, I really appreciate how quickly you move from customer to customer. You are awesome at your job I totally respect that. We have a lot of shoppers coming in and looking for carts. So, after you help this gentleman to his car with his groceries, could you round up the carts out in the lot and bring them in with you? I would appreciate it if I could count on you for that, Kevin.”

What teen doesn’t want to be respected and counted on? It really is that simple.

Throughout my book, keynotes, and workshops for employers of teens, I share dozens of techniques and strategies for effectively leading teen workers. Let’s work together so that I can provide you with that valuable information. Your managers, workers, and customers deserve it.

Believe me, I’d hate for you to end up like Chuckles.

Teens only really respect one thing. Want to know what it is?

2008-04-06T12:25:00.000-05:00

At some point in their careers, just about every manager of teen employees comes home from an exhausting and frustrating day at work, plops down on the couch and comes to the big realization: These teen workers that I hire could not care less about what I think. And, they especially don’t value my opinion of their performance.

Now, at this point, if you haven’t yet had this realization, you’re probably asking the question, “Are you saying that my new employees that I hire don’t automatically respect me?” Yep. That’s exactly what I’m saying. At least not at first they don’t. The next question managers ask is, “Well, is there anything I can do about it?” Nope. There’s absolutely nothing you can to about it – not right now, anyway. The question that always follows next is the most important one of all, “How did such a drastic shift in teen culture occur?” The answer to that question sits in every home.

For their entire lives, this is a generation that has had around-the-clock access to 24 hour news on CNN, FOX, Court TV, and investigative journalism on just about every other channel. As a result of all that non-stop information, teens have seen their elders, authority figures, adults, and high-ranking people from just about every walk of life at their very worst moments. They have seen well-respected religious leaders go to jail for abusing young children in unimaginable ways. They have seen prominent CEOs and CFOs go to prison for lying, cheating, and stealing the retirement savings from little old ladies. They soaked in every detail as they witnessed their sports heroes and Hollywood stars being arrested, tried, and convicted for spousal abuse, drug offences, tax evasion, rape, and even murder. They have heard, read, and watched the stories of teachers having sexual relationships with students. They even saw firsthand how a United States President lied about, and then later admitted to, having cigar-laden sexual relations with a very young intern in the oval office. These salacious headline stories - the constant, everyday onslaught of the media showing people, many of whom are older, educated, and experienced, living far less than honorable lives - have had a tremendous, irreparable impact on today’s teens.

Now, I know all of that information is a lot of negativity to digest in one sitting. But, with that information fresh in your mind, let’s focus on one question:

Why should a teen employee under your charge pay attention to your every word; ask for clarification for what they don’t understand; immediately tackle the task at hand; do exactly what you ask of him; AND, do it all with a positive attitude that reflects pride in their performance and attention to detail?

If your answer is any form of the following . . .

Because I am older.
Because I am more experienced.
Because I am wiser.
Because I am the manager.
Because I am the most respected in my field.
Because I am a great person.
Because I am educated beyond belief.
Or, because I am nice.

. . . then, I have news flash for you. And, here it is: Teens of today do NOT respect any of the above.

You might think they do. They may act like they do. They might even tell you they do. But, the truth is, they don’t. All of the people and situations I outlined above, from religious leaders to the leader of the free world, at some point in their careers could have been described by any and all of those positive qualities – older, experienced, wiser, educated, respected, etc. And look where they ended up. Remember, teens have grown up immersed in these real-life, negative stories from the day they left womb. Just about every week of their lives they have witnessed a new prominent figure fall from grace. And, it’s always someone that was, at least, well thought of, if not respected.

It’s because of this daily, media-influenced, negative impact that teens only respond to and respect one thing: proven character. That’s it. Nothing else. They only truly respect “who” you are. When it comes to respect, they could not care less about your title, age, education, experience, or even history of success. All they care about is who you prove yourself to be day in and day out. They only care about one thing - your character.

If you are going to successfully work with teen employees, it’s essential that you understand the importance of “who” you prove yourself to be. Teen employees observe and make conscious and sub-conscious mental notes of your every move. They are constantly evaluating everything about you. Everything they ever observe you do and everything they ever hear you say is stored away in their minds. And, they are using this information to constantly judge the quality of your character. And, believe it or not, it’s those daily judgments of who you prove yourself to be that teens directly base the quality of their own performance. That is, the quality of a teen’s performance is equal to the quality of the leader’s character.

Don't miss that. Here it is again: The quality of a teen's performance is equal to the quality of the leader's character.

Want to know more? Let's chat. Give me a call.

Superstars and Knuckleheads: Your Employees Attract Your Applicants.

2008-03-05T20:22:00.000-06:00

An assumption of many managers, and one that we need to dispel right now, is that teens choose where to apply for the same reasons that adults do. Adults choose where to apply for work based on interest, income potential, prestige, upward mobility, proximity to their home, along with a host of other reasons. Teens, on the other hand, choose where to apply to work for one reason: their friends work there.

For the vast majority of businesses, this presents a couple dramatic problems. The first and most obvious problem is that, based on our research, custsomers think that 95% of all businesses’ teen employees are Knuckleheads. (Unfortunately, business owners, execs, and managers think it’s only 80%. Of course, that doesn’t matter because the customer think its 95% and the customer’s impression is always reality - whether you agree with it, or not.) Since 95% of your teen workforce are Knuckleheads, then that’s who is telling their friends where to apply for work. With respect to who Knuckleheads have as friends, teens are just like you and I. They are friends with people just like themselves. Superstar teens have Superstar friends; and, Knuckleheads hangout with Knucklehead friends.

So, here's what's happening at companies far and wide: Superstars are applying where Superstars work and Knuckleheads consistently apply where their Knucklehead friends work. Furthermore, what’s really troublesome for managers is that for some reason it seems that the worse a teen's on-the-job performance, the more prolific of a recruiter he is. Knuckleheads can recruit, round-up, and bring in other Knuckleheads like nobody’s business. They are a lot like an Australian Shepherd bringing in a herd of sheep, only not as smart. And, I’m not talking about subtle suggestions about where to apply like, “Maybe you should stop by where I work and pickup an application.” That’s not at all how Knuckleheads go about it. Your Knucklehead teen workers are gifted, experienced, high-pressure, hardcore headhunters. Absolute closers! I’ve worked with teens for more than 2 decades and I can’t begin tell you how many Knuckleheads I’ve heard over the years announce to all their Knucklehead friends,

“Dudes! I’m telling you. You’ve got to come work where I work, Bro! It’s AWESOME! You don’t have to do anything and they’ll hire ANYBODY! Believe me, I know. Hell, they even hired me! It’s unbelievable. You’re gonna love it!”

You think that’s bad? Well, you’re right. It is bad. But, that’s nothing - it’s even worse than you think: “Check it out, yo’! I brought applications for EVERYBODY!! They interview on Tuesday afternoons. But whatever you do, don’t mention my name. I don’t think they like me ‘cause I’ve been there for 6 months and I don’t do a damn thing. Tell them that William told you to apply. He’s the only one that actually does anything. They love William!!”

I wish I was kidding. But, I’m not.

The second problem that occurs as a result of hiring average to below-average teen employees is that the more Knucklehead teens you hire, the more high-performing Superstar teens you lose. As I said, teens want to hangout with other teens who are just like themselves. The more low-performing Knucklehead teens you bring into your business, the faster your awesome Superstar teens start using their break-time to call their awesome Superstar friends to inquire about where they work. Superstars will even leave for a job that pays less, a lot less, if their Superstar friends work there.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution that not only attracts exceptional Superstar teen applicants to your business, but also it drives the Knuckleheads to your competitor’s doorstep. And, I'd love to share it with you. Send my website, send an email, or give me a call, and I'll let you in on the secret.

All for now.

Your COMPANY SPOKESMAN has braces, tattoos, zits, a Mowhawk, buds in his ears, and a fish hook in his nose!!

2008-02-05T20:18:00.000-06:00

“What in the hell was THAT!?”

The store manager finally broke the silence. He wasn’t talking to anyone specifically. In fact, rarely does he talk to anyone specifically. But now that he had everyone’s attention, it almost seemed like he was mumbling to himself. You could just barely hear him say, “I just can’t believe” as he looked down, now shaking his head. Only bits and pieces of what he was saying were even audible. “What the . . . Did you see . . . How can that kid . . . Does that last punk really think that I would even consider . . . Was that a fish hook?”

He was obviously confused and frustrated. He had no idea where to begin with his search for answers to what just took place. So, he said it again and this time it was a little bit louder, “What in the hell WAS that!?” The assistant manager, the floor manager, and the manager-in-training (I think that’s a more respectable title for the assistant manager’s assistant’s assistant) sat there in disbelief as well, just as they usually do on Tuesday afternoons.

Tuesday is the day this particular grocery store holds their weekly open interviews for their frontline, hourly-wage positions – positions like cashier, courtesy booth, sacker, stocker, and the like. It’s all those positions usually held by teenage employees. And, this particular Tuesday was no different. There stood a group of applicants that in no way, shape, or form looked or acted like anything remotely close to what any executive or manager in their right mind (or even in their wrong mind, for that matter) wants representing their company to the paying customer. Even the assistant manager’s assistant’s assistant could see that.

The Store Manager was back at it, “Are you kidding me? That’s ALL the applicants? That’s who we have to choose from?” The floor manager spoke up, “Well, we have to hire at least a few of them. We have 2 positions still open and we all know about the turn-over situation. It seems like no matter who or how many we hire, there are always a couple of positions we need to fill.” The manager-in-training chimed in, “I kind of liked that last kid with the purple Mohawk and the fish hook in his nose!” Needless to say, the manager-in-training has been in that position for a very, very long time.

The situation in this grocery store is no different from that of thousands of other companies. From restaurants to retail, private to public, businesses large and small are all faced with the same question:

How do we recruit, manage, motivate, and retain exceptional teen workers in such a way that they,
and their performance, accurately represent the image, the quality,
and the character of our company?

That is the multi-million dollar question. Literally.

There’s not a CEO or manager of a successful company that employs teen workers in their frontline positions that doesn’t “get it.” They more than “get it.” They know all too well that the point of contact with their paying customers begins and ends with the teen worker. Who, more times than not, just so happens to be the lowest paid, least educated, least experienced, and least mature workers of all. Day in and day out, your teen workers are the primary key communicators of your brand. They are your company’s true spokespeople. In the eyes of your customers, your teen worker – complete with braces, tattoos, zits, Mohawks, buds in his ears, and a fish hook in his nose – is the face of your company.

This is not new information. This is no secret. And, companies both large and small, are SPENDING millions of dollars searching for that answer while they’re simultaneously LOSING millions of dollars because they don’t yet have the answer. According to the most prestigious business schools, I believe that’s called a Double Whammy.

Now for some good news: There is an answer.

And, here’s the GREAT news: I have that answer.

And, if YOU want that answer, too, you have a few options. You can either give me a call or send me an email.

Talk to you soon.