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Selfless Leadership
My name Kristopher Wallaert, and I have a heart for purposeful leadership that I believe can only be obtained through selflessness and service. I do not believe in leadership as a title or position, but rather a way of life. The purpose of this blog is to encourage and challenge people to assess their effectiveness as leaders and reflect on how they might become better, more purposeful leaders. The attitude and actions of leadership is not static, but is constantly changing overtime. I hope you enjoy this blog, and I invite you to like and comment on anything you read. Be sure to subscribe to get the latest posts sent directly to your email.
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The Quiet Leader
Posted Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 11:19 AM“Pay less attention to what men say. Just watch what they do” (Dale Carnegie). Who we are is less about what we say and more about what we do. In today’s society, there is a lot of talk. We have become conditioned to always have something to say or respond to things of which we agree or disagree. ... -
Hard Work AND Discipline
Posted Monday, May 2, 2022, at 11:08 AMThere is one thing I want to engrain in my children’s mindset about life - You can do and become anything you want with hard work and discipline. There is nothing that can stand in their way if they put in hard work and have discipline. In fact, the only person who will stand in their way is themselves. ... -
Influence (Part 2)
Posted Friday, April 29, 2022, at 10:32 AMKen Blanchard once said, “The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.” Stan Toler wrote, “Good leaders know that more is accomplished by empowering others than by commanding them.” Chuck Swindoll said, “Anyone who influences others is a leader.” Bottom line, all leaders are influencers, and since we all influence others, we are all leaders. ... -
Influence (Part 1)
Posted Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 1:01 PMIn today’s world, it's not a question of are you being influenced, but rather by whom are you being influenced. We are bombarded by information every day, and that information has only one goal: to influence. With social media in our pockets and numerous media outlets to watch and listen to, being influenced is a part of life. ... -
Are You Open To Feedback?
Posted Tuesday, July 14, 2020, at 2:05 PMOne of the hardest things to do is sit through a meeting listening to ideas or thoughts that you don't agree with. It's even harder when the feedback is directed at you. When we are criticized, we have the tendency to build up walls, cross our arms, become angry, or choose to shut people down. ... -
It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It
Posted Friday, June 19, 2020, at 9:00 AMSpeech is one of the most interesting and most powerful aspects of humanity. Even more so, speech can influence, persuade, inform, discourage, encourage, and much more. But most of all, speech is less about what you say, and more about how you say it. ... -
Promoting Safe Space as a Leader
Posted Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at 9:39 AMWAIT! Don’t quit reading just because you read “safe space”. It is critical that leadership creates an environment where everyone feels welcome to share their thoughts, opinions, and ideas without fear. How many of you have sat in a meeting with an idea you wanted to share, but were too afraid to share it due to the fear of being ridiculed, judged, or given a negative response? The expectations of a meeting should be set by the leader, and the leader should set the expectation that all ideas are welcome, all opinions will be heard, and everyone has something to offer. ... -
Who Are Your Heroes?
Posted Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 3:00 PMGrowing up, we look up to mythical and make believe characters. We imagine ourselves as Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, and if you were like me, Rambo; who doesn't like running around shooting guns, bow and arrows, and taking out bad guys. As children, our heroes represent what we wish we could do or be, and they play on our imagination. ... -
The Keys To Success In Leadership
Posted Thursday, May 21, 2020, at 3:54 PMWe live in a world where hurry is encouraged, timelines must be met, and the busyness of life determines our overall success. It seems that the busier we are, the more successful we appear to be. I find this to be detrimental to strong, effective leadership. ... -
Listening and Leadership
Posted Wednesday, May 13, 2020, at 4:30 PMHow many of you have walked into your boss’s office to have a conversation and left wondering if your boss even listened to a word you said? People know when they have been listened to. There is a significant difference between listening and hearing. Most people in conversations hear what the other is saying, but they may not be listening to what is being said. A perfect example of this is lyrics and music... -
The Key Element of Leadership
Posted Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at 5:05 PM“Ladies and Gentlemen, I have called this meeting to share something important with you. I made a mistake as a leader, and I want to apologize. I humbly ask that you would forgive me for not focusing on what’s most important in this organization. I want to be better, and ask that you would help me become a better leader for this team.” Have you ever sat through a meeting like this? How would you feel if you were an employee of a company whose leadership responded to mistakes like this?... -
The Power Of Perspectives In Leadership
Posted Tuesday, April 28, 2020, at 4:46 PM1Earnest Hemingway once said, “When people talk, listen completely.” This must be one of the cornerstones to leadership. Leaders who listen to those they lead will grow strong, successful organizations and businesses. There is great power in encouraging and listening to multiple perspectives as a leader. ... -
Leadership Is A Way of Life
Posted Thursday, April 16, 2020, at 1:58 PMJohn F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” I truly believe this should be the foundation for all leadership. I believe this should quickly be followed up with, “Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. ... -
A Letter To My Students
Posted Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at 12:22 PM2Dear Distant Family, I miss you all so very much. My heart hurts knowing I might not see you by the end of the year. I miss your voice, your smiles, your laughter, and your interactions with each other. I miss your time, your questions, and the look in your eye when you finally understand something you have been working hard to get. ... -
These Unprecedented Times
Posted Thursday, March 26, 2020, at 4:25 PM“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.” This is a famous line from the classic story A Tale of Two Cities. During this time of uncertainty, fear, and wonder I am sure this line holds true. The world as we know it has “shut down”, and there is no certainty as to when it will “reopen.” For many, this is a scary and overwhelming time. ... -
What’s Missing?
Posted Sunday, February 16, 2020, at 3:38 PMThere is a song by the rock band P.O.D titled Youth of The Nation. The song was written in 2001 and depicts three different adolescent tragedies. The first chorus goes like this:... -
What’s Important Here?
Posted Monday, February 10, 2020, at 6:09 PMI watched as her mother screamed at her brothers in Walmart. She remained in the back of the group, head down, and too ashamed to look up. She was too scared to make a move, or say anything, in fear of being the next victim of a public tongue lashing. ... -
The Classroom Is Not Your Stage!
Posted Sunday, December 22, 2019, at 2:14 PMToo many times I have read, heard, or seen someone accusing a teacher, or teachers, of “indoctrinating” students. This frustrates me to no end. First, it frustrates me because I know it happens. Second, it frustrates me because it shouldn’t be happening. The classroom is not a place to support, push, or encourage a specific agenda or ideology. The classroom is not a stage for political advancement, nor is it a place to push one’s ideology of what is right or wrong... -
How do you define success in education?
Posted Thursday, December 12, 2019, at 7:07 AMI have sat and pondered this question for many years. I grew up thinking the same way most of you probably did, that success in education is defined by your grades. It has taken me many years, many classes, and a lot of research to say, “Grades do NOT define one’s success in education.” In fact, one of my earlier blogs spoke to the meaning of grades and how they mean very little unless students understand why they were given the grade they received. ... -
Why Are School Districts Always Asking For Levies and Bonds?
Posted Sunday, October 27, 2019, at 11:19 AM1According to the Education Week Research Center, Idaho spends $8,677 per pupil, which is nearly $4,000 less than the national average. To help put this into perspective, Montana spends $14,299 per pupil, and Wyoming spends $18,090 per pupil. As you can see, Idaho is lacking major funding within the public school spectrum. ...
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