ThinkingAhead Executive Search’s Post

One week ago today ... I was in sunny Scottsdale, Arizona, soaking up the sun and the privilege of presenting “Casting Calls and Fishbowls: Designing Trainings for Partners Delivering Evaluations” at PDI alongside the powerhouse "Dream Team" (at least as we called ourselves!) - Chelsey Parrott-Sheffer, Emily Denmark, and Kori S. Carew,. 💥 This wasn’t your typical session. We flipped the script on partner feedback training, diving into Saul Ewing LLP's incredible live, interactive fishbowl demonstrations that supercharge feedback skills, tackle bias, and navigate challenging conversations - all in real time. The room? So engaged! But this went beyond performance reviews. We connected the dots between feedback, well-being, inclusion, belonging, and the very culture of our organizations. Because great feedback isn’t just about what you say - it’s about the impact you create. 🌟 The highlight? Watching legal pros in the room light up with "aha!" moments, leaving with actionable ideas to transform their firms’ evaluation processes. Oh, and the Scottsdale sunshine? Chef’s kiss. ☀️ Especially now that I'm back home and Minnesota is a frosty 3 degrees! 🥶 To my incredible friends, colleagues, and clients at PDI: seeing you IRL, sharing hugs, high-fives, and belly laughs, and swapping ideas is everything. ❤️ You fuel my soul. (And I'm not even going to try to list everyone I loved seeing - there are too many, and I'm terrified I'll miss someone! You know who you are, and I treasure the time we got to spend together!) Here’s to more innovation, connection, and impact in 2025! #ProfessionalDevelopment #LegalProfession #Feedback #LawyerWellbeing

When building member recognition programs Resist the urge to use a one-size-fits-all approach Some members love chatting, While others prefer creating content.(etc) Understand each member's values, and then create a recognition program that feels meaningful and personal. #communitymanagement #communitymoderation

Your opinion matters! SCAN HERE to leave a review and tell us about your time at Bellhaven Center.📝✨ Your feedback guides us in providing top-notch care and services. #ReviewUs #ShareYourExperience #WeValueYourFeedback #LeaveAReview

A little Friday humor… 🏖️🫣 … just set my OOO, printing the last handouts and notes for presentations, packed last night … Flight at 7 AM tomorrow ✈️… cannot wait to see SPARC, Summer Programs and Auxiliary Revenue Collaborative friends in Scottsdale 🌄🌵🏜️! Any travel rituals you have? Any reactions to my picture? 🤣 Have a great weekend and safe travels for all heading to the conference or other adventures! #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #AuxiliaryPrograms #SummerPrograms

Checking in -- how are your Teacher Appreciation Week plans going? Every year, I love this opportunity to boost staff culture as we round the corner to the end of the school year. It doesn't have to be complex or expensive to be effective, either -- there's still time to make a meaningful plan before day one on Monday. If you need support, check out my guide that I've linked in the comments ⬇️ (and feel free to share your best tips and ideas with others, too!)

🎵 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 🎵 Today, let's focus on the importance of teamwork in building a cohesive and successful band program. Strong teamwork enhances performance and creates a supportive environment for everyone involved. 🤝 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺-𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Plan regular activities to strengthen bonds among band members. Group rehearsals, outdoor games, or trust fall exercises can significantly enhance team spirit. 🎯 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Define clear, common goals for the band. Whether it’s preparing for a competition, a concert, or a community event, having a shared objective helps unite the group. 🎉 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿: Recognize and celebrate the achievements of the band as a whole. This can be done through award ceremonies, social media shout-outs, or small in-class celebrations. 👫 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Promote a culture where students support each other. Pairing less experienced members with seasoned ones can create mentorship opportunities and strengthen team dynamics. 🧘 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀: If you can't get students focused, none of this matters. Invest four minutes every day teaching students how to reset their central nervous systems so they are more focused on your activities. This is THE single most effective strategy to consistently get students centered and in "team" mode at the beginning of every class. Try it for free and see what countless other band directors have discovered! Kids can't build community until they feel safe. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲: 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 To help you get started, I’m offering a free digital copy of the First Four Minute Routine Template. This tool is designed to help you set the tone for each class, making your rehearsals more efficient and engaging, and helping students build relationships more easily. Link to the template is in the comments

🎵 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 🎵 Today, let's focus on the importance of teamwork in building a cohesive and successful band program. Strong teamwork enhances performance and creates a supportive environment for everyone involved. 🤝 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺-𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Plan regular activities to strengthen bonds among band members. Group rehearsals, outdoor games, or trust fall exercises can significantly enhance team spirit. 🎯 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀: Define clear, common goals for the band. Whether it’s preparing for a competition, a concert, or a community event, having a shared objective helps unite the group. 🎉 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿: Recognize and celebrate the achievements of the band as a whole. This can be done through award ceremonies, social media shout-outs, or small in-class celebrations. 👫 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: Promote a culture where students support each other. Pairing less experienced members with seasoned ones can create mentorship opportunities and strengthen team dynamics. 🧘 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀: If you can't get students focused, none of this matters. Invest four minutes every day teaching students how to reset their central nervous systems so they are more focused on your activities. This is THE single most effective strategy to consistently get students centered and in "team" mode at the beginning of every class. Try it for free and see what countless other band directors have discovered! Kids can't build community until they feel safe. 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲: 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 To help you get started, I’m offering a free digital copy of the First Four Minute Routine Template. This tool is designed to help you set the tone for each class, making your rehearsals more efficient and engaging, and helping students build relationships more easily. Link to the template is in the comments

#TeamTalkTuesday with Vanessa! Get to know Vanessa, the innovative President of PawnMaster! Watch this video to find out what her role is at Bravo and what she enjoys most about it.😀

Dive Creative just turned five! To celebrate, we treated ourselves to a makeover. We’re not changing our “art meets science” approach, but you will notice a new look and feel that combines science-inspired features with humanistic flare – because a little quirkiness makes everything a lot better! New looks are great, but what we’re really excited about are the new ways we’re sharing what we know and working with clients. We’re launching a blog, expanding our services and building our first-ever online course (details to come!). If you’re looking to hone your creative direction skills, strengthen your creative team partnerships, be a better creative team leader and find fresh (and effective!) ways to market your service-based business, then let’s jump on in…the water’s fine!

In honor of tomorrow being May the fourth, we've provided you with three community tasks based around Jedi ideals 🌌 Grab your light saber and get to work on conquering these three quick wins: 1. Jedi always render aid, and you can, too. Get your members' questions answered! 2. Provide support by strengthening your member onboarding program (don't worry, there's a webinar to help you). 3. JEDI has another meaning outside the Star Wars universe: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Up your JEDI efforts with tips from Ashleigh Brookshaw. https://lnkd.in/eRKEW9sb