I. Introduction & Framing (10 minutes)
Content & Engagement:
Welcome participants, introduce presenters, and set session purposes.
Share personal leadership story: lost inspiration during pandemic, lessons learned, and rediscovering inspiration.
Introduce the concept of relationship-centered, inspirational leadership.
Audience Engagement & Activities:
Self-reflection: Participants rate their current practices around inspiring others using green/yellow/red post-it notes.
Turn-and-talk: Reflect on a leader who inspired them and what made the difference.
Process:
Peer-to-peer discussion.
Post-it note self-assessment activity.
II. Why Inspiration Matters (5 minutes)
Content & Engagement:
Present research on leadership and hope (Gallup “Global Leadership Report”).
Explain connection: hope → trust → innovation → excellence.
Audience Engagement & Activities:
Q&A prompts to link research to participants’ experiences.
Process:
Facilitated discussion with guided questions.
III. Framework: Autonomy, Mastery, Purpose (25 minutes)
1. Autonomy – Create a Culture of Independence (8 minutes)
Content: Definition, importance, and research on autonomy.
Example: Hiring good people and elevating their strengths, avoiding micromanagement.
Activity: Participants identify one person in their school/district to elevate.
Engagement & Process:
Individual reflection and written response.
Peer sharing with Q Ball.
2. Mastery – Let Them Become Experts (8 minutes)
Content: Research on mastery and motivation; benefits of developing expertise.
Activity: Four-square reflection (Who am I? What am I passionate about? Strengths? Growth areas?).
Engagement & Process:
Turn-and-talk to discuss strengths and opportunities in their organization.
Activity: Four square reflection
Guidance on adapting activity for staff development.
3. Purpose – Supporting Them in Finding Their ‘Why’ (9 minutes)
Content: Linking purpose to action, results, innovation, and motivation.
Activity: Participants complete “I do what I do because…” on sticky notes using Padlet.
Engagement & Process:
Device-based activity (Padlet or similar).
Pair-share to discuss purpose statements.
IV. 8 Ways to Build a High-Performing Environment (10 minutes)
Content:
Present framework: courage, clarity, celebration, meaning, kindness, feedback, resources, and conflict management.
Audience Engagement & Activities:
Self-assessment: Participants walk around room placing post-its on their top three strengths.
Innovation Idea Swap: Share examples of applying one strategy to empower others using the Q Ball.
Process:
Peer-to-peer sharing, movement-based activity, small-group discussion.
V. Commitments & Reflection (5 minutes)
Content:
Encourage participants to commit to one actionable strategy to inspire or elevate someone in their environment.
Audience Engagement & Activities:
Write commitment on sticky note or in journal.
Optional pair-share for accountability.
Process:
Reflection and written commitment to apply learning.
Session Summary:
Content:
Key takeaways: authentic leadership fosters hope, trust, and innovation.
Autonomy, mastery, and purpose as guiding principles.
Practical strategies to elevate others, build trust, and create thriving learning environments.
Engagement & Process:
Participants leave with actionable strategies, reflections, and collaborative insights.
Understand authentic leadership practices that foster hope, trust, and motivation in educational settings.
Apply autonomy, mastery, and purpose to create environments where educators and students thrive.
Reflect on personal strengths and leadership style to identify areas for growth and impact.
Develop practical strategies to elevate colleagues, build teacher leadership, and empower teams.
Commit to actionable steps that cultivate joyful, collaborative, and innovative learning communities.
Bergin, D. A. (1995). Effects of a mastery versus competitive motivation situation on learning. The Journal of Educational Research, 88(5), 303–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.1995.9943466
Bishop, C., & Holloway, J. (2025). Make your school irresistible: The secret to attracting and retaining great teachers. ASCD.
Craig, N., & Snook, S. A. (2014, May 1). From purpose to impact. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2014/05/from-purpose-to-impact
Hargreaves, A., Boyle, A., & Harris, A. (2015). Uplifting leadership: How organizations, teams, and communities raise performance. Jossey-Bass.
Pink, D. H. (2018). Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. Canongate Books.
Robbins, M., & Gerbitz, D. (2025). Leadership with Let Them. In The Let Them Theory: A life-changing tool that millions of people can't stop talking about. Hay House.
Rodman, A. (2019). Personalized professional learning: A job-embedded pathway for elevating teacher voice. ASCD.
Shuck, B. (2021, January 14). Building inspiration into your work and life. BI WORLDWIDE. https://www.biworldwide.com/research-materials/blog/building-inspiration-in-your-work-and-life/
Sinek, S. (2014). How great leaders inspire action [TED Talk]. TED. Retrieved April 25, 2023, from https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
Sinek, S., Start, D., & Mead, P. (2017). Find your why: A practical guide for discovering purpose for you and your team. Portfolio/Penguin.
| Related exhibitors: | Qball |
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