📣 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 <ul> <li>What's broken: Leaders jump straight to tactics — constantly asking, "What do I do?"</li> <li>The shift: Begin with who you are as a person and a leader. Your mindset, humility, and assumptions shape every result that follows.</li> <li>Impact: When leaders ground their actions in identity, they build trust, clarity, and authentic connection across their schools.</li> </ul> 🧠 Key Insight #2: Leadership Speaks Before You Do <ul> <li>What's broken: Non-verbal cues are ignored — rushed meetings, shallow breathing, and reactive tones quietly erode safety and collaboration.</li> <li>The shift: Master the pause, breathe deeply, and use intentional body language that communicates calm, curiosity, and respect.</li> <li>Impact: The culture shifts from tense to trusting. People start showing up with ideas because they feel seen and safe.</li> </ul> 🧠 Key Insight #3: Conflict Is a Catalyst — Not a Threat <ul> <li>What's broken: Leaders avoid hard conversations, turning tension into silence or resentment.</li> <li>The shift: Reframe conflict as a space for growth. Separate the person from the problem, focus on shared goals, and invite multiple perspectives.</li> <li>Impact: Teams move from defensiveness to collaboration. The best ideas emerge, and relationships deepen through honest dialogue.</li> </ul> 💬 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 <a href= "https://www.notion.so/Stop-Asking-What-Do-I-Do-and-Start-Asking-Who-Am-I-with-Dr-Chad-Dumas-297229bf615380be9579f89848bb1a39?pvs=21"> here</a> 🔗 Follow Dr. Chad Dumas: <a class= "notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover" tabindex="0" href="http://tinyurl.com/ttlhChad" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="0">Website,</a> <a class= "notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmpTkiuZ0AheJt5lGySv4GkZEKeqzyEu4" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="1">YouTube,</a> <a class= "notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover" tabindex="0" href="http://x.com/ChadDumas" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="2">Twitter/X,</a> <a class= "notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.facebook.com/ChadDumasNextLearningSolutions" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="3">Facebook,</a> <a class= "notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover" tabindex="0" href= "https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-dumas-611ba51b5/" rel= "noopener noreferrer" data-token-index="4">LinkedIn</a> 📌 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: <a href= "https://ruckusmakers.news/">ruckusmakers.news</a> 🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: <a href= "https://ruckusmakers.media/">ruckusmakers.media</a> 💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: <a href= "https://ruckusmakers.club/">ruckusmakers.club</a> 🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel to transform your campus: <a href= "https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind">betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind</a> 🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with: ODP Business Solutions® — Transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. 🔍 Learn more: <a href= "http://odpbusiness.com/education">odpbusiness.com/education</a> IXL — Empower teachers with adaptive instruction and data that drive results. 🔍 Learn more: <a href= "http://ixl.com/leaders">ixl.com/leaders</a> Play Piper — Hands-on STEM kits that turn curiosity into engineering confidence. 🔍 Learn more: <a href= "http://playpiper.com/">playpiper.com</a> Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?

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

The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

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