Handling the Stress

of Spending Cuts

Stressors are always lurking nearby in the world of education, but this year's budget cuts bring more potential for high stress than ever. The bigger the challenge is, the bolder the solution must be, so here are our 2011 Success Strategies for Helping Your Staff Handle Stress: 

1. Help each person Get the Picture (High-Way 1) of getting through this challenge. Whether it's helping a riffed staff member imagine that this will lead to an even better position, or helping the school see that music can be incorporated in every classroom and not just music class, spend time in faculty meetings dreaming of better days. Remind them it's what winning athletes do before a big game! 

2. Take a Risk (High-Way 2) and start each school day with a feel-good ritual.

One 8 to Great school starts each day's announcement with a silly saying or question. Another starts it with a student or staff member sharing a sincere gratitude. A third invites a student or staff member to sing a phrase of an uplifting song to start each day, i.e. "Oh what a beautiful morning..." Any of these will make announcements something everyone looks forward to. 

3. Allow Emotion (High-Way 4) without Evaluation. Let staff members know that emotional expression is healthy. From tears and fears to angergy, it is much better to express than supress when it comes to strong emotions. Encourage them to support each other as emotions come out, and avoid the phrases and fear of being "too emotional" or "losing it." When it comes to feelings, emotional expression is closer to "finding it."

4. Celebrate and Thank (High-Way 7) those in Transition. If lay-offs are necessary, consider creating a huge sign-in poster where staff can write messages of encouragement to each individual. Host a party where transitioning staff are roasted and toasted. Have an assembly where they get to say "good-bye for now" to their school community. Bring kleenex.

5. Suggest (or give as gifts) uplifting videos, books, youtubes, etc.  Use the awesome resource of the media with uplifting movies such as: 

- Pursuit of Happyness

- Invictus

- Sea Biscuit

- Invincible

(write us for our long list)

or motivational books such as:

- Chicken Soup for the Soul

- 8 to Great

- Taking Care of Me 

- Fully Armed 

(again, write us for our full list)    

or Youtube sites such as:

   TED videos. Some of my favorites for motivation are:

      -  Chip Conley: Measuring What Makes Life Worthwhile

      -  Neil Pasricha: The 3 A's of Awesome

      -  Randy Pausch: Last Lecture

Or Steve Jobs' commencement address, "How to Live Before You Die"   

6. Find every opportunity to Lighten Up.

"It can't be the end of the world. It's already tomorrow in Australia." - Charles Schulz

Whether it's bringing in a comedian who volunteers his/her services, or watching a clip of Will Ferrell's commencement address to Harvard (priceless!), laughter heals.  Improv competition anyone?

Finally, ask for help. You do so much for students. Let people know how they can give back to you. That includes us. If there's anything we here at 8 to Great can do to support you, let us know!

In grateful admiration,

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"I have found that going through the 8 to Great training energizes and motivates my staff members like nothing else." Principal Jeff Heimes of Battle Creek has now hosted two training institutes. His goal is to train 80% of his staff over a 5-year period. After their first training, one teacher told him, "I learned more about teaching in the two-day 8 to Great training than I did in four years of college."

To join Jeff and the 900+ trainers around the U.S., check for an 8 to Great training near you:

Upcoming 8 to Great Trainings:

April 30 - May 1  (Sat-Sun)   Overland Park KS, near Kansas City  

June 15 - 16   (Wed-Thurs)  Inverness FL, between Tampa and Orlando

June 21 - 22   (Tues-Wed) Omaha NE

June 29 - 30   (Wed-Thurs)  Overland Park KS

July 21-22  (Thurs-Fri)  Omaha NE

Need a training closer to your location? Call us to see how you can host your own training when you train 4 or more staff! 800-419-0444. To register, go to 8 to Great Training. 

You Asked for 8 to Great Videos and Youtubes and You Got Them! 

    As we continue to create the  complete video series of 8 to Great, we have been asked by YOU, our trainers, to offer short YouTube clips on the high-points of each High-Way.

    Now you can go to www.youtube.com and type "8toGreat" in the search bar (no spaces). Two videos each have been created for The Power Pyramid, High-Way 1 and High-Way 2, with more coming each week. Sign in to be a "subscriber" to the 8 to Great series and you'll get them all! 

Meanwhile, if you'd like a short message from MK 5 days a week, you can follow her on www.twitter.com! It just takes 2 minutes to sign up for an account. Then you can follow her: @8togreat (again, no spaces). 

Not a Tweeter? You can also get her daily tweets by logging onto the bottom of the website home page:www.8togreat.com. Students love getting her daily tweets as well!

The Most Important Question to Ask Every At-Risk Student...

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Do you have your fall inservice speaker selected yet?

Call us at 800-419-0444 to book MK or any of our 8 to Great Master Trainers.

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What to expect at an 8 to Great Certification Training:

"The training was inspiring.  I enjoyed meeting the remarkable educators who attended.  I'd recommend this training to parents and teachers anywhere."

- Airick West,

KCMO School Board President  

Trainings begin at 8:00 a.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m. each day. Those who attend receive 40 activities for use in the classroom or at work, meet phenomenal people, and upon completion, will be certified to train this program anywhere in the world! Call now to reserve your spots: 402-553-0555 or click here for a registration form.