<description>&lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;📣 The Ruckus Report&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Quick take:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Most leaders ask the wrong question. They obsess over &lt;em&gt;what&lt;/em&gt; to do next instead of &lt;em&gt;who&lt;/em&gt; they're becoming. In this episode, &lt;strong&gt;Dr. Chad Dumas&lt;/strong&gt; unpacks how self-awareness, non-verbal cues, and intentional presence shape your entire school culture before a single decision is made.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🎓 Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Dr. Chad Dumas&lt;/strong&gt; 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 &lt;em&gt;Let's Put the C in PLC&lt;/em&gt;, &lt;em&gt;An Action Guide to Put the C in PLC&lt;/em&gt;, and &lt;em&gt;The Teacher Team Leader Handbook.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;img src= "attachment:e74c4b84-dc95-45d3-b05c-e5fd896fc8e1:CHAD__(1).jpg" alt="CHAD (1).jpg" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🔨 Breaking Down the Old Rules&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;In this episode, &lt;strong&gt;Danny Bauer and Dr. Chad Dumas&lt;/strong&gt; 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.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🧠 Key Insight #1: Start with &lt;em&gt;Who&lt;/em&gt;, Not &lt;em&gt;What&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What's broken:&lt;/strong&gt; Leaders jump straight to tactics — constantly asking, "What do I do?"&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The shift:&lt;/strong&gt; Begin with &lt;em&gt;who&lt;/em&gt; you are as a person and a leader. Your mindset, humility, and assumptions shape every result that follows.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Impact:&lt;/strong&gt; When leaders ground their actions in identity, they build trust, clarity, and authentic connection across their schools.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🧠 Key Insight #2: Leadership Speaks Before You Do&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What's broken:&lt;/strong&gt; Non-verbal cues are ignored — rushed meetings, shallow breathing, and reactive tones quietly erode safety and collaboration.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The shift:&lt;/strong&gt; Master the pause, breathe deeply, and use intentional body language that communicates calm, curiosity, and respect.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Impact:&lt;/strong&gt; The culture shifts from tense to trusting. People start showing up with ideas because they feel seen and safe.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h3&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🧠 Key Insight #3: Conflict Is a Catalyst — Not a Threat&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt; &lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What's broken:&lt;/strong&gt; Leaders avoid hard conversations, turning tension into silence or resentment.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The shift:&lt;/strong&gt; Reframe conflict as a space for growth. Separate the person from the problem, focus on shared goals, and invite multiple perspectives.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Impact:&lt;/strong&gt; Teams move from defensiveness to collaboration. The best ideas emerge, and relationships deepen through honest dialogue.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;💬 Quotable Ruckus&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;blockquote&gt; &lt;p&gt;"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."&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;— Dr. Chad Dumas&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/blockquote&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;📈 Your Do School Different Challenge&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;Ready to implement these ideas? &lt;strong&gt;Start here:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Tomorrow:&lt;/strong&gt; Before your next meeting, take one deep breath and pause before you speak. Notice how it changes the tone.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This Month:&lt;/strong&gt; Identify one assumption you hold about your staff that might not serve you. Replace it with the belief that they're doing their best.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;This Semester:&lt;/strong&gt; Build time for reflection into your team meetings. Make space for silence, processing, and joy.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🔗 Connect &amp; Continue&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;🎯 Get the full episode transcript &lt;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"&gt; here&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;🔗 Follow Dr. Chad Dumas: &lt;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"&gt;&lt;span class= "link-annotation-unknown-block-id--860399517"&gt;Website,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;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"&gt;&lt;span class= "link-annotation-unknown-block-id-1178000902"&gt;YouTube,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;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"&gt;&lt;span class= "link-annotation-unknown-block-id-1325612624"&gt;Twitter/X,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;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"&gt;&lt;span class= "link-annotation-unknown-block-id-1861560019"&gt;Facebook,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;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"&gt;&lt;span class= "link-annotation-unknown-block-id--110202595"&gt;LinkedIn&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;!-- notionvc: d49b7ff3-22e4-45c0-85b2-87814cc39035 --&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;📌 &lt;strong&gt;Ruckus Makers Don't Just Listen — They Act&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;If education ain't a bit disruptive, then what are your students really learning?&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;This show isn't about doing school &lt;em&gt;better.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;It's about &lt;strong&gt;Doing School Different&lt;/strong&gt; — and joining a growing movement of bold, creative school leaders who reject legacy models and reimagine what's possible.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;🎯 &lt;strong&gt;Here are four ways we can help you on your Do School Different journey:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;📬 &lt;strong&gt;Subscribe to the Free Newsletter&lt;/strong&gt; — Tools, mindset shifts, and strategies that actually work: &lt;a href= "https://ruckusmakers.news/"&gt;ruckusmakers.news&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;🗞 &lt;strong&gt;Read Ruckus Maker Media&lt;/strong&gt; — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: &lt;a href= "https://ruckusmakers.media/"&gt;ruckusmakers.media&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;💥 &lt;strong&gt;Join The Ruckus Maker Club&lt;/strong&gt; — Private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: &lt;a href= "https://ruckusmakers.club/"&gt;ruckusmakers.club&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;🧨 &lt;strong&gt;Apply to the Mastermind&lt;/strong&gt; — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel to transform your campus: &lt;a href= "https://betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind"&gt;betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;h2&gt;&lt;strong&gt;🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h2&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ODP Business Solutions®&lt;/strong&gt; — Transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;🔍 Learn more: &lt;a href= "http://odpbusiness.com/education"&gt;odpbusiness.com/education&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;IXL&lt;/strong&gt; — Empower teachers with adaptive instruction and data that drive results.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;🔍 Learn more: &lt;a href= "http://ixl.com/leaders"&gt;ixl.com/leaders&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Play Piper&lt;/strong&gt; — Hands-on STEM kits that turn curiosity into engineering confidence.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;🔍 Learn more: &lt;a href= "http://playpiper.com/"&gt;playpiper.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

Daniel Bauer

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

NOV 5, 202537 MIN
The Better Leaders Better Schools Podcast with Daniel Bauer

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

NOV 5, 202537 MIN

Description

📣 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
  • What's broken: Leaders jump straight to tactics — constantly asking, "What do I do?"
  • The shift: Begin with who you are as a person and a leader. Your mindset, humility, and assumptions shape every result that follows.
  • Impact: When leaders ground their actions in identity, they build trust, clarity, and authentic connection across their schools.
🧠 Key Insight #2: Leadership Speaks Before You Do
  • What's broken: Non-verbal cues are ignored — rushed meetings, shallow breathing, and reactive tones quietly erode safety and collaboration.
  • The shift: Master the pause, breathe deeply, and use intentional body language that communicates calm, curiosity, and respect.
  • Impact: The culture shifts from tense to trusting. People start showing up with ideas because they feel seen and safe.
🧠 Key Insight #3: Conflict Is a Catalyst — Not a Threat
  • What's broken: Leaders avoid hard conversations, turning tension into silence or resentment.
  • The shift: Reframe conflict as a space for growth. Separate the person from the problem, focus on shared goals, and invite multiple perspectives.
  • Impact: Teams move from defensiveness to collaboration. The best ideas emerge, and relationships deepen through honest dialogue.
💬 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 here

🔗 Follow Dr. Chad Dumas: Website, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, LinkedIn

📌 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: ruckusmakers.news

🗞 Read Ruckus Maker Media — Premium leadership insights, AI prompts, and new books before the bookshelf: ruckusmakers.media

💥 Join The Ruckus Maker Club — Private network + workshops, The Automatic School tools, AI Prompt Library, and more: ruckusmakers.club

🧨 Apply to the Mastermind — Weekly coaching, peer mentorship, and our proven Ruckus Maker Flywheel to transform your campus: betterleadersbetterschools.com/mastermind

🔍 Today's RUCKUScast in Partnership with:

ODP Business Solutions® — Transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments.

🔍 Learn more: odpbusiness.com/education

IXL — Empower teachers with adaptive instruction and data that drive results.

🔍 Learn more: ixl.com/leaders

Play Piper — Hands-on STEM kits that turn curiosity into engineering confidence.

🔍 Learn more: playpiper.com

Twelve Practices LLC © 2025 | If Education Ain't a Bit Disruptive, Then What Are Your Students Learning?