Moving from Slogans to Culture with Tom Walls

From The Assistant Principal Podcast · 44:13

Show by Frederick Buskey

Moving from Slogans to Culture with Tom WallsPower Quotes:Culture is a system, not a sloganCulture is built by the small thingsShow NotesDefining CultureAlignment Model: Frederick defines culture as a reflection of an organization's alignment across six dimensions: people, purpose, structures, and resources 56.Systemic View: Tom views culture as a process rather than an announcement; without a deliberate system, an organization simply inherits whatever culture the existing system creates on its own 7.The "Slogan" Trap: Both agreed that creating a "cool slogan" or poster without a supporting system is ineffective and does not address underlying culture problems 1.The Four-Step Culture ProcessTom outlined a systematic approach to initiating culture change 89:Identify the Pain Point: Determine the core issue (e.g., discipline, tardiness, or lack of buy-in) that needs to change 8.Market It: Create a memorable slogan or visual to communicate the goal 9.Create a Systematic Plan: Define the specific, observable actions required to solve the problem 9.Habit Stack: Embed these actions into existing daily routines (e.g., greeting faculty with a handshake) so they do not become additional burdens on a busy schedule 910.Practical Applications and InsightsMicro-Inclusions: Small, consistent gestures—such as handshakes—establish trust, making difficult conversations easier to navigate without damaging relationships 23.Belonging vs. Symptoms: Addressing symptoms like poor attendance requires a culture of belonging and connection rather than a plan focused solely on attendance metrics 11.The Danger of Over-Estimation: Tom shared a lesson from coaching in Colombia, noting that he initially targeted a technical pain point (turnovers) when he should have started with a more basic culture of individual accountability and team impact 1213.Big TakeawaysIntentionally building trust and connection is the foundation of cultureIt’s the small, daily things we doGuest BioTom Walls is an American educator, coach, writer, and culture-building consultant with more than three decades of experience in education and athletics. His work has included teaching, school leadership, and coaching in the United States, Canada, Ireland, South Korea, and Colombia. Alongside his wife, Shandy, Tom has helped found three American football organizations and has spent much of his career studying how strong cultures are intentionally built and sustained. Today, his work focuses on helping educators, coaches, and organizational leaders move beyond slogans and isolated initiatives to create practical systems that build connection, trust, accountability, and belonging.Guest Links:Website: https://thomasbwalls.com Walls on Culture (Substack): https://thomaswalls.substack.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tom-wallsleadershipSpecial thanks to the amazing Ranford Almond for the great music on the show. Please support Ranford and the show by checking out his music!Ranford’s homepage: https://ranfordalmond.comRanford’s music on streaming services: https://streamlink.to/ranfordalmond-oldsoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ranfordalmond/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ranfordalmond/Closing PointsLeadership is a journey and thank you for choosing to walk some of this magical path with me.You can find links to all sorts of stuff in the show notes, including my website https://www.frederickbuskey.com/I love hearing from you. If you have comments or questions, or are interested in having me speak at your school or conference, email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.If you are tired of spending time putting out fires and would rather invest time supporting and growing teachers, consider reading my book, A School Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose. The book is available on Amazon. You can find links to it, as well as free book study materials on my website at https://www.frederickbuskey.com/reclaiming-purpose.html Please remember to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.Remember the secret to good leadership:Be intentional in choosing how you will show up for othersBe fully presentAsk reflective questionsAnd then just listenDon’t overcomplicate it, the value is in the listening.Have a great rest of the week!Cheers!Frederick’s Links:Email: [email protected]: https://www.frederickbuskey.com/ LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/strategicleadershipconsulting Daily Email subscribe: https://adept-experimenter-3588.ck.page/fdf37cbf3a The Strategic Leader’s Guide to Reclaiming Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWRS2F6N?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520Sponsor Messages and LinksKaleidoscope AdventuresI’d like to thank Kaleidoscope Adventures for sponsoring today’s show. Lots of companies can help you organize class trips, but Kaleidoscope helps you organize adventures – because isn’t that what student trips should be? Kaleidscope is a full-service tour company offering a range of adventure opportunities and they excel…

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