In this episode, Dr. Derek Bub shares some of the less glamorous realities of navigating turbulence and rebuilding leaders after setbacks. Dr. Bub shares his unconventional career journey, starting as a fraud investigator to becoming the superintendent of the West Ada School District, the largest K-12 educational district in Idaho. The conversation delves into the 'dark side' of leadership, which recognizes that often leaders are found and forged in the foundry of a crisis. It isn't pleasant in the moment. Maybe you are stuck cleaning up a mess that had nothing to do with you; or maybe you made a mistake that you are recovering from. But it is these setbacks that are the setups for growing as a leader.

Dr. Derek Bub outlines how to prepare for the inevitable setbacks, navigate them with grace, and then how to restore yourself or colleagues who might feel bruised by the gauntlet. He also highlights how to demonstrate compassion by listening to stakeholders and teammates, even when emotions run high and answers are unclear. And then following up after the fact to reflect and restore confidence, so leaders have the room to grow and learn.

Additional Resources:

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Learn more about West Ada School District

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Key Takeaways:

• Leadership is not confined to titles; it can manifest at all levels.
• Leadership is not always glorious, but the 'setbacks" are "setups" for growth.
• Don't just seek to understand; show others that you understand them, even when there are disparate views.
• Surprises often come from small issues rather than big ones.
• Any change will generate "resistance"; don't avoid it, invite it!