The Smart Thinking Podcast
Ted Neitzke brings you the ”The Smart Thinking Podcast.” Smart Thinking is for anyone and everyone -- because we are all leaders. Join us weekly for reflective activities and strategies to grow yourself and others. Ted shares his leadership expertise with simple to apply tools.
You will grow in your ability to step into the storm’s life presents with energy and optimism. Just like the buffalo!
Ted Neitzke brings you the ”The Smart Thinking Podcast.” Smart Thinking is for anyone and everyone -- because we are all leaders. Join us weekly for reflective activities and strategies to grow yourself and others. Ted shares his leadership expertise with simple to apply tools.
You will grow in your ability to step into the storm’s life presents with energy and optimism. Just like the buffalo!
Listen on:
Episodes

Sep 10, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
22 min
Driving change and being thoughtful are critical in change management. Change often fails because we are not intentional in investigating why things exist before we change them.
Take a listen and learn away to avoid this mistake.
Describe where you can institute the Chesterton principle
List decisions you’re facing that could apply the principle.
Identify a lesson you’ve learned from breaking the principle.

Sep 4, 2023
Sep 4, 2023
28 min
Being yourself is difficult. Listen as we share a process to speed transitions and support authenticity so that more people are successful. This is a simple process that will accelerate relationships, trust, and collaboration.

Aug 27, 2023
Aug 27, 2023
22 min
Leadership lessons are everywhere - -well that is of course if you're looking. This week join us for a discussion on the power of empathy and the lessons learned from a young adult fiction novel. Empathy is a key driver in supporting the success of others.
Describe how you practice empathy
List your empathy reflective questions
Describe to yourself what it would be like to be YOU today in the eyes of others.
Book: Unteachables by Gordon Korman

Aug 20, 2023
Aug 20, 2023
28 min
Need a framework for focusing on the positives? Take a listen as we explore asset v. deficit thinking and the impact it has on the world around you! Smart Thinkers - -they bet on the strengths of others!
Describe your habit. Do you lean asset based or deficit based?
List those in your life that would benefit from hearing more about their assets.
Describe how you can be a better leader by focusing on your own assets.

Aug 12, 2023
Aug 12, 2023
31 min
It is time for us to create the conditions for success in communications in schools. Flexibility/freedom & protections/permissions.
Listen as we explore two f's and two p's and how to use a tool to set expectations and create empowered and engaged staff!
List the boundaries you can establish for yourself and others
Describe a process you can use to collect your cultures communication needs and expectations
List one communication habit you need to address in yourself…. Like emailing people at 1:00am

Jun 25, 2023
Jun 25, 2023
25 min
What is your process to monitor your life? How are you proactively stopping yourself from burning out?
Take a listen as we discuss the symptoms, signs and solutions for burnout and share a process for you to check yourself!
Describe the behaviors you have when you know you need a reboot
List your processes for reducing stress and being present
Describe a time when you needed a reboot

Jun 18, 2023
Jun 18, 2023
21 min
Here are four books to read and two artists to listen to this summer.
Books:
The School of Life: Confidence
Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More With Less
The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy)
Be Your Future Self Now
Listen:
Ben Folds: What Matters Most
Inhaler: Cuts and Bruises

Jun 11, 2023
Jun 11, 2023
24 min
What is your message to those in transition and graduating? Take a listen as we break down the four areas to focus on to support others to be the best version of themselves and help you.
These are the prompts to add into your graduation cards or notes to those you serve:
Describe what frustrated you this year and how you will avoid that in the future. (Frustrations)
Analyze the opportunities you have this coming year and describe how you will take advantage of them. (Risks)
Identify a regret and explain how you will work to overcome that in the future. (Attack Regrets)
List the people who have gotten you to this point. (Gratitude)

Jun 4, 2023
Jun 4, 2023
22 min
What are the keys to a great relationship?
Simple- give and take as needed, don't keep a scorecard, the playground rule of "do over's" and traditions. Take a listen as we explore those tenants and learn a bit about how to improve your relationships with those you serve and love.
Describe relationships that help you
List the people you can serve better with the 70/30 principle
Develop a code to support others – like “do over”

May 29, 2023
May 29, 2023
23 min
The history of others can help you lead people in new ways. Take a listen as we explore Ted's great-grandfathers history and how a little curiosity goes a long way to remember the leadership, service and impact of others.
List those in your world you need to learn more about.
Describe a story within your DNA that explains more about you and your family.
List people you need to share your story with.


