What if the problem isn’t your content… it’s your influence?In today’s episode, Scott, Daniel, and Sam unpack one of the biggest shifts happening in Learning and Development right now: the move from content creator to strategic influencer.Because let’s be honest—most L&D teams are busy. Busy building decks. Busy editing videos. Busy launching courses. But busy doesn’t always mean impactful. And content alone doesn’t earn you a seat at the table.We dive into what actually drives impact: aligning with business KPIs, building executive empathy, earning trust through quick wins, and telling a data story that leadership can’t ignore. We also explore how AI can either trap you in order-taking mode—or free you up to think strategically and lead differently.If you’re ready to shift from being the person who “builds the training” to the partner who shapes performance and drives results, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways1️⃣ Content doesn’t earn influence — results do. Executives don’t measure success by how many courses you launch. They measure it by behavior change, KPI movement, and business outcomes. Tie everything you build to performance.2️⃣ Quick wins build trust — and trust builds a seat at the table. Influence isn’t declared, it’s earned. Deliver small, visible value aligned to leadership priorities and you’ll create momentum for bigger strategic conversations.3️⃣ AI should free you to think, not trap you in production mode. Use AI to save time on execution — then reinvest that time in strategy, executive empathy, and telling a compelling data story.

What are the Presenting and Writing Skills for Executive Communication?Meet Michael deLisser!Michael returns to our show to explore a truth many professionals overlook:Your leadership potential rises or falls on your ability to communicate clearly.Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction02:15 – Why communication determines leadership success06:40 – The connection between writing and clarity of thinking12:10 – Structuring powerful presentations18:45 – Overcoming nervousness when speaking24:30 – Executive presence and influence31:20 – AI and communication: tool or threat?36:50 – Daily habits to sharpen speaking and writing skills41:00 – Final leadership insightsKey Points:- professional writing, emailing and reporting strategies- presentation skills for career growth- how to structure your ideas clearly- delivering your message with confidence- tailor-making your presentation to your audience- Build credibility• Establish authority• Inspire trust- how writing is leadership in action- is AI working against you when writing?- how your writing affects your executive presence...and so much more!Additional Resources:"Leadership Accelerators: High-Impact Communication Skills That Strengthen Relationships and Drive Results" by Michael deLisser on AmazonConnect with Michael:Website: https://www.delisserconsulting.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-delisser-62b4297/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deLisserLeadershipConsultingListen to the Podcast, subscribe, leave a rating and a review:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/presentation-and-writing-skills-w-michael-delisser/id1614151066?i=1000751216680Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MUk9hpYZgGRmUDJCr4vG2?si=kAFGzzXEQCKxKND6MWYLwwhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5MUk9hpYZgGRmUDJCr4vG2YouTube: https://youtu.be/SF9iYPWyYvQ

Is discipline running your day more than instruction is? In this episode, you’ll learn how to spot the discipline habits that quietly drain your time, energy, and confidence, and what to do instead so you can lead with more calm and consistency.How to stop treating every discipline call like an emergencyWhat to do when emotions, pressure, or fatigue are driving your consequencesHow to set boundaries so you are not owning problems that belong in the classroomThe Tier 1 clarity that reduces repeat behaviors and restores trust with staffCheck out The Principal's Discipline Blueprint and The Tier 1 Behavior Blueprint.

In this episode, Erin Bailey sits down with literacy expert Lori Oczkus to explore reciprocal teaching and the "Fab Four" comprehension strategies. Lori shares her journey from classroom teacher to literacy coach, explaining how she transformed the research-based reciprocal teaching method into an engaging, accessible approach for students of all ages. The Fab Four—predicting, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing—work together like the Beatles, each powerful on their own but transformative when combined. Lori emphasizes the importance of gradual release, modeling, and student talk in making these strategies stick, while demonstrating how teachers can implement reciprocal teaching with any text or curriculum they're already using.The conversation highlights the impressive research behind reciprocal teaching, including its ranking as #9 in John Hattie's meta-analysis of effective teaching strategies and its ability to produce nearly two years of growth in a single year. Lori shares real-world success stories, from Australian schools climbing from 14th to 2nd place in literacy rankings to Berkeley intervention programs achieving two-year gains in just three months. Throughout the discussion, Lori and Erin explore how choice and metacognition play crucial roles in student engagement, how reciprocal teaching fits within the science of reading framework, and why these comprehension strategies strengthen both reading and writing skills—ultimately giving students the skill, will, and thrill of reading.About Lori Oczkus:Lori Oczkus is a literacy coach, author, and popular speaker across the United States. Tens of thousands of teachers have attended her motivating, fast paced workshops and read her practical, research-based professional books. Lori has extensive experience as a bilingual elementary teacher, intervention specialist working with struggling readers, and staff developer and literacy coach. She works with students in classrooms and knows the challenges that teachers face in teaching students to read!Lori's best selling books on comprehension and literacy have been featured in the Reading Teacher journal. The third edition of Reciprocal Teaching at Work: Strategies for Improving Reading Comprehension foreword by John Hattie (ASCD, 2018 book and video) features 40 new lessons and is endorsed by many noted reading experts including Donalyn Miller, Tim Rasinski, Doug Fisher, and Regie Routman. Lori has been inducted into the California Reading Hall of Fame for her many contributions to literacy in California and internationally.

 Every great nurse manager started exactly where you are: feeling like a total fraud. In this episode, we dive into the "New Manager Feeling" and why Imposter Syndrome is a sign of your potential, not your incompetence. We explore the neuroscience of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex and how your brain's "error-detection" system can hijack your confidence. Learn how to use Intellectual Humility to bridge the gap between being a peer and being a leader. Discover how the Navigate Power helps you stay anchored in your unit’s mission while you master the learning curve of leadership.