The Power Of One Minute

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DO SCHOOL DIFFERENT

The Leadership Legacy of One Lost Minute

Most leaders think culture is shaped in the big events:

• a back-to-school keynote

• a staff retreat

• a new initiative rollout.

But in reality, culture lives and dies in the tiny moments, the one-minute interactions that either build trust or break it.

The One-Minute Mistake

I still remember the day I rushed a decision about student placement.

It seemed like a simple shuffle of three students to a different classroom to solve a classroom balance issue.

A quick, efficient decision.

Or so I thought!

It turns out the teacher affected by that decision felt blindsided.

I had rushed the consultation and any explanation of my thinking.

I ignored the impact on her and her input.

In one rushed conversation, I accidentally withdrew months of trust I had been building.

That moment cost me cultural capital I didn’t need to waste.

What stung the most was this damage wasn’t the result of a toxic meeting, a huge blow-up, or a failed initiative.

Sixty seconds of careless leadership.

The Power of Moments

Our Mastermind community previously explored The Power of Moments by Chip and Dan Heath. One insight keeps surfacing …

Culture isn't built on grand gestures — it's forged in small, defining moments.

Every interaction is a transfer of energy:

• A smile in the hallway = deposit

• A thoughtful question about someone's weekend = deposit

• A rushed decision without consultation = withdrawal

• Dismissing a concern because you're "too busy" = withdrawal

Think of trust like a bank account.

You spend months making small deposits through encouragement, listening, and genuine care.

But one careless withdrawal can erase weeks of progress.

That's why leaders can't afford to sleepwalk through the small stuff.

The little moments are the big moments.

How to Lead the One-Minute Moments

Here's how Ruckus Makers use their minutes wisely:

1. Pause Before You Decide. Ask yourself: Who will this decision touch, and how can I bring them into the process? Even a 30-second heads-up prevents an accidental withdrawal.

2. Narrate Your Thinking. People don't just want the what, they crave the why. Explaining your reasoning, even briefly, shows respect and builds understanding.

3. Choose Presence Over Speed. Efficiency without empathy is expensive. Sometimes slowing down for thirty seconds is the fastest way to build lasting trust.

The Storytelling Connection

The more you become intentional about these moments, the more your leadership becomes a story others tell.

When teachers share examples of your thoughtful leadership in the parking lot or at dinner tables, that's culture spreading organically.

Stories are how culture multiplies and how great leaders extend their influence beyond their physical presence.

And this Oct 9, we are doing something totally brand new …

We are offering a 6-week storytelling program called “The Influence Engine” for Ruckus Makers who want to leverage the art and science of storytelling on their campus.

If you’d like more info, click REPLY, type STORY in the body of the email, and hit SEND. We will follow up within 24 hours with the program details.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Notice the Small Moments.

Every hallway hello. Every quick decision. Every brief check-in.

Each is a transfer of energy, either building your legacy or eroding it.

Influential leadership is in the tiny, intentional actions that shape trust, culture, and influence every day.

This week’s challenge: Pause for one minute before your next decision and ask: Who does this touch, and how can I include them?

SUNDAY VIBES