Quick question:

When was the last time you worked on your leadership presence instead of your leadership plan?

Most principals spend 100% of their time on WHAT to do.

But research shows that 93% of meaning comes from HOW you say it.

Which means ...

You're optimizing the wrong 7%.

This week's podcast guest, Chad Dumas, breaks down exactly how to fix this.

His specialty? Helping leaders focus on the WHO (their internal assumptions, mindsets, and presence) before the WHAT (tactics and strategies).

The result?

Leaders who don't just command rooms — they transform them.

  • Through the power of the pause

  • Through conflict that actually builds trust

  • Through nonverbals that make people feel seen

  • Through assumptions that draw out the best in others

One insight that floored me:

When you pause before speaking, listeners subconsciously attribute higher credibility to what you're about to say.

When you pause after speaking, it helps their brain remember it.

It's not magic. It's neuroscience.

If you want to 10x your leadership impact without adding one more thing to your to-do list, then listen to this week's episode with Chad Dumas.

It might be the most important 40 minutes you invest in yourself all year.

Hope isn't a strategy. But intentional presence? That changes everything.

Keep Making a Ruckus,

Danny

TODAY’S RUCKUSCAST IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IXL — Over 1 million teachers rely on IXL because it is empowering, it helps them make better decisions with reliable data, and it adapts instruction based on student performance. Learn more here.

ODP Business Solutions® — Looking to create the kind of campus experience students never forget? ODP Business Solutions® transforms ordinary spaces into extraordinary learning environments. Learn more here.

PlayPiper — Too often, kids who love gaming don’t see themselves as scientists or engineers - but what if play could open that door? Get students excited for STEM with hands-on kits and engaging curriculum. Learn more here.

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