Everyone is using video on their websites. and social media platforms. The best way to use video on your website or social media is to upload your video directly and not use a third party host. If you don't your asking for trouble.  However, many student organizations and schools groups don't have the ability or access to do so. Thus, we post directly to the most popular platforms and then share those videos. But this gives them control over additional content. Very often this content is … [Read more...]

" Mr. Grooms I am on page 67 of your book "B.A.S.I.C the Student Leadership Field Manual". From reading this book I feel as if you are having a personal conversation with me on how I can improve on my leadership and be more effective. My favorite part this far is Attitude. When you talk about how there will always be someone who complains, you're right, I should not let them control my attitude. Its such a no brainier, yet its hard because its an emotional decision. I am enjoying this book and I … [Read more...]

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We mean well when we tell our children and students; “You’re perfect just the way you are,” or we use its companion phase “you can be anything you want.” The problem is these sentimental and idealistic statements are not true. They suggest to our young people that they should be, and are in fact perfect. They also suggest that they can be, or think they actually deserve to be, anything they want. Here’s the problem. It’s not true. I completely understand the sentiment of these clichés, I’m … [Read more...]

Whether you have worked with students for 5 years or 25 years, you have seen a steady decline in the willingness of students to step up and become leaders. Students fear leadership, much like they fear speaking in public. First, let’s make this clear. You have not seen a decline in the ability of students to lead. In fact, I believe the opposite is true. Students who volunteer for leadership positions are more passionate, driven, and goal-oriented than ever before. They truly want to make … [Read more...]

Here are a few lessons I learned from writing a leadership book.  First, it's been said that, "the teacher learns more from preparing a lesson than the students do when the teacher actually teaches the lesson." This was certainly the case for me as I reflect on the lessons I learned from writing a leadership book for students. This all started late this past fall. I had recently spoken at the Georgia HOSA fall Student Leadership Conference, and the Montana 4-H Ambassador Leadership Training. … [Read more...]

I love going to the movies. I especially love movie popcorn. There is this part of me that has to analyze every movie to determine what the “real” message behind the film is. However, for now I just want to focus on movies about leadership. There is a huge focus on leadership today. More and more books on leadership are being written on leadership now than ever. I even have a new book on leadership coming out soon. B.A.S.I.C. The Student Leadership Field Manual.  Virtually, every high school and … [Read more...]

Leadership Never Quits. When they do they fall hard. Leadership never quits. As an organizational leader it is your job to make sure your team, group, or subordinates never sees you quit. It’s the price, you as the leader must endure. Cam Newton as the leader of the Carolina Panthers quit. With all the hype that is the Super Bowl, there is a leadership lesson that I think most people will have missed. Everyone will be talking about Cam’s failure to step up and be the leader after the … [Read more...]

Everybody Follows Somebody. It's a fact of life. Everybody follows somebody. We are all followers, but I believe that we are also all leaders. We each have a personal and professional call to leadership. Everyone will find yourself leading others. You'll be leading your family, friends, peer group or your "tribe." You will be leading others in your community, organizations, at work and in your career as you progress towards success. You will be leading others. Leaders and followers are … [Read more...]

It's OK to be crappy. It's not OK to fail. Wait, hear me out. I'm not against learning from failure. Much has been said about our ability to learn from failure. But I think failure has been overated lately, and educators often receive heavy criticism for not allowing students to fail at stuff. We've all heard the quotes that are supposed to make us feel better about failure. "You learn more from your failures than your successes." "Better to have failed than not have tried." "Success is … [Read more...]