Imperfect Leaders, Powerful Lessons
Episode 395 of the Accelerate Your Performance podcast, hosted by Studer Education, titled "Imperfect Leaders, Powerful Lessons" was published on June 30, 2025 and runs 22 minutes.
June 30, 2025 ·22m · Accelerate Your Performance
Summary
It's one thing to acknowledge outcomes that miss the mark; it's quite another to intentionally transform them into rich learning opportunities. Listen as Dr. Peter Stiepleman, leadership coach and retired superintendent , shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher the foundational principle of his podcast: the importance of reflective practice. This commitment to reflection is central to his podcast, An Imperfect Leader, where Peter interviews leaders weekly about decisions they made and what they l...
Episode Description
It's one thing to acknowledge outcomes that miss the mark; it's quite another to intentionally transform them into rich learning opportunities. Listen as Dr. Peter Stiepleman, leadership coach and retired superintendent , shares with Dr. Janet Pilcher the foundational principle of his podcast: the importance of reflective practice.
This commitment to reflection is central to his podcast, An Imperfect Leader, where Peter interviews leaders weekly about decisions they made and what they learned from them. He and Janet then close with a discussion on the evolving landscape of education, including the integration of AI and the enduring value of connection and empathy in leadership.
This episode addresses questions such as:
- How do we prepare for the future of education? What challenges might be ahead, and how can we plan for them?
- When decision-making, what does it mean to “engage those closest to the work,” and why is it necessary?
- How can after-action reviews equip leaders to improve decision-making and create a culture of continuous learning?
More about Dr. Peter Stiepleman: Visit his website to purchase his books and stream his podcast.
Destination High Performance K12 Leadership Conference: Go here to learn more and register.
Recommended Resources: Transform District Culture with People-First Strategies, Empower Your Team: Using Plus/Delta as a Template for Making Improvement Decisions
Read and study: Each episode of the podcast aligns with the tactics and principles of our host's book, Hardwiring Excellence in Education: The Nine Principles Framework. In conjunction with that book, you can join the mission to create great places to work, learn, and succeed by leading a book study with your leadership team for Hardwiring Excellence in Education. Our free, on-demand book study offers additional tools and resources created by Dr. Pilcher and our Studer Education leader coaches. Each chapter in the study also features exclusive interviews with influential education leaders sharing how they’re making a difference in their districts and beyond.
Order book here.
Sign up for book study here.
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