Consisting of 26 short, interactive essays to help leaders reflect on change and commit to action, Leading for Results pulls together theories and ideas drawn from education, leadership, and philosophy. These essays will be perfect for school leaders to use both individually or in groups to help bridge the 'knowing-doing gap.' Focusing on skills that get results, this book will assist educators in developing ways of thinking, speaking, and acting that will help their team members achieve their potential. Sparks incorporates cutting-edge ideas about improving the quality of leadership, teaching, and student learning.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Change Ourselves to Change Organizations About the Author Part I: Transformation Through Clarity and Creation 1. Clarify Your Fundamental Choices, Values, and Purposes 2. Clarify Your Intentions 3. Establish Stretch Goals 4. Create Successful Schools 5. Identify Multiple Ways to Achieve Your Goals 6. Promote Breakthrough Thinking 7. Develop a Theory of Action and Use Storytelling to Communicate It 8. Gain Clarity Through Writing, Speaking, and Reflecting on Action Part II: Transformation Through Interpersonal Influence 9. Tell Your Truth 10. Use Genuine Dialogue 11. Listen to Others in a Deep, Committed Way 12. Initiate Action and Create Results Through Your Requests 13. Make and Keep Promises 14. Replace Questions With Declarative Statements 15. Minimize the Language of Obligation 16. Decrease the Use of Cause-Effect Language 17. Stand Up for Your Point of View Part III: Transformation Through Professional Learning and Doing 18. Design Powerful Professional Learning for All Educators 19. Match Professional Development Goals and Methods With Student Outcomes 20. Bridge the Knowing-Doing Gap 21. Appeal to the Heart as Well as the Head 22. Amplify Positive Deviance in the Schools 23. Shape School Culture to Improve Teaching and Sustain Competent Teachers 24. Install Next Action Thinking 25. Change Habits 26 Sustain the Conversation Index

Author Biography

Dennis Sparks has been executive director of the 10,000-member National Staff Development Council since 1984. He previously was an independent educational consultant and director of the Northwest Staff Development Center. Sparks has been a teacher, counselor, and co-director of an alternative high school. He completed his doctorate in counseling at the University of Michigan in 1976, and has taught at several universities. He speaks frequently throughout North America on topics such as powerful staff development and effective teaching. Sparks has authored "Designing Powerful Professional Development for Teachers and Principals" (NSDC, 2002) and "Conversations that Matter" (NSDC, 2001), a collection of his JSD interviews since 1991. He is co-author with Stephanie Hirsh of "Learning to Lead", "Leading to Learn" (NSDC, 2000) and "A New Vision for Staff Development" (ASCD/NSDC, 1997). He also co-authored, with Joan Richardson, What "is Staff Development Anyway?" (NSDC, 1998). Sparks' column appears each month NSDC's newsletter, "Results". His interviews with leading educational thinkers also appear in NSDC's"Journal of Staff Development". In addition, his articles have appeared in a variety of publications, including "Educational Leadership", "Phi Delta Kappan", "The American School Board Journal", "The Principal", and "The School Administrator". Sparks' interviews and articles are accessible on the NSDC web site at www.nsdc.org/library/authors/sparks.cfm.