Leading with People with Dr. Zac Bauermaster

What's going on everybody? I hope this finds you striving and thriving and doing absolutely amazing. My name is Brian Martin. I'm a second grade teacher and host of the teaching champions podcast. And today we're joined by Dr. Zach Powermaster. He's an author, a speaker, school administrator. And in this conversation list, as Dr. Bauer master talks about making connections in school lists, as he talks about the importance of prioritizing people, creating a strong school culture, the power of encouragement, and so much more. Now, if you think someone would benefit from listening to this episode, please share. This podcast is all about supporting, encouraging and lifting each other up. And by sharing, you're helping spread some amazing messages by some pretty special guests. And before we get into this episode, I just want to share with you an amazing opportunity. Hello, middle level educators are you looking for a nationwide type of conference at the fraction of the cost? The North Carolina Association for Middle Level Education welcomes you to Charlotte, North Carolina March 24 through the 26th for the 2024 NC Emelie inspire conference. My name is David James the NCM le marketing and conference director and I want to personally invite you to our annual conference. You will not want to miss our keynote and featured speakers that lead a cast of over 100 Middle Level specific teaching and learning presentations. Our featured lineup includes edu experts from across the country, such as principal and leadership expert, Peruzzi Cavalli, Darren peppered with quanta, Nelson, and the guest on this podcast Mr. Principals Zack Bauer, Master, the NCM le inspire conference is for everyone. Go to NCM le.org today to register your team for the 2024 NC Emelie inspire conference. Now let's get in this episode with Dr. Zack Bauer master. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I am super excited. For this episode, we have someone who is so authentic, someone who's so knowledgeable, and just such an amazing person. We have Zach Powermaster with us today, Zach, Welcome to Teaching champions podcast, my friend, Ryan, thanks for having me. Great to be here. I certainly always appreciate your encouragement. I know you're I know you're a huge encourager out there. And I know it's encouragement to me every morning. So it's great to be with you while you're encouraged or just like myself, my friend. So for the people that aren't familiar with who you are, would you mind sharing a little bit about yourself? Yep. So Zach Powermaster, home from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. So about an hour and a half west of Philadelphia. It is an Amish area. So I don't know if anyone's been here, there's Amish. You might have heard of the outlets, sight and sound. Those are some areas around here. But I'm a principal. I'm the proud principal of Providence elementary school. And I really have a unique educational background where I started as a high school teacher ninth grade social studies teacher taught middle school social studies for five years when I got into admin, it was three years at the high school level in a hybrid role also K to 12 online learning administrator and then I went to elementary where I was assistant principal for a year. And then the past almost three years now I've been an elementary principal. So it's been awesome to see K to 12 lens. So that's professionally I'm also an author, and then proud father and proud husband to my wife, Carly and our three beautiful children ages 11 Eight and six. I'm a firm, firm believer and leading family first. Yes that is awesome my friend and you know you come down from the high school level and being at the elementary level my whole career I know all about my friends down there but for you like going with the older students and coming down, especially this time of year, how's that been for you? So it's been a lot of fun and I when I when I needed a little confidence boost I go visit kindergarten and first grade classrooms. There they come running up they come hugging. What I try to do at the end is so I don't just be so I'm not just that principal that stirs the class up and walks out. I make sure they get really silent before I walk out. But but they're a lot of fun. They're making me a lot of handmade cards right now. A lot of excitement building towards Christmas and the holiday season. So it's it's been tremendous at the elementary level, I do love all levels. I think, at the high school level, I missed that feeling of being the cultural hub of a school district really having those adult conversations with kids as they're about to go off to college. So I say now, like I was, I was shaking hands on stage at graduation. And now I'm at kindergarten orientation. So it's been really neat to see because I love Elementary, I think it's so important to connect families to connect kids have a great early experience with school because our experiences shape our attitudes and beliefs. And I want kids and I want families to have a great first experience that will last through elementary, middle and high school with our school district. But yeah, I think that, you know, the younger students, it's so important, right from the get go, that we create a great culture for them a great culture for the families so that they, they want to send their students there. They're excited. And yeah, so it's so special. And we were talking before we got to roll in about the first tweet that I ever saw you on about dress like your principal day. Can you talk a little bit about that? Yeah, actually, at my previous principal assignment, kissel Hill Elementary, we had a dress like a principal back and at the same time, I had just got a I had surgery on my foot. I plantar fasciitis was really struggling, got surgery, so I was in a boot. And we had this dress like a principal day, and I liked the I wear a suit. So kids came in with suits on. But they also made boots because I had a boot on my left foot. So they all had a boot on their left foot. And this one kid was decked out in a suit. And we sat down on a chair and we cross their legs and we leave, we leaned back, and I remember I put dress parentheses and sit like a principal diet. It was it was well received. But it was certainly a lot of fun. There were so many boys and girls dressed like a principal that we got a lot of good pictures and just had a lot of fun. Yeah, you could see like that we were talking about like, that was the first tweet that I ever really connected with you on and you could see the joy in the young man's face. It was just awesome. Ya know, I want I want kids, I want families, I want them to be proud of their school. Like right now it's Providence elementary for me. I want it to be the best. I just have this that desire, like I want the best for these kids and their families. And one of the one of the proud of the school, we just, we do something, it's so simple. We do fist bump Friday, where I mean, I'll be honest, I fist bump every day. But we really celebrated on Fridays, we call it fist bump Friday, as kids are coming in, we're fist bump and everyone in the hallway fist bump. And I get on the Announcements and I let them know it's fist bump Friday. And basically what we're doing is we're celebrating another awesome week together because we have good we go through good times together as a school. We go through difficult times together as a school. But we stay together and I talked about the fist why the fist bump because if you have you have your hand out and your your fingers are separated, it looks like individuals, but when you close that fist, it's coming together. And that's what it that's what it symbolizes for us. And it was last Friday, the local news WGA out, they came out and did a story on it. And it was really neat, because it's been neat to see the kids that were on the news, the families share that and move that around and just you can see how proud they are of the school. And that's what I want. I want people to be I want them to I want everyone to feel connected and wanting to come to school. Because when they come to school that attendance rises, they're in their seats, they're in the classroom, they're able to learn more at their best. It all goes hand in hand. There's such a domino effect. Yes, I love you know, number one, you're telling your story. You're getting your story out there. The community is embracing it. And we're that fist bump. I know we're both basketball guys, because they you love basketball like one thing that I read about that always stayed with me was Steve Nash, and Steve Nash, unbelievable basketball player back in the day. And they UC Berkeley was doing a study about teams that were the most successful. And you know, the connection they had on the court. So they were measuring, you know how many fist bumps high fives pat on the backs, a team would do and the correlation that had and what they found is the teams that did the most were the most successful and the teams that at least we're the least successful. So at the time, Steve Nash is playing for the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Suns they do their own study. And the Phoenix Suns find out there they study Steve Nash, who the MVP of the NBA at the time. And over the course of a 40 minute game Steve Nash does, you know he has that positive interaction that fist bump that high five that pat on the back 239 times. So you know, I've taken that like how many fistball It's how many positive interactions can you do in a single day. So I love that you bring in your whole staff into this so that you know that fist bump Friday. It's amazing, Brian, I appreciate you sharing that big basketball fan really wasn't aware of that. And I think that's how I like That's telling that little bit of that little bit of encouragement, because I think, probably, especially in basketball during a game, and I think about this at school, you give a fist bump when someone does well, like hey, nice job, or if you're coming off something difficult, like someone just someone just messed up, or I'm talking to a kid about behavior when they're leaving, I'm still giving a fist bump, like just the all the like you're saying all those different interactions. And I can just picture Steve Nash throughout the course of a basketball game, the highs and lows. But yeah, you're staying steady like we got so we got this and just encouraging. Yes. I love that, like you talked about right there like this staying steady. They even if they're leaving your office on the you know, they came and it wasn't for good things that they were visiting you that you're that you're still there and your fist bump, and Alright, we got this. All right. And I think about it, let's say there's a difficult situation with a kid on Wednesday. On Thursday, I want to give them that fist bump, because sometimes they probably wonder, I wonder, I wonder what Dr. B's thinking about me right now. I wonder what Dr. B. Here's the fistball. Okay, we're ready to move forward. We're ready to move forward. Yes. And that sounds awesome. I never give up on you. Yeah, they won't be that steady person in your life. Yeah, I like I like the word steadfast. And the definition of steadfast is dutiful, dutifully firm and unwavering. And I like that, like, we can't get too high. We can't get too low. We need to be we need to be steady for these kids. As an administrator, I need to be steady for the staff. Steady for the families. Never too high. Never too low. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's so good, buddy. So I want to talk a little bit because you came out with this new book leading with people. And one thing that, you know, I talked to a bunch of administrators and a book like this leading with people I look at as number one, it's not just for inside the school, there were so many. Listen, I was up till midnight finishing this book, because I wanted to be ready. And it was so good. You know, we can take it outside of the school. And it's I don't think it's just for administrators. I'm looking at everything that you wrote in there. I'm a leader of the classroom. And if I can take your lessons and apply them with my students as well. Yeah, but I love how John Maxwell describes leadership leadership is influence nothing more, nothing less. So I'm a big believer in that we're all leaders, we, we all have influence. And that's exactly right. And that's part of why I wrote it. Because part of why I wrote it is I'm a practitioner in the fact that I'm an administrator, I'm a youth coach, I'm a father. But I'm going through it like I'm going through it and I'm, I'm learning things, but I'm also struggling through it. So I'm almost writing and as I'm struggling through it, and going through it. So I'm hopeful the feedback I've gotten is people can relate to it, whether it be a relationship relationship with their spouse, or as a parent, as a teacher, as an administrator, as a business owner, or a nonprofit owner, just being able to apply it anywhere. And at the end of it, there's a seven by seven, there's a 49 day action plan that goes along with it. And I preface it with maybe you need to take this to your work right now for 49 days and just apply to your work, maybe you just need to apply it to your home right now for 49 days, maybe there's one relationship in your life that you need to apply it to for 49 days. And that's what I really want to encourage readers to do reflect, examine their selves and, and really think about where they need to focus their time as a leader. And that, like I said, like I said earlier, that's why I wrote it, because I don't have the perfect answer. I'm going through it right now. But what I do is share share stories along the way of how people impacted me and how we can apply it to to others in our leadership. Yeah, no, absolutely. And I love how you broke that up. Like, let's, you know, it doesn't have to be all encompassing. It can be just a certain parts of your life to apply to. That's so good, my friend. Now you had an acronym that went several pillars that you talked about in this. Can we dive into those? Yeah, but let's dive in. And I'll even dive in with the opening story a little bit. I was I was leading when it's when I was teaching seventh grade social studies, Swift middle school, and I was leading a meeting and a pentest out. So I pass out in this meeting, and I come to and I'm surrounded by the school nurse. I'm surrounded by other teachers and I'm surrounded by the assistant principal. So I here's zap, zap, and I open my eyes and they're all around me. And here this is where I really kick it all. I knew I had been stopped Okay, so I've been struggling with anxiety and depression. And what happened and what caused me to pass out was anxiety, fear it just caused caused me to be nauseous and led me to pass out. And I feared passing out like I was like, it starts to become a worry and fear minus oh, I don't I don't want to I don't want to pass out. But then I go and I pass out. And what it did was it actually begin something I didn't want to happen, it began to open up the opportunity for me to tell my story. So I started to be able to tell people what was happening in my life, hey, like, like, I'm battling anxiety and depression. And I remember there was a guy at church that stood up and shared his testimony about what he was going through with a battle of anxiety. So I like it just literally as I opened that story, like it opened my eyes to needing people, right, there was the school nurses and teachers in the assistant principal, and they were ready to help me right after I passed out. So really, I started to realize the importance of needing people in my life. And then the lessons that they've taught me along the way that I can apply. And so then breaking down the acronym, so I say leading with people, and the definition of with is accompanied by because I was trying to do things by myself, I was trying to hide this anxiety and depression, I was trying to push through as a teacher, and coach and father, but really behind the scenes, I was drowned him. And I didn't know where to go. I didn't know who to turn to. But I was trying to fight this battle all by myself, and just opening up to people, with people realizing people need to come alongside me, in my leadership to ultimately help me be a better leader. to others. Yes, yes. Because we don't have to walk this alone. Like, we need other people. And I loved how, you know, you talked about like that, that passing out. But we don't know what other people are going through. And you talked about this in your book, like you look at you. All right, it for the people that aren't familiar with that Zach is like, 6364 240 looks like a bulldozer I gotta go do some push ups after this interview, that, you know, in your coach, you're a father, like, people probably don't see what's happening on the inside, we see this person that's so posed to be so strong, but all of us have something going on on the inside. Yeah, now we're, we're certainly made, we're made to be in community, we need people. And what I start to do, then throughout the book, is I start to lay this framework, and it begins with building our foundation. And, and certainly, my foundation, and my first book was leading with a humble heart leading with people is really built on Christ and my faith in Jesus, and how, like reading, reading the Bible prayer, having mentors in my life, creating tea charts of when I'm operating from overflow, and when I'm over committed, so just a lot of self examination there to lay our frame or foundation, because once we lay the foundation, then we can start to build the pillars. But if we're trying to lead once we get into the pillars, but if we're trying to do that, without our foundation, the pillars are going to fall apart. And that's why we need to have a strong foundation as leaders. And again, when I say leaders, I'm talking to everyone, because we all have influence. So really taking the time to build a foundation. And then when you get into the action plan, the first seven days are all building the foundation, but I say this doesn't stop after seven days, like you're building your foundation every day. And then and then it really gets into the acronym of people. I actually first wrote it on my couch on a Reese's Pieces box. I was just sitting there. The idea started coming. I love candy, by the way, and I think I say a book like my kids had candy from me sometimes but so I have this Reese's Pieces box. But then the P when you get into the acronym of people is prioritize, and we need to prioritize people. And one time I was sitting with my wife, and she sat down and she said, Zack, you're not practicing what you preach. And our family is becoming a byproduct of it. And in a byproduct is a secondary result and unintended result. And that stung me I was like wow, like I don't want my family to be an unintended a secondary result. But when I started thinking about that byproduct, I want to prioritize them. But then thinking about that in all my leadership roles really wanting to prioritize people sometimes we write down a to do list, we accomplish our to do list, we go home and we realize we missed relationships and we missed people. And my wife she also I'll keep saying my wife because she she fills me with so much wisdom. There was one day like I was overworking she didn't want to see my laptop out over the weekend. But she she caught me working. And she wasn't happy. And she said like she was a stay at home mom at the time. She said, Zack, look around. And as I was looking around, there was a load of laundry to be done there was there was a kids mess on the floor. And she said, If I focused on getting my to do list on if I focus on this all the time, you know, what are we missing the relationships with the kids. And that's something that stood with me too, like those those to do those tasks. Yes, we still need to get them done. And we'll get them done. But it can't come at the expense of making people a bipoc byproduct of our lives, they need to be a priority. So so the first chapter really dives into prioritizing people. And I talked about things like how we greet people, like we talk about fist bump Friday on how we how we greet people matters, I talk about prioritizing your most precious crop, because my grandfather was a farmer. And when he was in his last days, and we had a precious family prayer time around him, and I remember my cousins saying, praying for grandpa, just saying that he was he was a farmer who always prioritized his most precious crop his family, and it all come back to that so much. We can't lose sight of of leading our families, whether it be a spouse, kids and those people close to us. So that's a little bit with, with the P I don't know if you have any thoughts there, Brian? Yeah, no, I think is so important. And one thing that I wrote down, when I was reading your book last night, as you talked about, like, it's not what we have time for, it's who we make time for. And, and one thing you know, I, I thought it was so powerful, I mean, both stores where your wife is like, hey, I need you here, and there's always gonna be something to do. But I need you here with the family being present, don't miss out on this moment with us. And then just, you know, you talked about that time with your grandfather. And it is like, at the end of the day, it's you know, being there being present, not missing out on those moments that their family is so important in what I do to share how I make this applicable. Because I'm a firm, like I said, I'm a firm believer lever, and were leading where I am. So that's my family, but also where I serve as principals. So for the month, so in August that are opening in service, I rolled out our focus for the years people. And the month of September, what I did was almost give all the staff a game board. That was the focus was prioritize. And there were little things, probably nine different things that I was asking if they wanted to participate that they could, but that they focused on prioritizing people, whether that be whether that be greeting how they greeted someone, whether that be doing an activity with the family, but I want to make sure I'm prioritizing a healthy staff so that they can be at their best for the kids. And then I think one of the best one of the best compliments I've gotten was at a local fair, a husband of one of our teachers came up to me and he just said how refreshed his wife seems the school here. She's operating great at home, she's energized going to school. And that's part of what I want to build. So in September, I had them working through that prioritize game board and then they can turn it in what I do was then the ones that do what I do have a little extra gift for him a local coffee shop, I have a $5 gift card just to make it fun for something right the teachers to work towards, but also to build that culture where I am as a principal, because I just want I don't want to just be a leader that exemplifies the people principles that I talk about. I want that to that domino effect to flow through the school with the staff. And then ultimately, we're focused on the students providing them the best experience possible. So September was prioritize October then was the E empathize. And at the beginning of the empathize chapter, I talk about I go into more detail about how I was feeling during my time of anxiety and depression because it's opened my eyes as a leader. Like I felt so awful, like physical symptoms, I wasn't sleeping, I started the fake sick so I wouldn't have to go out in public. It just wasn't good. And like you said earlier on the outside, no one would have guessed it. And that's something that has really softened and shape and shaped me as a leader. Just realizing all the different stories that are out there and I'm a firm believer I know it said fairly often but every child has a story but so does every adult and and I want to create a culture where the adults the staff that they feel comfortable like like really creating a family environment at school. To share stories with one another, obviously, there's some things you want to keep private, you don't have to tell everyone. But I think sometimes, like I've learned, as I've started to share my story, now it's out in a book. It that opens up a connection, you know, you know, people you hear to people admired strengths, but they connect with your weaknesses and your vulnerabilities. And that's what I that's what I try to share in there, especially when we're talking about empathy. So one of the things I encourage people to do in the empathy chapter and then even on the staff at Providence Elementary is share your story, start by sharing your story with someone else, and see where that conversation leads. Because I guarantee it's going to make an impact on somebody 100% Because everybody's walked a different path, then if we take that time to be curious, and to listen, we can learn so much. I think I want to say the Mayo Clinic, there's some video that I saw, that famous hospital made it. And what it was it was to try and create empathy within their doctors. It's a tear jerker, like you watch, and it goes through the hospital. And every person that the camera goes past in the hospital, it has a different label. And some of those labels as they're standing in the elevator, like there's could be a gentleman, and it's like going to see his newborn son. And right next tomb is another person that just found out that they had cancer. And it's going through this hospital, and all these different labels. And it really makes makes you think, like you said, we all have stories. Every person that we pass in our schools has a story. And we we talk a lot about the students, which is so important. That's why we're there. But the people that we work with, we could be with them for 1020 25 years. And that's a family right there. You go through life together. And that, you know, hearing other people's stories, being there to support one another. So key. I mean, that's so true. And I think about, like being unhurried, I like this word, unhurried. We're in such a hurry that we miss these stories. And yes, I use the example in the the empathy chapter of a red light. You know, green means go. Yellow means slow down, and red means stop. But as we approached yellow lights, often while we're driving, what do we do, we speed up to get through, so we don't have to stop. And what happens when we speed through light. Now we now we picture the hallways of a school, when we're speeding through, we're missing those things. And when we're driving faster, it's blurry out of our peripheral vision. But when we take the time to slow down a yellow light, we're like, alright, we're stop. Let's look around here, it's slow, you slows down. And then we can we look, and then we learn to discern the needs of others, like when we truly get to know people. So we first prioritize people, we get to know them, then we can better empathize with them. But a lot of that comes by slowing down. And we're just always in a hurry. And I know, principals and teachers, we walk so fast, there's so many things to do. And I understand that. But you could do the same thing as you walk through the hallways. And I can just picture I've worked with so many teachers who have had a miscarriage or an attendant secretary who was diagnosed with cancer and is no longer working there. A school psychologist who had to go on medical leave, because of a deep battle with anxiety and depression. There are so many stories within our school, but we're often going too fast to hear their stories, so just slowing down. But then it's also our homes, like when we walk by our spouse or our kids. Do we need to just go hey, I'm gonna go sit beside my wife on the couch right now and say, Hey, how are things go on? Anything you need. Like, sometimes we're just we're moving from point A to point B. So, so fast that we just miss, we miss the people around us. And like we said, it's not what we have time for. It's who we have time for. So just slowing down at those yellow lights. And I encourage readers like when you're actually driving, try going in the slow lane and slowing down. Let people walk by you. When you get to a yellow light. Slow down because it also lets people go in front of you just just really trying to be intentional about slowing down. Yeah, so that's so good. How about the Oh, my friend? Yeah. So that's observe the needs of others and respond with compassion. So there we take the time to slow down and observe the needs. I remember a time when I was riding bike with my three kids. We got we were having a great day, and we got to a big hill and I was like, Alright, I know what I'll do is the leader. I'm going to pedal up and they're going to follow me so I pedaled to the top of the hill. I'm aided by the way, Brian. But as I turned around, all three kids, two kids were still about a quarter of the way home. And one kid was halfway up, and they were crying, I helped them come off the bike. So maybe the next day, were we, I think it was spring, we were riding bike, and they didn't, they didn't want to go to the Hill, I was like, let's try to go to the Hill. And I tried to give them some advice. I said, just gain some speed as you're going and it'll take you out. Same thing happened, they were crying, they want to know parts of that hill. So then a few days later, we go back to the hill, and I was like, alright, Zach, you got to switch it up. And I realized they couldn't get up. So when I said to my oldest daughter, I said, you go right in front of me, I'm going to pedal right behind you. And my other two kids, Elliot and Isaac, I said, I'm going to sit here, and I'm going to pedal right beside you. Before I know it, my oldest daughter had reached the top of the hill. And then there my kids are right beside me pedaling up and they made it to the top of the hill. And that's where it's sort of like observing the needs and responding with with compassion. It's meeting people where they are, and take him to taking them to places where they didn't realize they could go to. So here's just a little story with my family. But as I think about that, in leadership, we constantly need again, if we go in order, prioritize, get to know people, empathize, we know their story. And then as we know, people, we then can move into action with what they need. So it is really in, you've probably heard the term reading the room, as you get to know pi. It's certainly reading the room. So that one's really built with compassion for observing the needs, and responding with compassion. Yes, 100%. And, you know, I, I think one of my students would that like meeting them where they're at, and helping them, you know, whether it's an academic need, maybe it's a social need, met, you know, meeting them, and going with them and walking alongside of them in the story, and I tie it into the story of the Good Samaritan and the Bible. But I also, you know, Jonathan, all Shimer, the author, speaker, and teacher, and what he is done with a ray of hope. And when his daughter was sick in the hospital, his daughter was given like a box, and she opened it up. And there were some fun things in there, a stuffed animal, I think, really stood out. So what Jonathan has done, so he felt the empathy. But then it moved him to observe needs and respond with compassion. So now, so now every year he's fundraising to to be able to deliver gifts to kids in hospitals. And that's just a small example of meeting the needs. And that's why I challenge people in the book, is there is there something because sometimes it's just really small, maybe sometimes it's just reaching out to someone by phone or having a conversation. But maybe there's something inside of you that's wanted to do something bigger. Maybe you want to start a nonprofit organization, maybe there's a need that you've been seeing, and you want to act on. So I encourage people like, hey, is there something out there that you want to start? Go for it? Yes, 100%. And, you know, small deeds can create big ripples. You know, one small thing can make such a difference for somebody. And I think part of compassion, too, is is that selfless, selfless leadership, and just stopping what you're doing. My family, we were headed to Ocean City, New Jersey for a summer vacation. We packed the car was packed, like I have these picture kids. Just pat, on the back was a bike rack with five bikes. And we're like, Alright, here we go. So we started driving down the road. I was like, I don't know, if I feel good. I got out and I shook the bike rack. And I got in, I looked at my wife and I was like, we're good to go. We drive about five more minutes, and I hear this loud noise, the bike rack snaps off the back. And so there, we lose our bikes. A couple bikes are destroyed. I call my brother in law, and he stops what he's doing. And he comes to help us out. And I thought he was coming just to like help us get our bikes home, and then we'll go without our bikes. But what he did was he helped take our bike rack off, but then he put his bike rack on our car, and then help load our bikes up. And then we went on our way on our trip. And the best part of the trip for our kids and family were was often the bike. The bike rides on the boardwalk and around town. So compassion I talk about compassionate stopping what we're doing to meet the needs of others, like my brother in law had something else to do. And then I'm sure it was Fourth of July week. He they always ride bike as a family but he he gave us the bike rack and sent us on our way. So certainly looking around just constantly looking around. So what are those needs around us? And even when it inconveniences us, even when convene uses us just looking to meet the needs of others. Yes, that's absolutely. Now how about that fourth pillar, that next P Yep. So we have prioritize, empathize, observe the needs and respond with compassion. And then the then I have next one is p, and that's pray. So I talked about ended about just the importance of praying for it and with people. And I share the story when I was an assistant principal. And my principal had this little black book that he kept by his computer. And I saw he would occasionally write in it. And I was like, what he's writing. And then I saw, we were set to have a meeting, the plan have to plan for a faculty meeting. And I saw through the glass window, he was talking to a teacher who was visibly upset. And he came in the first thing I saw him doing his office is right in that black journal. And I said, if you don't mind me asking, what's that Black Journal that you're always writing, and he held it up, I can still say it, Mr. painter, he said, every every principal needs a black book. And what it was, was it was his prayer book. And what he would do is, and it ties into observing the needs and empathy as well, as he would find out needs within the building, he would jot those down in his book, and he made sure to, to pray about those things for his staff and for students and families. And that was so encouraging to hear. And that's, that's something that has always stuck with me just that encouragement, of prayer. And I talked about in building the foundation and having people like in community with you, and having people walk alongside you. And just the importance of prayer as I shared my about the importance of my faith in Jesus in the the Christian walk. And, and it's not always just praying for people, it's looking for opportunities to pray with others. Das No, you know, I read that, and that's something that popped out right at me, I think that it's beautiful, like, having that black notebook writing now, uh, you know, who needs some prayers right now? What's going on? What do I need to pray over? And one thing that I've always found is sometimes, you know, you get that person in your mind, maybe it's someone that you haven't talked to in a while, and you just, you start thinking about them, and oh, I should contact them or you send like good thoughts their way. And then out of the blue, they reach out. And it's just that, you know, there's something special about whether it's prayer, or just sending some people some heartwarming thoughts that Yeah, and I found it very helpful, because then it's like, I have it and I'll be able to look through, like, maybe I'll open it up, like I need to touch base here, like, I need to touch base with them, or I'll even it's helpful, where I'll put a calendar reminder, in my calendar, like, if something happened on a certain date, I'll send a reminder, maybe six months to a year later, just so I can check in with that person and really be intentional about letting love that. Yeah, letting them know, I care. And it's not. At first I felt, I almost felt bad doing it like, like it was fake. And that's it. No, it's not fake. Like, I want to be able to remember six months from now. This tragedy, I had a school counselor where I was, and I remember we were at a conference, he wasn't there. But we got a text that he and his wife had just had their child, we were so excited. The child never came home from the hospital. And then I remember visiting them at the funeral, as they said goodbye to their child. But then being like being intentional, and I'll use the word intentional there. And as I was brainstorming the acronym, one of the second P potentially was going to be purposeful. So I think that being purposeful, being intentional, about following up with people like knowing you care, like because people will always move on with things. And I think it makes a big impact. If you can come back a year later and say, Hey, I'm just checking in. I know it's been about a year or I know, how are things going for you anything I can do and out of authenticity, like being intentional, but our authenticity. So it does creating those like, right, having books like that jotting things down having that to refer back to this so helpful and encouraging other people, Dad No, I absolutely love that. Because you're so true. Like we are always moving forward. And when when something really tough happens, you know, people because we're surrounded by good people, you know, people flock and everybody wants to help out, but then life keeps moving forward. But for that person that face that tragedy, it always does. And you know, so going back and just a couple months later, hey, I care about you. How are you? I loved Oh, definitely. Then takes us to the letter L Right. That's That's love So prioritize empathize, observe the needs cry, and love others and in that it's just so important and I there was a teacher that I worked with before. Actually, I was working with the student first. And they had a note card. And I was like, what's that note card mean? And they said, my teacher drew that for me. And I said, what's on it. And it's my teacher told me that she's always gonna raise the bar, and she's gonna keep raising the bar. But she's always going to love me higher. And so she's going to raise that bar high, but always love higher. And that was that was Mrs. Holt. She's a fifth grade teacher kissel Hill. And that's something that stood with me. And what was really neat about that is the kid was able to explain it. And but asked about it in a different way. I talked about it, like First Corinthians 13. Love is patient. Love is kind, then and that's what I really break down there within that chapter, just those little things. And that's sort of what leading with people is all about is all about just walking alongside people like leadership's? No, it's nothing. It's not a big grand gesture. It's just those small moments walking with people, whether it's a teacher and students, whether it's administrator and teachers, whether it's a family, just walking side by side with people and with patience, and with kindness and how we're responding to people. I use the example. My family went to Disney World, very excited, we're headed to Disney World, we're almost there. We get to Orlando, we're going we're in Orlando, we're going to pick up our bags, the baggage claim, here, there was a storm in the area. So they weren't able to go to the planes and bring in the baggage, the so our family goes from excitement. And now we're waiting for an hour and a half. So first goes our patients, and then goes that goes our kindness. So it's just those those little things to remember walking day by day alongside each other. And I want something that stood with me as I transitioned into my role, my previous principal role, I met with the principal and he said, You know what I learned the moment I realized that the moment I quit trying to be the perfect principal, and just show Christ's love to others, is when it all clicked for me. And that's something I try to remember to not go away from those perfectionism that imposter syndrome, that that anxiety that I can feel at times. And just love people just love people. Yes, I think you know, I think that helps you stay in a healthy or mental mindset to like, because there's always going to be things coming at us every single day, there's always gonna be some little fires that you got to put out or obstacles that we need to overcome. But if we love people first, yeah, if we put people first that so good, and I'm gonna still love me higher brother. Yeah, no, that that's something that that's something that really stood out to me. And like I said, but she did it for every single kid. And when you were when you were in her classroom, she would say it, you would hear her say it. And you knew she loved him. But you could tell she raised the bar too. And every time she raised that bar, she loved a little higher, raise the bar love higher, like just just continues to help kids reach their full potential. And that's what we want to do. We want to help people reach their full potential. We want them to maximize their gifts, maximize their talents, and put them in positions to be able to do that. And that's exactly what she did. And that's awesome. Now, how about that last pillar? Yeah, he incurs. And, Brian, you are so good at this, but encouraged and I like to choose a word of the year. I don't know if you've ever done that one word, the one word challenge where you pick one word. I tried to I think that was my first one. But now I pretty much say that's that's my life where I want to be an encourager. I want to encourage people. And, and I think about the whole the whole book leading with people, I just think about all the people who have encouraged me along the way, whether it be coaches, whether it be mentors, teachers, administrators, and I've just been so blessed. It's we want to count our blessings and reflect on those people who've encouraged us. And one, one mentor in particular, I was meeting with him just on a Saturday morning, just grabbing breakfast catching up. And I was talking about some different opportunities that were coming up, and I had some anxiousness about it. But here it was already already in a better spot, because I was I was there sharing talking to someone but I had anxiousness about it like what impact would it have on my family? What impact would it have on my career? And he said, Zach, I want to challenge you to do something, I want to challenge you to write two letters to yourself one letter 20 years from now, where you look back with regret, and the mistakes you made along the way. And I want you to write another letter where you, you look back from 20 years from now, writing it from the perspective of how you made the right decisions, like you made the right decisions, you look back and you can nod your head and say, I made the right decisions. And he said I also want you to think about this. Maybe you want to write it from the perspective of one of your kids or someone else. So I went home and there was a Sunday night where my family wasn't home. So I was able to really reflect. And I wrote two letters to myself from my daughter who was nine at the time. So I wrote it as if she was 29. And I just sit down, I honestly I just cried as I wrote those, and I cry. I cry every time I read them, because even though I wrote him, I can see those coming from her and one was looking back like dad, hey, appreciate all you did. But we needed you around more mom needed you around more than me and Elliot and Isaac, we just needed you around more. And I know you had a lot of people and that you were having an impact on but but we missed you. So. And then the other the other letter talked about like, Hey, Dad, I know you always had a lot of responsibilities, your principal and coach, but we just want to I just want to thank you for always being there for us. I didn't want to tell you this. But I've always wanted a husband just like you. And so you just have those two different types of letters. Like one is like, oh, that's things. Zach, how could you mess up all those years and another's, like, right decisions made and then encourages me to do those things. So those letters always. I have written in a journal and they always have me, Chuck myself. And they're always such an they're always such an encouragement to man. Yeah. Listen, I told you, I was up super late last night, it was about I'd say, you know, that's one of the last chapters of the book, it was about probably 1130 1145 At night, when I'm reading that. I was getting a little bit emotional. I said, that was one of the most emotional parts of the book. But it's so true. Like, like that North Star, like, what's your north star and coming from two different, you know, perspectives? Yeah. And what path? Do I want to walk down? And we're always gonna, you know, we're gonna stumble here and there. It's just human nature. Having the, you know, I love that you have those two letters to help you get on that path? And I think part of it is, we do I've been talking with the staff recently, at Providence, where I'm Principal we're going to do we're all going to do one word as a staff, like we're all going to choose our ONE WORD, we're going to have an outside our classrooms or office areas. And one of the words we've talked about that some people might use is grace. Like we can't, we can't do it all. And sometimes we needed to give ourselves grace, where where we do the best that we can, we're intentional. And those moments were at home. When we're at work, we're intentional because what's harder, it's it gets harder and harder every year. Home goes to work and works going home. They're constantly like just just crossing so if we can continue to fight that battle, that unhurried leadership being present, I say it often I had a superintendent say it all the time Be Where Your Feet Are, then I talk about that in the prioritize chapter but be where your feet are being present with those people in front of you. You know, we have we have phones everywhere right now that connect us to people far away, but disconnect us with the people right in front of us. So So it's certainly giving giving ourselves grace. It's it's challenging right now. It's challenging. We also need people to hold hold one another accountable. That's why we need mentors. That's why we need relationships, where, where people are helping guide and direct us and encourage us and encourage encouragement. I talk about it. I'm a big believer in handwritten notes. And that's something so small. So it's so simple writing handwritten notes, leaving it mailboxes, leaving it on desk, leaving it in classrooms, there's really nothing like an authentic handwritten note. Small Yeah, yeah, it's a small thing. But if it can have such a profound effect on that person, and it doesn't have to always just be from the administrator. You know, I look at it, you know, I've received some nice emails from a beautiful from, you know, from some of my colleagues, and it's made such a, you know, it made my day. Yeah. And so I've tried to return that favor to some other people as well. So, no, I love it, man. Now, so your boat is so good. This has been so much fun. Could you tell me as we wrap up, you know, one of my favorite questions. I can't wait to hear this because you have so much knowledge, a favorite podcast or a favorite book that you love to dive into? Yeah, well, I was saying a little bit before so I don't commute as much. So my podcast listening is way down. But when I was commuting and still, John Gordon's positive view podcast, I just I really enjoy that one. I enjoy the guests that he gets that he gets on there. And another one that's been really helpful recently is the interview chair by Jimmy cosas. What's what's really neat is it's they're very short, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, with really with a simple Focus for each episode. So so that's helpful for me is I don't have as much of a commute right now. Right? But but that's been good. And I also really like, Bob Golf has a podcast called the writing room. And since I love writing, and he gets a lot of authors on there, and they sort of tell their stories about their writing process struggles, what went well. And that's always neat to hear. I love hearing from different writers and hearing their process. So the writing room where Bob golf brings on different guests has been a tremendous help to me. And it's always just, it's always just fun to listen to, cuz some people do things completely different from how I write, but it's always neat to hear the process. Yeah, one thing and we're both sports guys, but you know, as I get older, like diving into to that creative world, is, like you talked about like that writing room is hearing other people's creative process, the lens in which they view the world, because it can help us see the world in a little bit different way too. Yep, exactly. Books. I really like, broken down house by Paul true. That's more that's a faith based book. That's been a book that's been really encouraging to me to sort of, and that talks about the perspective and it starts with a story where they look and just think of HDTV where you go, and you look at a house and some people are like, whoa, you can't do it. And then other people are like, well, you can do a lot with that house. But so it's just encouraging faith based book about how God works in our lives through brokenness, and really building us through our brokenness that grow more and more like Jesus. So that's an encouraging. And I really enjoyed building authenticity by Tyler Cook, and Todd isaloni. That was, that's an encouraging book. I'm a big believer in that authenticity piece. And really building that in his leaders, but then also creating cultures of authenticity. So that so that that's a great book. And a book that I've stuck with me since since I worked through my doctoral program was the first 90 days by Michael Watkins. And it's a really neat look when you're switching roles, or you're going to a new role. And it ties in a lot of these concepts. I talked about people like the first 90 days, it's about culture, it's about learning the culture. It's about learning the people and how we too, all too often we move into action right away without getting to know the people and without getting to know the culture. So those are just some podcasts or some books that have been very helpful for me. Oh, I love all those recommendations, my friend. Now if someone wanted to bring you in to speak to their staff, if someone just wants to connect, and they're struggling in they, what your message resonates with them, what's the best way? Yeah, and I, I really, that's one of my favorite parts of writing is being able to connect with people I, before I get into that, I'll share a little bit like I just got a text message tonight from somebody I know, who was a paraprofessional, in a building, I had served as principal before. And she had just finished leading with people. And she just reached out and she just thanked me for like sharing the vulnerability and the encouragement it was to her. But that's such an encouragement to me a couple of maybe about a month ago, I had someone reach out from Kansas, they'd reached out to me on Twitter, and shared that the first two and a half pages were exactly what her son was going through. So it's helped form relationship there, we're able to talk and I'm able to support and encourage, but that's such an encouragement. So I love hearing from people. I do have a website, WW dot Zach powermaster.com, my email addresses on there, you can connect me you can connect with me on Twitter or Instagram as well at Z Powermaster. But I certainly love connecting with people. I love hearing other stories. And that's that's why that's that's why I love to write because I have a story. Everyone has a story. But not everyone tells their story not everyone the writer and tells their story. So I want to be able to connect with others, and then have them be able to connect with me as well. Oh, that's so good. But now if you could have the listeners walk away with one thing, what would that be? So always, always just stop and remember, it's all about people. It's all about people slowing down. And you can even think of that the acronym it's all about people prioritizing people, getting to know them, empathizing, sharing your story, getting to know other stories, observing the needs of others responding with compassion, just being there being that good Samaritan, where when you see somebody else I'll say sick or injured just like the Good Samaritan in the Bible, where you're not crossing across the other street to get away but you're going there to help so observing the need for responding with compassion. Praying for people loving and encouraging people just walking alongside people. Don't Don't miss the people right in front of you. Lead your families. First and foremost, don't miss the people right in front of you. And just remember, it's no matter what we do, it's all about people. So good. It is all about people don't miss the people that are right in front of us the most. So, oh, Zack, man, this is man. So good. You know, like I said before, I was up late last night, diving into your book, and I couldn't wait for today. And it's even better than I could ever it's. Yeah. Hey, appreciate it. It's been great talking with you. And connecting with you as well really appreciate the conversation. Yeah, me too. But you have, you know, you're blessed and people with your message, and you have a message and keep spreading it because people need to hear my friend. Thank you. That's encouraging. Thank you very much, Brian. This podcast is a proud member of the teach better Podcast Network better today, better tomorrow and the podcast to get you there. You can find out more at Teach better.com/podcast. Now let's get back to the episode. This conversation was so good. Zach is so authentic. And he just brings so much passion to his work. Now, this is the teaching champions tape, where I share three of my favorite gems from the conversation. And the first gem that I love is how Dr. Bower master talks about forming connections. And one way that he does that in his school is with fist bump Friday, having positive interactions is so important. And by implementing a school wide initiative like this, you're creating a ton of positive interactions. And think about what that must do for the school culture. The second gem that I loved is how Dr. Bower master talked about helping people maximize their gifts and talents. And when there's students we work with, or the adults in our building, we should recognize the gifts and talents that others have. Because we all have them. And they're unique to us. And we should put people in situations where we can shine a light on those talents. And the third gem that I loved is how Zach talked about not missing the people that are right in front of you. Because sometimes we get so busy and we're so focused on so many different things that we can end up neglecting the most precious gift that we have the people right in front of us. Now these are just a few are my favorite gems, hit me up at be Martin real on X or at teaching champions podcast on Instagram. And let me know what were a few of your favorite gems. A big thank you to Dr. Zack Bauer, Master for dropping so many amazing takeaways. And a big thank you to all of you for being here for being part of the teaching champions community. We support we encourage we lift each other up. And always remember, it doesn't matter whether you're from rural America to urban America, to Canada to Spain to Bahrain. We're all on that same team. We're all on that same mission. And we're always better together. Keep being amazing, my friends and as you go into the week, May step into strength may step up to shine. Let's build our champions. Have a great week, everybody