A review of “Lead with Collaboration: A Complete Guide to Transforming Staff Meetings”

“Lead With Collaboration: A Complete Guide for Transforming Staff Meetings” by Allyson Apsey and Jessica Gomez offers an enlightening perspective on leadership, emphasizing the power of turning your staff meetings into opportunities for collaboration. As leaders, we know that staff meetings can often be unproductive and something many do not look forward to. The authors note that “When we build relationships, we build community,” and when we empower our staff in meetings and allow them to truly collaborate, they become highly invested.

According to the authors, when we shift our focus from conducting informational meetings to purposeful meetings, they “become opportunities for team building, taking on challenges, and making real change.” One of my favorite sections in the book was Chapter 4: Celebrations. The authors shared simple strategies that are easy to implement. Team Celebration Boards is another activity that allows teams or grade levels to develop a team “board” designed to display any team “wins” or success stories. Activities range from silly, like Smarties Nose stack, where staff members see how many Smarties they can stack on their nose, to activities meant to get teams through tough times or be used as teachable moments.

Round Robin PD is an example of the latter. In this activity, each staff member is asked to share a brief best practice strategy during the meeting. Through practical advice and a multitude of ready-to-go strategies, the authors illustrate how leaders can harness the collective intelligence and creativity of their teams to ensure staff meetings are relevant and meaningful.

The book emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of trust and transparency, one where the perspectives of all staff are valued and leveraged. “Lead with Collaboration” provides valuable guidance for leaders at all levels who aspire to cultivate collaborative environments. ■

Traci Newell is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where she obtained her B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education. She went on to receive a master's degree in Elementary Administration from SWOSU. After serving as a teacher and principal in Lawton Public Schools for 24 years, she has worked as Principal of the Lower Elementary School in Elgin the last six years. She is a member of the CCOSA Executive Committee.