We Know More. So We Have to Do Better.
Lessons on Leadership, Habits, Culture, and Hope from a Conversation with Kyle Thompson
There are conversations that stay with you long after the microphone is turned off. My recent conversation with Kyle Thompson, Regional Superintendent of the Regional Office of Education #11, was one of those conversations.
We talked about leadership, family, faith, resilience, phone-free schools, habits, and the importance of creating cultures where people know they matter.
But one message kept rising to the surface:
We know more now. So we have to do better.
And that applies to more than cell phones. It applies to leadership. It applies to our habits. It applies to how we care for ourselves and the people we lead.
A Different Way to Look at Leadership
Kyle shared something that immediately caught my attention. Running became more than exercise for him. It became a way to clear his mind, build resilience, and prepare himself to handle challenges. He described how long-distance running has taught him to troubleshoot, push through difficulty, and remain calmer when challenges arise at work.
That is the power of habits. The small things we do consistently shape who we become when the pressure arrives.
Habits don't just prepare us for our ordinary days. They prepare us for our hard days.
That is why the first letter in my H.O.P.E. framework is H — Habits.
What we practice repeatedly becomes part of how we lead.
The Power of the "Power Hour"
Kyle also shared a simple practice that has served him for years: his morning "power hour." He arrives at work before everyone else and spends 60–90 minutes focused on what matters before the demands of the day begin. Once everyone else arrives, he is ready to serve. I love this because it challenges the idea that leadership is about constantly reacting.
What if leadership begins with creating enough space to think before everyone else needs something from you?
You don't have to copy Kyle's morning routine. Maybe your version is 30 minutes. Maybe it's a quiet cup of coffee. Maybe it's prayer. Maybe it's a walk. Maybe it's writing down your priorities before opening your inbox. The practice isn't the point. Intentionality is.
We Know More. So Let's Do Better.
One of the most important parts of our conversation centered on technology and children.
Kyle has become a strong advocate for phone-free schools and for educating families about the impact of screens on children. His message wasn't about shaming parents. In fact, he emphasized the opposite. We're all doing the best we can with what we know. But as we learn more, we have an opportunity to make better choices. That idea extends far beyond parenting.
As leaders, we should constantly be asking:
What do I know now that I didn't know five years ago?
And then: What am I willing to do differently because I know better?
That is growth. That is leadership. That is an optimistic outlook.
Your People Are More Than Their Results
Another part of our conversation really stood out to me. Kyle talked about the culture he has intentionally created within his organization. A culture where people know he cares about them, their families, and what matters outside of work.
He knows that his employees are parents. He knows they have lives. He understands that sometimes a child's school event matters more than staying late at the office. And his people know that. That's human leadership.
Kyle said something that I think every leader needs to remember: People need to know that we care about them as more than the results they produce.
When people know they matter, culture changes. Trust grows. Commitment deepens. And people are more willing to give their best.
What Is Giving You Hope?
At the end of our conversation, I asked Kyle the question I ask every guest:
What is giving you hope right now?
His answer was simple and powerful. He sees hope in educators who continue showing up and serving students. He sees it in his family. He sees it in his community. He sees it in his faith. And he sees it in the possibility of a better tomorrow.
I needed that reminder. Maybe you do, too.
Because leadership can make it easy to focus on what is broken. The problems. The pressure. The politics. The emails. The next initiative. The next crisis.
But the HOPE Lens asks us to look again. Where is hope already happening?
Who is showing up? Who is growing? Who is choosing courage? Who is serving quietly? Who needs encouragement? What possibility exists that you haven't noticed yet?
Your HOPE Lens This Week
As you step into another week of leadership, I want to challenge you to pause and reflect:
H — Habits: What small habit is helping you become the leader you want to be?
O — Optimistic Outlook: What are you focusing on that is going right... not just what is going wrong?
P — Purpose: Who are you serving, and why does your work matter?
E — Excellence: What is one thing you can do a little better this week?
And perhaps the most important question: What is giving you hope right now?
🎙️ Want to hear more? Listen to my conversation with Kyle Thompson as we talk about leadership, adversity, phone free schools, parenting, and so much more.
Because hope isn't pretending everything is fine. Hope is choosing to believe that what we do today can make tomorrow better. And leaders who carry hope into their schools, organizations, families, and communities have the power to change more than outcomes. They can change what people believe is possible.
Keep looking through the HOPE Lens. And keep leading with hope.
— Dr. Brandi Kelly
Spark HOPE Edu
Connect with Kyle Thompson
Website: https://roe11.org/
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