Month: November 2025

leadership dot #4787: sameness

November 10, 2025November 9, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplett1 Comment

As part of our bond referendum promotion, we asked all our supporters to turn their profile pictures green or to include the YES logo. It was striking to me when I pulled up Facebook and saw that all the people I was seeing posts from that day featured green.

It was a great sign for our campaign, but it made me realize how narrow my social media inputs are. Everything I was seeing was from sources that agreed with me. I’m sure the similarities go well beyond the bond effort and stretch into views on politics and the news.

Maybe we would all be better off if we followed some people who don’t agree with us. While we may never adopt their argument, it could help lessen some of the tension if we at least understood what others see as merits.

Be aware of whether your feed serves as a mirror with a reinforcing loop. Broaden your inputs and let in some different perspectives.

leadership dot #4786: rags

November 9, 2025November 8, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

On a recent business trip, I stayed in a hotel that catered to the blue collar crowd. I think I was the only one in the parking lot without a work truck or pickup.

In the bathroom, there was a basket of black hand towels, along with this laminated message: “I’m nothing but a pile of rags…living a life forlorn…I’m old, tattered, and possibly stained. But wait! I am still clean and can be put to work if you, dear guest, would give me a chance. Use me, for heaven’s sake, to wipe your boots and shoes, your hard-working hands, your makeup, even your windshield or motorcycle. I’m tattered but clean and ready to be used instead of a new fluffy towel on those dirty jobs you need done.”

Given the typical clientele, this idea made perfect sense. I’m sure there was dirt and grime from working in the field, and having special towels to accommodate their needs while preserving the white towels was a great idea…

…only the towels were embroidered with cute eyelashes and the words “makeup.” It was a departure from what the message said, implying they were tattered black rags to be used on the slimy jobs vs. a dainty eye makeup remover. I don’t picture a burly man in muddy boots cleaning them off with a makeup towel. Everyone would have been better suited with plain, black clothes.

Do a double check to ensure your message aligns with what you actually deliver, and wipe away any mismatch.

leadership dot #4785: wicked

November 8, 2025November 7, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

In anticipation of the next Wicked movie, advertisers have gone crazy with product tie-ins. They have slapped green and pink on almost every product category, hoping that the fans’ obsession with the film will drive sales. You can buy Wicked almost anything: hairbrushes, cereal, cake mixes, and my favorite, Gain detergent — as if that has anything to do with the movie at all.

But one product tie-in makes a lot of sense. Dunkin’ has capitalized on its donut holes, already named Munchkins, to promote both the treats and the movie. They are so “thrillified” to announce it! But even Dunkin’ couldn’t leave a good thing alone, and expanded its Munchkins promotion to include the holes with pink and green sprinkles, and pink or green drinks. I’m not “thrillified” about that, but the Munchkins collaboration was a no-brainer.

Whether it’s a movie, a holiday, a cause, or any other theme, don’t stretch your messaging just to tie in. It can only be wicked good if it makes sense.

Thanks, Meg!

leadership dot #4784: hangover

November 7, 2025November 6, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Working on the School Bond Referendum was an intense effort spanning 6 months for the volunteer committee and much longer than that for the district leadership. It is such a letdown that we received the majority of votes, but not the 60% required to pass.

I think all of us who were intimately involved are feeling a “bond hangover,” where we’re not working at 100% and our brains haven’t quite grasped the reality. Everyone is asking, “What now?” but it is far too soon to answer. Right now, the task is to “feel all the feelings,” which certainly includes sadness and anger.

If you’re working on a major project, taking a big trip, hosting holiday functions, or doing anything substantial that has a defined ending, plan ahead for “hangover” time. Preemptively clear your calendar for the day(s) after. If you accomplish anything, have a list of brainless tasks (e.g., collecting signs) that you can do, instead of expecting to do deep work (e.g., write a final report).

This type of hangover is as predictable as if you had binged at the bar. Do yourself a favor and create the space to decompress, to celebrate or commiserate, and to recharge before charging back in to tackle the next big thing.

leadership dot #4783: done

November 6, 2025November 5, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When a major event concludes, it’s easy for people to believe that the work is finished. This is not the case.

After the election, the voting may be over, but the work is not. I spent yesterday being driven all.around.the.city in pursuit of collecting campaign signs. It’s not glamorous, but it’s an important step toward wrapping up the work. I wouldn’t have felt right if I hadn’t done it.

And now, we’ll have a “Lessons Learned” meeting and I’ll compile a full report — even though it’s unlikely that the District will pursue another bond referendum anytime soon. Maybe it can help other jurisdictions. Maybe the information will serve as a reference for me or someone else on a similar project. Maybe it will sit on the shelf and never be read by anyone but me, but I know it’s the last step in the process.

If you’re involved in a project — large or small, solo or a group effort — ensure that your plan for “completion” really does go all the way to the finish line. It’s not done until the clean-up, evaluation, and thank-you notes are finished.

Clean up from campaign signs. The bond received 56.8% of the vote — a majority, but 60% is required by the state so it failed.

leadership dot #4782: builders

November 5, 2025November 4, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

It’s rare that when you enter a building, you know who actually built it. The name of the architect or contractor may appear on a plaque, but the people behind those firms rarely receive any recognition. Not so at the Gateway Arch.

The Arch was such an engineering marvel and complicated structure to erect that they created a wall-sized tribute to those behind the scenes — listing 11 by name. They didn’t stop there: the builders were also invited to participate in the Arch’s anniversary celebrations. Nine of them were able to return last month for the 60th Anniversary, and told stories, signed autographs, and took pictures with fans! How fun for everyone!

When you think of your next big project, remember to acknowledge those who make it possible. Not just by paying their bill or saying thank you at the conclusion, but also by finding ways to truly appreciate the contribution they have made. Without the builders, there is no building.

leadership dot #4781: informed voting

November 4, 2025November 3, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Today is Election Day — when communities across the nation can choose their local and school board representatives. It’s also the day the School Bond Referendum is on the ballot in our district. It’s something the District has been working on for several years, and a group of us has been working tirelessly since May to promote. It’s a well-thought-out plan that takes stewardship, realities, and the future into account.

Unfortunately, a group of random citizens has deemed themselves more knowledgeable than community groups, architects, and professional educators, and has exploited social media to propose a number of unvetted plans. “Let’s renovate, let’s look at a different site, let’s combine schools, let’s use a different fund to pay for it” — on it goes. It seems like throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping something sticks.

It reminds me very much of The Practice, an older TV legal drama about defense attorneys. When they have a weak case with no real merits, what they do is throw out a host of possibilities and alternative theories, hoping at least one will trigger reasonable doubt. It sounds like what’s going on with this referendum. The “Yes” argument has a solid plan, so “No” is grasping at any distraction they can conjure.

Know that these local elections have as much impact on your daily life as the national elections do — and be sure to cast your vote even if only a few things are on the ballot. But before you’re off to the polling place today, do your research before pressing those important buttons. Know what is valid and what is just smoke.

(And if you live in my School District, please, oh please, Vote YES.) #voteYES

Yes For Dubuque Schools 2025 Core Committee (+Andy)

leadership dot #4780: round up

November 3, 2025November 2, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

When I was at the store, I was asked whether I wanted to “round up” my purchase to the nearest dollar. It’s a powerful tactic because you feel like a cheapskate if you say no, but it does make me wonder about the logistics of all that extra collection.

When I rounded up at the National Park store, they were clear that every dollar stayed within the local park to supplement their normal funding. I was happy to contribute my cents.

But at the chain store, it went to “help food banks.” Of course, that is a noble cause given the recent suspension of SNAP funds, but does that mean the corporation gets a hefty write-off when they give a check with all of our contributions? Do they match the customers’ donations? Does the money stay local, and when/how is it distributed to them? I had more questions than answers about my 48 cent variance.

If you’re helping promote or seeking donations to a cause, be clear about the process surrounding it. It’s one thing to make it easy to give; another to make people feel good about doing so.

leadership dot #4779: los muertos

November 2, 2025November 1, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

Today is part of the Dia de los Muertos celebration, a Mexican tradition to honor those who have died. My veterinarian acknowledged that some of the “loved ones” who have been lost were pets, and created a display for clients to remember them. Tradition believes that beloved pets will return from the beyond to visit the homes they cherished.

The “altar” was filled with pictures of all varieties of pets that have passed on: dogs and cats, of course, but also guinea pigs, hedgehogs, lizards, etc. I wasn’t expecting to see them in the display, but obviously, their lives meant enough to people that they brought in pictures to remember them.

The vet did a good job tailoring the Dia de los Muertos display to their work and their clients. Think about how you can link your organization with one of the many upcoming holidays in a way that is relevant and meaningful.

leadership dot #4778: step up

November 1, 2025October 31, 2025by leadership dots by dr. beth triplettLeave a comment

If you’ve ever watched a pro sporting event, you know that they sell advertising for every square inch of the facility. Painted on the field. Logos on the top of the basketball hoop. Ads all along the sidelines. It goes on and on.

Some nonprofit institutions are following their lead and capitalizing on the very visible space on their stairs. Instead of leaving it blank, they have backfilled the staircase with information that patrons are sure to see as they ascend.

Look around your organization. Is there a physical opportunity waiting for you? Maybe it’s time to step up your messaging in this way.

Missouri History Musuem

Southern IL University Edwardsville