George has the uncanny ability to inspire others to achieve and go beyond what they believe is possible. His ability to relate to diverse audiences is very evident and captivating. Geoorge balances humor with detail and leaves you asking for more.He inspires audiences with his broad knowledge base with an emphasis on leadership and ethics needed to establish and sustain effective leaders.
George Goens
Author of Soft Leadership for Hard Times
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Litchfield, Connecticut, United States
George Goens
Biography
George A. Goens is a dynamic educational leader, author, and speaker. He has taught at all educational levels from early adolescent to doctoral students, and he has served as a superintendent of schools for 15 years. He was selected Wisconsin's outstanding educator in 1991.
He began a leadership search and development firm, Goens/Esparo, LLC, which is one of the preeminent educational leadership firms in the Northeast. He is also an associate with the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents and is responsible for leadership development for Connecticut superintendents.
George has authored three books. His latest, "Soft Leadership for Hard Times", addresses the the intangibles that are essential for leaders to be successful in today's chaotic world. Leaders are more like poets than engineers who must develop creative and imaginative organizations in order to reach their goals and bottom-line.
George also co-authored, "Mastering School Reform", a book about the leadership necessary to bring about thoughtful change and reform in America's schools. In addition, he also co-authored, "Getting the Most from Public Schools: a Parent's Guide", which provides direction and suggestions for parents to develop a positive working relationship with schools in order to get the education they desire for their children. George also has authored over 60 articles on leadership, reform, and education. He is working on two new books; "Integral Leadership" and "The Promise of Living".
In addition to his leadership and writing work, George designs charter schools for urban children in Milwaukee. Each of the four schools he has designed offer a unique educational program for helping urban children meet the promise in their lives. The Veritas High School has been recognized for excellence.
George has given keynote speeches and presentations at national conferences for The American Association of School Administrators, The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, The National Staff Development Council, the international Reading Association, IBM, the University of Connecticut, University of New Hampshire, the New England Association of School Superintendents, and others. He has presented seminars and workshops on leadership, school reform, and leading in a crisis at regional and state conferences and organizations and for school districts across the country.
George was born in Chicago, Illinois, earned a Ph.D. from the University Wisconsin. He lives in Litchfield Connecticut.
George Goens
Featured Keynote Programs
Soft Leadership for Hard Times
Leadership is essential for organizations to be successful. Getting the "bottom-line" numbers takes more than goals, targets, and procedures. Leadership requires more than brains and skills to coalesce people around a common goal.
Commitment grows out of the intangibles that go into developing successful relationships. Soft leadership is not softheaded, wimpy, or indecisive. Soft leadership rests on those principles and ethics that establish a leader’s integrity and credibility. Without integrity and credibility plans, procedures and goals are impotent. Leadership must inspire the human spirit and rest on noble principles to produce relationships and outcomes that have virtue and integrity.
Leading in a Crisis
Lessons From the Real World
When he was superintendent of schools, George faced a tragic crisis: the murder of a principal in school during the school day. The practical experience and lessons in working through that crisis have value for private and public sector organizations. He learned what works and what is essential in the heat of a crisis to respond appropriately so that lives are protected, the crisis abated, and healing can take place.
Leadership
Poetry or Engineering?
Are leaders more like engineers or poets? What is the proper metaphor for leading an organization in today's complex and competitive environment? Can we reengineer excellence into people and organizations? Or does leadership require much more? Leadership, poetry, and storytelling are integrally related in highly successful organizations. Each successful enterprise has a story. Leaders, like poets, communicate the essence of that story and challenge our heads, hearts, and spirit to fulfill ourselves in the pursuit of that unfolding story.
Education v. Schooling
Are we in danger of having a generation of children that is well schooled but poorly educated? A significant difference exists between an educated person and one who is well schooled. The penchant to re-engineer schools based around metrics holds the danger of having students who get the numbers and play the game of schooling, but graduate without the wisdom to live a life of purpose and meaning. A civilized society, our organizations, and our democracy require well-educated people who have principles and ethics that guide their lives and decisions.
George Goens
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