Leadership Posters · Videos
Hear the Thinking
Explore the leadership ideas behind each framework in the Leadership Conversations videos.
Explore the VideosSee It
The Soldwedel Leadership System
One philosophy. Four ways to learn.
Choose how you’d like to begin your leadership journey.
The Journey
From Vision to Results Through Continuous Improvement
- Step 1 — Create a Bold Vision: Imagine the future.
- Step 2 — Shape Our Preferred Future: Define success.
- Step 3 — Define Strategic Priorities: Focus on what matters most.
- Step 4 — Implement Strategy: Turn vision into action.
- Step 5 — Report, Reflect, Improve: Learn. Improve. Repeat.
PurposeGives us a reason to lead.
LeadersMove people forward.
SystemsSustain improvement.
Better Leaders. Better Systems. Better Futures for Every Student.
A disciplined process. · Stronger systems. · Better futures for every student.
One Philosophy. Four Ways to Learn.
Whether you have five minutes or a full day, you’ll find resources that help you think differently, lead differently, and create better futures for students.
The Framework Toolkit
Learn. Ask. Assess. Discuss. Act.
Success stories and every other Learn It tool for all five frameworks.
Open the ToolkitLeadership Playbook
Put It Into Practice
Apply proven tools, questions, and strategies.
Open the PlaybookLearn. Think. Lead.
Building Better Leaders. Building Better Systems. Better Futures for Every Student.
See the Big Picture
Explore the Five Leadership Framework Posters
Poster 1 of 5
Creating a Bold Vision for Tomorrow
Imagining the Future · Inspiring Today · Transforming Tomorrow
“How do we create a shared picture of the future that inspires action today?”
Poster 2 of 5
Shaping Our Preferred Future
Who We Are · What We Believe · The Future We Create Together
“Who are we, what do we believe, and what future are we committed to creating together?”
Poster 3 of 5
Defining Our Strategic Priorities
Focus Our Energy · Align Our Efforts · Accelerate Student Success
“What are our highest priorities, and how will we know if we are succeeding?”
Poster 4 of 5
Implementing from Strategy to Results
Plan with Purpose · Act with Focus · Measure What Matters
“How do we turn our priorities into action and achieve measurable results for students?”
Poster 5 of 5
Reporting Our Progress
Share Our Story · Celebrate Success · Learn and Look Ahead
“How do we communicate our accomplishments, impacts, and next steps to build trust and inspire action?”
Hear the Thinking
Explore the leadership ideas behind each framework.
01
Creating Our Bold Vision
02
Shaping Our Preferred Future
03
Defining Our Strategic Priorities
04
Implementing from Strategy to Results
05
Reporting Our Results
Strategic Management
Strategic management is the disciplined leadership process that connects vision to daily practice through continuous improvement.
It ensures that a district’s vision is not simply written—it is understood, aligned, implemented, measured, and continuously improved until it becomes the way the organization operates.
Strategic management transforms a strategic plan from a document into a living leadership system.
Why is it so important?
Most school districts do not struggle because they lack good ideas. They struggle because good ideas often fail to become everyday practice. Strategic management closes that gap.
It creates the clarity, alignment, accountability, and continuous improvement necessary to move from vision to meaningful results. It helps leaders answer five essential questions:
- Where are we going?
- Why does it matter?
- What matters most?
- How will we get there?
- How will we know we’re making a difference?
The Purpose of Strategic Management
The purpose is simple:
To help leaders create clarity, align their organizations, execute with purpose, measure what matters, and continuously improve to create better futures for students.
What Strategic Management Creates
When strategic management is working well:
Vision becomes direction. → Direction becomes alignment. → Alignment becomes focused action. → Action becomes measurable results. → Results become continuous improvement. → Continuous improvement creates better futures for students.
Strategic management is the leadership system that turns vision into better results through purposeful action and continuous improvement.
“How do we lead an organization that consistently creates better futures for students?”
Another way to think about it…
The Five Leadership Frameworks describe the journey. The Eight Dimensions provide the management disciplines that make each stage successful.
The Five Frameworks answer: What should we do next? The Eight Dimensions answer: How do we lead that work exceptionally well? That is a very powerful distinction.
The Five Frameworks and the Eight Dimensions
The Five Frameworks — The Road
The Five Frameworks describe the journey.
Without the road…you don’t know where you’re going.
The Eight Dimensions — The Vehicle
The Eight Dimensions provide the management disciplines that make each stage successful.
Without the vehicle…you can’t get there.
There is an even deeper insight.
The consulting process helps districts move through five frameworks. Your book helps leaders develop eight capabilities. That’s why they complement one another so naturally.
The frameworks organize the work. The dimensions strengthen the leadership.
The Five Leadership Frameworks describe the work of strategic leadership. The Eight Dimensions develop the capacity to lead that work with excellence.
Strategic Management
Here’s how I see the connection.
The management disciplines behind the journey
The Eight Dimensions of Strategic Management
Leadership & Governance · Performance Culture & Change Management · Strategic Thinking & Planning · Alignment & Operationalizing Strategy · Performance Reporting, Analyzing & Informing · Strategic Project & Portfolio Management · Process Improvement · Sustainability