In today’s dynamic work environment, stepping into leadership often involves navigating a difficult balance: being approachable yet authoritative. Friend vs. Leader shines a light on this transition—highlighting how to lead with empathy and professionalism, draw boundaries without losing trust, and leverage coaching and mentoring to build cohesive, high-performing teams. This event is an opportunity to expand on the work we did on October 29, 2025 and dig much deeper into the work we do to build both trust and capacity.
This interactive session explores:
How to move from peer or colleague to evaluator, supervisor, and boss.
How to maintain friendly rapport without compromising leadership effectiveness, preventing pitfalls like favoritism or blurred accountability lines .
The distinct roles of coaching (focused on short-term performance and specific goals) versus mentoring (long-term, development-oriented career guidance) .
The power of integrating coaching and mentoring into leadership development to foster engagement, retention, and accelerated growth .
At the end of this session that features a combination of school leaders and system supervisors, our attendees will be able to:
Articulate the importance of staying friendly—but not friend—when leading, and explain how blurred lines can lead to favoritism, diminished authority, or decision-making conflict .
Differentiate coaching from mentoring, describing key characteristics, times, and outcomes associated with each approach .
Apply coaching and mentoring methods to support short-term performance improvement and long-term career development in their teams .
Design and implement a balanced strategy that blends personal connection with professional expectations—ensuring team cohesion alongside accountability.
Foster a team culture of collaborative leadership, where development happens through shared support, open communication, and role clarity.
Participants will engage with real-world scenarios and interactive strategies that help them define boundaries, skillfully coach and mentor, and cultivate a team environment rooted in trust and accountability.
*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT ***