Connection, Purpose, Progress- MCS-BSU Innovation Summit: Full Schedule

10:45am EDT

Lead Yourself: Leadership Habits That Create Lasting Impact

Friday September 18, 2026 10:45am - 11:40am EDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Lead Yourself: Leadership Habits That Create Lasting Impact
Sometimes the hardest person to lead is yourself. Great leadership is not simply about position, talent, or knowing the right strategies that are built through intentional habits practiced consistently over time. In Lead Yourself, participants will explore seven practical leadership habits designed to strengthen personal effectiveness, relationships, decision-making, resilience, and impact. Participants will examine strategies for winning the morning, pre-deciding priorities, doing what is painfully right, practicing “You-First” leadership, self-reflection, fueling their passion, and showing back up when leadership gets difficult. Through personal reflection, practical examples, participant discussion, and opportunities to apply each concept to their own leadership context, attendees will identify habits that can immediately strengthen their leadership. The session will include audience interaction, reflection opportunities, practical application, and time for questions and discussion.

Speakers

Benjamin Williams

Northside Middle School Principal, Muncie Community Schools

Benjamin Williams is an experienced K12 educator, serving as a math teacher, football coach, assistant principal, and principal, also completing an EdS degree at Ball State in the spring of 2026. With his service at MCS, Ben is extremely passionate about leadership studies, effective... Read More →

Friday September 18, 2026 10:45am - 11:40am EDT
304

Session 2

12:45pm EDT

Winning at Communication & Negotiations: Practical Strategies for Difficult Conversations, Conflict, and Influence

LIMITED

Friday September 18, 2026 12:45pm - 1:40pm EDT

304

Limited Capacity seats available

Leadership happens through conversations, and some of the most important conversations are also the most difficult. Winning at Communication & Negotiations equips educators with practical strategies for communicating effectively, navigating conflict, building trust, and influencing positive outcomes. Participants will explore how emotional and practical mindsets affect communication and learn proven techniques including tactical empathy, mirroring, labeling, effective delivery, calibrated questions, accusations audits, and the strategic value of “No.” Participants will also learn communication frameworks they can teach fellow colleagues to strengthen interactions with students, parents, colleagues, and community members. Through real-world educational scenarios, audience participation, guided practice, partner and small-group discussion, and reflection, participants will practice strategies they can immediately apply to challenging conversations. The session will conclude with opportunities for questions, discussion, and application to participants’ own leadership situations.

Speakers