Keywords

Crisis Communication · Leadership · Empathy · Clarity · Trust · Communication Principles · Leadership Mistakes · Ted Lasso · Risk Management · Community Engagement

Summary

In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason Rogers and Garth Nichols sit down with Benjamin Morgan, Senior Fellow in Crisis Communications, to unpack what really matters when the pressure is on.

Drawing from decades of experience supporting leaders through high-stakes moments, Benjamin challenges the instinct to “get the message right” before getting the people right. Together, the trio explore why empathy, clarity, and repetition aren’t soft skills in a crisis—they’re survival skills.

From common leadership missteps (including the temptation to clam up) to the long-term value of trust and relationship-building, this conversation reframes crisis communication as a deeply human practice. Along the way, Benjamin and the hosts even pull lessons from popular culture—yes, including Ted Lasso—to remind us that authenticity and care often matter more than perfect phrasing.

Whether you’re leading a school, an organization, or a community, this episode offers practical wisdom for navigating uncertainty with calm, credibility, and compassion.

Take Aways

• Crisis communication starts with understanding how stressed your audience already is.

• Empathy and clarity beat polish and perfection every time.

• Repetition isn’t annoying—it’s necessary for understanding under pressure.

• One of the biggest leadership mistakes in a crisis is going silent.

• Trust is built long before a crisis—and spent during one.

• Authenticity matters more than sounding “official.”

• Crisis moments are both threats and opportunities for leadership.

• Emotional context shapes how messages are received.

• Positive communication deposits help cushion difficult conversations.

• Strong leadership puts people first, message second.

• Navigating Crisis Communication

• Empathy in Leadership: When the Pressure Is On

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Crisis Communications
03:22 – Crisis vs. Risk Communication: What’s the Difference?
07:59 – Core Principles for Communicating Under Pressure
11:58 – Navigating Ambiguity When Answers Aren’t Clear
17:09 – Common Crisis Communication Mistakes Leaders Make
21:36 – Choosing the Right Voice in a Crisis
25:34 – Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso

Episode Keywords

Education • Innovation • Leadership • Learning • Professional Growth • Storytelling • Educators • Curiosity • Meaningful Experiences • Community

Summary

In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason Rogers and Garth Nichols zoom out—and then right back in—on why education remains one of the most exciting, challenging, and hopeful industries around. Drawing inspiration from George Couros’ work, including The Innovator’s Mindset and Forward Together, the conversation explores what it really means to build learner-centred schools in a world that keeps changing the rules.

Jason and Garth unpack innovation not as a buzzword, but as a posture—one rooted in curiosity, relationships, and the courage to keep things fresh. From professional learning that actually energizes educators, to the power of networks beyond our own schools, this episode is a reminder that meaningful growth happens when we stay open, tell better stories, and refuse to get too comfortable with “the way it’s always been done.”

Take Aways

• Education is evolving—and that’s what makes it thrilling if we lean into it.

• Learner-centred schools don’t happen by accident; they’re built intentionally.

• Innovation isn’t a program—it’s a habit we practice together.

• Great professional development should spark curiosity, not compliance.

• Meaningful experiences matter just as much for adults as they do for students.

• Growth accelerates when we learn with and from people beyond our own buildings.

• Change doesn’t arrive on its own—we have to go after it.

• Schools innovate best when communities are part of the story.

• Capturing mantras, moments, and stories keeps learning human.

• Staying fresh requires noticing when the “smell” has changed—and responding.

• “The future ain’t what it used to be.”

• “Don’t get used to the smell.”

• “Kids these days… kids these days.”

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Lassoing Leadership
04:28 – Rethinking Innovation and the Innovator’s Mindset
08:15 – What Educators Owe Learners in a Changing World
12:15 – Culture, Curiosity, and Continuous Learning
13:59 – Forward Together and Paying Attention to New Smells
18:05 – Learning Beyond Education and the Power of Networks
20:50 – What’s Ahead: Guests, Ideas, and Staying Curious

Episode Keywords

Education • Leadership • Community • Storytelling • Emotional Connection • Change • School Leadership • Relationships • Narrative

Summary

In this episode of Lassoing Leadership, Jason Rogers and Garth Nichols sit down with George Couros to talk about his newest book, Forward Together—and what it really takes to build schools where people feel seen, valued, and connected.

George shares powerful stories about the role community plays in meaningful change, why leadership is inseparable from storytelling, and how emotional connection—not policy or programs—is often the real driver of growth. From paying attention to the small details, to celebrating wins (including your own), this conversation is a reminder that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being curious, generous, and deeply human.

Take Aways

• Curiosity builds bridges; judgment builds walls.

• Schools are among the most powerful community-building spaces we have.

• Small, thoughtful details often make the biggest difference.

• Emotional connection sits at the centre of effective leadership.

• Leaders need to recognize and celebrate their own growth—not just others’.

• Relationships are the foundation on which everything else is built.

• Understanding your community matters more than copying someone else’s model.

• Change sticks when it’s approached with care, empathy, and patience.

• Naming and amplifying strengths creates momentum and trust.

• Great leadership creates environments where people feel safe to grow.

• “The small details matter.”

• “What do I gain?”

• “Clap for yourself.”

Chapters

00:00 – Welcoming George and Forward Together
05:30 – Why Community Is the Work of Schools
09:55 – Storytelling as a Leadership Practice
12:54 – Emotional Connection and Meaningful Change
19:26 – “Clap for Yourself” and Owning Your Growth
24:33 – Advice for New and Emerging Leaders