Curiosity #22 - Leading with DeHart

🏆 The Power of Walking the Walk

🎤 Quotable Quote:
"Be quick to listen, slow to respond."

Ted Lasso taught us that great leaders aren’t the ones who have all the answers but the ones who listen, connect, and lift others up. This week on Leadership Rules, we had the privilege of sitting down with Matt DeHart, founder of Teach from DeHart Academy, who is redefining education by building a school that serves not just students but entire families.

Matt is on a mission to break cycles of poverty by providing education, job training, and opportunity where it’s needed most. His approach? Leadership is about walking with people—not just telling them where to go.

So grab a biscuit, settle in, and let’s unpack what we learned from Matt’s bold, community-driven vision.

🔍 This week’s musing:

Matt’s leadership style is all about action. His philosophy? If you want to lead, you have to show up—fully, consistently, and with heart. He shared incredible insights on:

💡 The true meaning of leadership: It’s not about a title; it’s about showing up for others and proving you care.
💡 Emotional availability in leadership: Strength isn’t about shutting down emotions—it’s about owning them and leading with authenticity.
💡 Building a legacy of impact: Matt’s goal isn’t just to open a school; it’s to change lives for generations.

One of the standout moments from our conversation was Matt’s personal story about his first teaching interview. Instead of listing buzzwords like "dedicated" or "empowering," he responded with five simple words:

"Mr. DeHart cares about me."

That’s the legacy he’s building—and a reminder to all of us that the most powerful leaders aren’t the ones who talk the loudest, but the ones who care the most.

More Musings

🍪 Biscuits with the Boss:

"If you had to name five words that describe your leadership, what would they be?"

Matt nailed this challenge in his first teaching interview, and his answer still drives him today. Now, it’s your turn! What five words would others use to describe your leadership?

Ask your team, your family, or even your students. You might be surprised at the answers.

🏅 Whistle. Whistle.

"Start with who, not what."

Matt reminded us that transformational leadership isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about understanding the people you serve. Instead of asking, What do we need to do?, start with:

• Who are we serving?
• Who is being impacted?
• Who needs to be part of the conversation?

Roy Kent might say it more bluntly, but he’d approve of this lesson.

📚Beard’s collection: 

📖 Herrera, Bobby. The Gift of Struggle: Life-Changing Lessons About Leading. Greenleaf Book Group, 2019.

Ever feel like leadership is just a series of stumbles and faceplants? Turns out, that’s where the magic happens. Bobby Herrera proves that struggle isn’t something to avoid—it’s the best leadership coach you’ll ever have. 

📖 Connors, Roger, and Tom Smith. How Leaders Can Inspire Accountability: Three Habits That Make or Break Leaders and Elevate Organizational Performance. Wiley, 2023.

Ever worked with someone who dodges responsibility like it’s a hot potato? This book flips the script on accountability—not as a punishment, but as a leadership superpower. Connors and Smith break down three simple but game-changing habits that help leaders create a culture where people actually want to own their work. If you’re looking to build a team that steps up instead of checking out, this one’s a must-read.

📖 Wiseman, Liz. Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter. Harper Business, 2017.

You know those leaders who make everyone around them better? That’s a Multiplier. And then there are those who suck the energy out of the room like a bad WiFi connection. This book shows how to be the former, not the latter—because great leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room, it’s about making sure everyone else shines.

🌎 This week in Here - There - Every F’ing where

This week, our Lens of Leadership podcast featured an absolute treat for Ted Lasso fans—Chip Hamilton, Coordinating Producer of Ted Lasso! 🎬⚽️ Ever wonder what it takes to create a show that makes you laugh, cry, and want to be a better human? Chip pulled back the curtain on the magic behind the scenes, and trust us, you won’t want to miss this one. Go give it a listen! 🎧

Meanwhile, over in Kansas City (cue Somebody Told Me by The Killers 🎶), our book got a little love at Slightly Smarter’s Book Jam—a gathering of brilliant minds talking about brilliant books. And guess what? Lead It Like Lasso made the list! 📚🔥 Nothing like seeing our book in the mix with other heavy hitters.

So whether you’re tuning into leadership wisdom from the Ted Lasso production team or geeking out over great books, there’s plenty to dive into this week.

Barbecue Sauce!

Marnie & Nick

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