Send us a text

Have you ever walked away from a leadership conversation thinking, Why did I say all of that?

Over-explaining is one of the most common—and sneakiest—leadership traps.

In this episode, we’re talking about why leaders feel the pressure to justify decisions, how over-explaining quietly weakens leadership presence, and what it looks like to lead with clarity instead of commentary.

This conversation is for leaders who care deeply about people but are ready to stop managing reactions and start leading with confidence.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why strong leaders still fall into the over-explaining trap
• The hidden cost of explaining decisions too much
• The difference between clarity and justification
• Simple language shifts that build trust and authority
• How to lead calmly without apologizing for your decisions

If you’re ready to lead with more confidence, less emotional labor, and clearer communication, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen in and remember: clarity doesn’t need a long explanation.

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...

Send us a text

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...

Send us a text

In this episode of Empowered Educator, you’ll hear from Cheryl Wells Collins as she shares the power and effectiveness of group coaching for educators and parents. Cheryl explains why group coaching works—how open conversations around challenges and wins create space for growth, clarity, and confidence for everyone involved. You’ll get a glimpse into the types of topics explored in these coaching groups and how participating in community has helped others feel more fulfilled and effective in their roles.

Cheryl brings over forty years of experience serving under-resourced communities, including sixteen years as a classroom teacher across grades pre-kindergarten through eighth and leadership as a principal and nonprofit CEO. Now, through her coaching and consulting work, she supports leaders who want to grow from the inside out by focusing on personal development before leading others.

This episode is for you if you’re looking for meaningful support, shared learning, and a reminder that leadership growth doesn’t have to happen alone.

Website: cherylwcollins.com

LinkedIn

Substack

Email: cherylwcollinscoaching@gmail.com

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...

Send us a text

Feeling buried by your to-do list? In this Power Surge episode, Mel introduces a simple but powerful leadership filter—Delay, Delete, or Delegate—to help leaders reduce overwhelm, protect their energy, and focus on what truly matters. Grounded in faith and leadership research, this episode reminds you that effective leadership isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things well.

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...

Send us a text

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...

Send us a text

Casey Watts is a dynamic speaker, author, and expert in team leadership with over 20 years in education and 10 years of experience coaching educators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. She is the creator of the Clarity Cycle Framework, helping leaders bridge gaps, foster commitment, and create sustainable alignment. Casey is also the founder and host of The Catching Up with Casey podcast, where she and her guests bring clarity to the seemingly small things in leadership that make a big difference.

Casey talks about how clarity precedes capacity, She hits on three types of clarity. She discusses how leaders can transfer ownership to teachers and hold them accountable without micromanaging. But it requires clarity– clarity of direction, clarity of collaboration, and clarity of identity.

This episode is perfect for aspiring leaders.

Website: Catching Up with Casey

LinkedIn
The Craft of Clarity Book

Free Preview of The Craft of Clarity

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...

Send us a text

Second semester doesn’t start slow — it starts heavy. The calendar is full, expectations are high, and leadership fatigue is real. In today’s Power Surge, you’re reminded that finishing strong isn’t about doing more — it’s about leading with intention and protecting your energy.

This episode is a reset for leaders who are capable, committed, and quietly exhausted.

Power Surge Reminder

You don’t need to push harder to prove your leadership.
You need to manage your energy so you can lead with clarity and purpose.

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...

Send us a text

Second semester doesn’t need more initiatives—it needs more intention. In this episode, Dr. Mel reinforces a message she’s already been naming all year: strong leadership isn’t about adding more, it’s about protecting what matters most. As the pressure ramps up and fatigue sets in, this conversation centers on choosing quality over quantity, leading with presence, and staying aligned to the mission so your people can finish the year strong.

This episode is a reminder that New Year, Same Mission isn’t just a mindset—it’s a leadership practice, especially in second semester.

Power Statement from This Episode:

“I stay aligned to the mission by leading with focus, presence, and follow-through—so my people can finish the year strong.”

Download Upside and use my code MELINDA35278 to get 15¢ per gallon extra cash back on your first gas fill-up and 10% extra cash on your first food purchase!

Download Fetch app using this link, submit a receipt and we'll both score bonus points.

Calling All Educators!

I started a community with resources, courses, articles, networking, and more.

• I am looking for members to help me build it with the most valuable resources.
• I would really appreciate your input as a teacher, leader, administrator, or consultant.

Join here: Empowered Educator Community

Book: Educator to Entrepreneur: IGNITE Your Path to Freelance Success

Grab a complimentary POWER Session

With Rubi.ai, you'll experience cutting-edge technology, research-driven insights, and efficient content delivery.

email: melinda@empowere...