Other Books by Dan Heath
School Administrator, November 2020

Several of Dan Heath’s previous books, most co-authored with brother Chip Heath, have important applications for school leaders. Here’s what I see as their relevancy:

»The Power of Moments
In the book I recommend most often to school leaders, Heath dives deep into how we can create moments for people to remember 20 years from now. In a world where every-one believes they know exactly what happens in your school based on what happened when they went to school years ago, creating moments that people talk about is a fantastic way to change the narrative of your school.

»Made to Stick
This work completely changed the way we communicate with families in Fall Creek, Wis. If we get the messages of our district to those we serve in a way they can easily digest them, we have a much better chance of those communications sticking. Forcing engagement in areas where our people live has tremendous staying power for district messages.

»Switch
The rational mind wants to see change happen. The emotional mind likes the comfort of how things are. We see this often in school districts. Who wants change? Hands go up. Who wants to change? Silence. When we make a connection to the rational and emotional minds, we have a much better opportunity to lead the process of change.

»Decisive
From snow days to staffing, we’ve all been in our office agonizing over a decision. We play every angle and know the one we walk away with may not meet everyone’s needs. Decisive helps you make the right choice at the right moment and that is something we all need in this position.

— JOE SANFELIPPO