Leading the Way: Building Trust and Inspiring Teams

In this episode of Tiny Talks on Early Learning, host Jessica Stinson sits down with Robert Johnson—author of Navigating Organizational Leadership—and special guest Desiree Keith to talk about what it really means to lead in early childhood education. Whether you’re managing a large Head Start program or leading a small child care team, this conversation dives into what it takes to lead with trust, vision, and integrity.

Drawing on Robert’s 20 years in the U.S. Navy and decades of experience mentoring leaders, we explore the powerful lessons that translate directly into early learning settings—from building healthy team culture and navigating change to the value of active listening and managing through crisis. Plus, Desiree shares firsthand insights from the classroom and leadership roles that highlight how trust, communication, and collaboration shape the future of our youngest learners.

• Trust is the foundation: Whether in military units or preschool classrooms, trust is the cornerstone of effective leadership.

• Leadership ≠ Management: Vision and mentoring are central to leadership, while management focuses on structure and systems—both are necessary and must coexist.

• Leaders set the tone: Modeling calm, collaborative, and respectful behavior during high-stress moments shows others how to lead with confidence.

• Team culture drives outcomes: Children thrive when staff feel valued, supported, and aligned with the program’s mission and vision.

• Be a lifelong learner: The best leaders remain curious, humble, and open to learning from everyone—including the children they serve.

Timestamps:

• 00:00–01:09 – Welcome & introductions

• 01:10–04:45 – Robert’s journey from Navy service to writing about leadership

• 05:00–07:59 – The difference between managing tasks and leading people

• 08:00–11:48 – Trust, team dynamics, and human-centered leadership

• 12:00–16:00 – Staff culture, peer trust, and creating safe environments

• 20:00–24:00 – Staying calm in crisis and communicating across generations