What Every Teacher Needs to Hear! You Can Be Assertive!

So many of us teachers are agreeable people. We want to please. We want to help things work better. But what happens when our “yes” to everyone else becomes a “no” that is destroying us. This is a show I wished I heard earlier in my career and is something that every teacher needs to hear.

Dr. Brad Johnson, author of Becoming a More Assertive Teacher, shares advice that we all need as educators. He also gives advice to principals and administrators to help teachers to balance themselves.

These conversations aren’t easy but in my personal experience, educators who last, learn to have the crucial conversations that let them stay in teaching.

Watch What Every Teacher Needs to Hear! You Can Be Assertive!

Listen to the Show

3 Takeaways

1. Assertiveness can help prvent burnout
2. Healthy boundaries can improve your relationship with your adminisrator
3. Self-care can start with saying No (and there is a right way to do it)

Vocabulary

In order to promote conversations (and because the definitions now generated by AI are not only often trusted but most often WRONG,) we work to locate definitions with a link to the original sources so you can understand the context of the words used in the shows.

Assertiveness: The quality of being confident and not frightened to say what you want or believe.
🔗 Cambridge Dictionary

Agreeableness: “Agreeableness is a personality trait that can be described as cooperative, polite, kind, and friendly. People high in agreeableness are more trusting, affectionate, altruistic, and generally displaying more prosocial behaviors than others. People high in this prosocial trait are particularly empathetic showing great concern for the welfare of others, they are the first to help those in need. Agreeableness is one fo the five dimensions of personality described as the Big Five.”
🔗 Psychology Today

Relational Intelligence: Our ability as humans to connect with others and establish trust
🔗 Workleap

Burnout: “Emotional and physical exhaustion from chronic stress.”Burnout is a pervasive and debilitaing state that can occur in any profession. Three key components of burnout are physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by emotionally demanding situations taht go on for a considerable period. Exhaustion, depersonalization along with a sense of personal accomplishment result from feeling overextended, lack of time to recover, pressured environment, and so forth. Consequently, relationships get affected.”
🔗 National Institutes of Health

Dr. Brad Johnson – Bio as Submitted

Dr. Brad Johnson – Global Education Leader, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker

Author, Becoming a More Assertive Teacher

Dr. Brad Johnson is a renowned education thought leader, ranked #3 on the Global Gurus Top 30 in Education. A best-selling author of 15 books, including Dear Teacher and Putting Teachers First, he is a leading voice in leadership, motivation, and teacher empowerment.

With decades of experience in education and leadership, Dr. Johnson’s work focuses on fostering strong relationships, cultivating positive school cultures, and inspiring educators to reach their full potential. His insights have transformed schools worldwide, equipping leaders and teachers with the tools to create lasting impact.

A sought-after keynote speaker, Dr. Johnson delivers powerful messages on leadership, resilience, and the art of teaching—reminding educators that their influence extends far beyond the classroom.

Blog: DoctorBradJohnson.com

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