Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D.

Leader, learner, optimist. ⭐️ Chief of Staff (MD Blueprint, HR & Public Affairs Teams) for @FCPSMaryland ⭐️Adjunct @BowieState

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Some thoughts are worth seeing all the way through. Every Monday, I share reflections on leadership, work, identity, growth, and the conversations that stay with us long after they’re over. I’d love to have you join this community ⬇️
🔗 https://t.co/DmscRpXM95

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

So much of what matters happens quietly.
No recognition
No one realizing how much effort occurred.
The checking in
The remembering
The showing up
The things we take care of before anyone even knows they needed attention.
The things that go unnoticed are often the very things holding everything together.
Not everything that counts gets counted.

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Some days are just harder than others. Things don't go as planned, people disappoint us, and sometimes life throws in a few extra challenges just for fun.
Other days are full of reminders of why the work matters, how we can make a difference, and that we are surrounded by people who care about our success.
Not every day will be a good one. Thankfully, no day gets to be every day.
Hope today is a healing day for you! 🤍

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

We all need people in our lives who will speak up for us, celebrate our wins, and remind us of what we're capable of when we forget.
Sometimes the best people are the ones who have our backs even when we're not around to know it. Those relationships are worth investing in, at work and in life.
Everyone needs someone in their corner. Be that person, too.🤍

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Doing a little thing this morning @FCPSMaryland 💙💛
@NAESP

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

November always feels like that point in the year when we're trying to finish strong, keep up with everything, and somehow start thinking about the holidays too. I love the idea of a little more kindness, a little less urgency, and a few more moments to enjoy what's right in front of us.
The calendar may be full, but that doesn't mean every minute has to be.🤍

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

I love the reminder that we don’t all have to show up the same way to bring something valuable to the world. Some people are gentle and graceful, others are a little louder and more direct. There’s room for all of it, and we need all kinds of people.
Besides, the world needs both the butterflies and the bees.
Just bring your own kind of magic.

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Proud to be part of the @FCPSMaryland team presenting at the Maryland Negotiation Service (MNS) Conference!
💙💛

We had the opportunity to share with colleagues from school systems across Maryland the structures, strategies, and tools we use to stay organized, aligned, and effective as a team.

Always a great opportunity to share what works, learn from others, and strengthen our collective practice!

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

I've always believed that one of the best parts of leadership is seeing something in someone that they haven't quite recognized in themselves yet.
Sometimes people need a little encouragement
Sometimes they need an opportunity
Sometimes they need someone to give them a nudge.
I've been fortunate to have people do that for me, and I try to pay it forward whenever I can.
Because the best leaders don't need to be the most impressive person in the room. They make everyone else a little more impressive

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Someone in a meeting yesterday said, “We ride at dawn,” and I laughed out loud. Mostly because my immediate thought was, “Well, get me a saddle, because I'm coming too!” 😂
The truth is, I can be sassy, feisty, fussy, and all the other things when the situation calls for it. But I don't particularly enjoy conflict, and I'd much rather work things out with a little diplomacy, some common sense, and a good conversation. Unfortunately, not every situation lends itself to that approach. Sometimes the issue matters enough that you have to be willing to make a little noise, stand your ground, and deal with the discomfort.
I prefer peace. But I've got boots, and I know how to ride.

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

On how a bout of vertigo taught me I need to delegate more.

https://t.co/ByPgtGpJYi

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

There’s something funny about the fact that so many of us start our day with a cup of coffee at home, only to get to work and immediately make another one. Apparently, the first one was just practice.
Because the first cup starts the morning. The second one starts the workday. And I see absolutely no reason to combine the two.

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

There is a special kind of self-control required when someone says something that makes you want to respond with every word in your vocabulary,
But being able to make a point doesn't mean you need to make it. You can be direct, disagree, and even be angry without saying something you'll wish you could take back. That's true at work, at home, and pretty much anywhere people test your patience.
Because having the perfect comeback is one thing. Having the good sense not to use it? That's a whole different level of talent.

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Sometimes we convince ourselves that an opportunity isn't available before we've even tried. We assume the answer will be no, that we're not quite ready, or that someone else is probably better suited. And then we spend more time talking ourselves out of something than it would have taken to just ask. I've learned that a surprising number of opportunities come from simply being willing to put yourself out there, even when you're not entirely sure what happens next.
Because sometimes the only person who told you no was you.🤍

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

There is something about getting an email or a text with a little attitude that makes you want to respond with the exact same energy. And sometimes the response you wish you could send feels pretty good. However, I've learned that you can address the issue, correct the facts, and even disagree without matching someone's tone. You get to decide how you show up in the conversation.
Be steady and deliberate today. 🤍

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

What a gift it is to have a life that makes you tired.
Sometimes it's the meetings,
Sometimes it’s the decisions.
Other times it’s the conversations,
Or the endless list of things that need your attention, while trying to keep all the plates spinning.
Some days you don't need more sleep.
You just need to try again. 🤍

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

I think one of the more underrated life skills is being able to have a perfectly good day even when a whole lot of things are conspiring against it.
Stay steady today!

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

No new equipment.
No complicated instructions.
No first day on the job.
We all eat every day, but somehow we still have an issue every once in a while.
A good reminder to have a little humility for anyone who thinks experience means they’ve got it all figured out.

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Ohwee!
At some point you have to stop acting surprised.
We spend a lot of time being frustrated by behavior that is entirely predictable.
Allowed.
Ignored.
Or Unchanged.
Sometimes the problem isn't the circus.
It's that we keep buying tickets.

[Sarah Sirgo, Ph.D. @Lead2Support]

Some people make you better.
Some make you laugh.
Some teach you things you probably would have preferred to learn another way.
And sometimes you don’t even realize how much someone changed you until long after they’re gone.
Not everyone is meant to stay.
But almost everyone leaves you with something.
What will you leave someone with today?