When I first encountered Justin Wright's "12 Brutal Truths Every Employer Needs to Read," each point resonated deeply with lessons learned across my 30-year journey through military service
- Michael Jordan
- Feb 19
- 5 min read
Introduction
When I first encountered Justin Wright's "12 Brutal Truths Every Employer Needs to Read," each point resonated deeply with lessons learned across my 30-year journey through military service, educational & industry leadership, and technology integration. As someone who has led transformational change in both K-12, higher education, and in business settings, these aren't just theoretical concepts—they're battle-tested insights that have guided me through everything from pioneering Pennsylvania's first secondary school Response to Intervention program to implementing technology and AI strategies in organizations. Let me share how these truths have shaped my approach to building better teams in our rapidly evolving educational landscape.
The 12 Brutal Truths by Justin Wright
When your best people leave, it's not them. It's you.
You don't have a remote work issue. You have trust issues.
Management that can't handle feedback won't survive change.
If your actions don't align with your values, your employees won't trust you.
Your diversity program is hollow if your leadership team all looks the same.
Underpaying your people doesn't make you cost-effective. It makes you short-sighted.
A toxic culture will tarnish your brand, no matter how good your products are.
Your customer experience will never exceed your employee experience.
Micromanagement isn't a sign of dedication, it's a warning sign.
Top talent won't stay if their growth isn't your priority.
Leading by fear creates teams that underperform.
If you don't pay your people what they're worth, someone else will.
The Foundation: Leadership Accountability and Trust
The first truth hit close to home: "When your best people leave, it's not them. It's you." This reality check took root during my early teaching career, where I straddled both elementary and secondary education worlds. As a social studies teacher working with 7th and 8th graders at East Stroudsburg Area School District, I implemented elementary-inspired group learning strategies that transformed the traditional secondary classroom dynamic. The results spoke volumes: high academic performance coupled with zero office referrals. This success continued when I transitioned to teaching in an open-concept 5th grade classroom, where our students achieved exceptional PSSA performance scores.
The second truth about trust issues resonates particularly strongly in educational leadership. At South Side Elementary in Central Dauphin School District, I learned that trust extends beyond classroom walls. By fostering genuine parent and community relationships, we created a collaborative ecosystem that elevated school performance. This wasn't just about academic metrics – it was about building a community of trust where every stakeholder felt valued and heard.
The Power of Feedback and Authentic Leadership
My experience at Swatara Middle School crystallized another crucial truth: "Management that can't handle feedback won't survive change." Here, I mastered the integration of technology and data review in education, using these tools not just to track progress but to create meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders. Implementing Pennsylvania's first secondary school Response to Intervention program taught me that authentic leadership means being willing to pioneer new approaches while remaining open to continuous feedback and adjustment.
The alignment between actions and values became particularly evident during my tenure at Darby Township School. Despite achieving first-time AYP in the institution's history through strategic technology integration, I learned that the pace of change and the support of central administration are crucial factors in sustaining success. This experience reinforced that leadership isn't just about achieving goals—it's about building sustainable systems that can thrive even in challenging circumstances.
Creating Sustainable Growth Through Investment in People
The truth about investing in people resonated deeply during my time as an adjunct professor. Over nearly a decade of preparing future educators and administrators, I witnessed how proper professional development could transform not just individual teachers but entire educational ecosystems. This experience taught me that investing in people isn't just about providing training—it's about creating pathways for growth that align with both individual aspirations and institutional needs.
At Roberto Clemente Charter School, this principle took on new dimensions. Working across K-12, I gained profound insights into the importance of providing all learners with appropriate forums and support. This experience reinforced that sustainable growth requires creating inclusive environments where diverse perspectives are not just welcomed but actively sought out.
The Micromanagement Trap and Leadership by Fear
My journey from classroom teacher to educational leader taught me firsthand about the pitfalls of micromanagement. In my open-concept 5th grade classroom, success came not from controlling every aspect of student learning but from creating an environment that fostered independence and creativity. This lesson scaled beautifully when managing the $10+ million building and technology renovation project at Swatara Middle School—success came from trusting teams and focusing on outcomes rather than micromanaging processes.
The shift from a demerit-based system at Susquehanna Township to implementing positive behavior programs throughout my administrative career exemplifies the truth about fear-based leadership creating underperforming teams. By focusing on positive reinforcement and creating supportive environments, we consistently achieved better results across all metrics—from student behavior to academic performance.
Diversity and Growth: Beyond Surface-Level Initiatives
Leading diverse school communities, particularly at South Side Elementary, taught me that true diversity goes beyond demographics. It's about creating an environment where different perspectives, teaching styles, and learning approaches can flourish. This understanding proved invaluable when developing comprehensive professional development frameworks as an adjunct professor, where I helped prepare educators to create truly inclusive learning environments.
The AI Collaboration and Innovation Perspective
As a Cornell-certified AI strategist and educational technology leader, I believe in transparently embracing innovation while maintaining authenticity. Just as my early adoption of technology in the classroom evolved into leading comprehensive digital transformations, I've learned that innovation in leadership requires balancing new tools with timeless principles. This journey from implementing group learning strategies in an open-concept classroom to integrating AI in educational settings has taught me that successful innovation always centers on human connection and growth.
The AI Collaboration Note
In the spirit of transparency and embracing innovation, I want to share that this blog post was crafted in collaboration with Claude AI. This partnership helped articulate my leadership experiences while maintaining authenticity in the message. Just as modern leadership requires embracing new tools and approaches, this collaboration demonstrates how we can thoughtfully integrate AI to enhance, rather than replace, human expertise and authentic experiences.
Conclusion: Putting These Truths into Practice
These twelve truths have guided my evolution from an Air Force servicemember to an educational leader and technology strategist. My selection to the All Air Force Wrestling Team taught me early lessons about excellence and team performance that would later inform my approach to educational leadership. Whether leading a $10+ million renovation project, pioneering new intervention programs, or preparing the next generation of educators, these principles have proven invaluable.
The journey from classroom teacher to educational innovation leader has reinforced that successful leadership isn't about control—it's about creating environments where both students and educators can excel. When we trust our teams, invest in their growth, and build positive, inclusive cultures, we create institutions that don't just perform well—they transform lives.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Jordan is an Educational Innovation Leader and Technology Strategist with over three decades of experience spanning military service, K-12 administration, higher education, and business consulting. A Cornell-certified AI strategist (2024) and Ed.D. holder from Widener University, Dr. Jordan has pioneered numerous educational innovations, including Pennsylvania's first secondary school Response to Intervention program. His leadership journey began in the U.S. Air Force, where he was selected for the All Air Force Wrestling Team, and evolved through roles as a dual-certified teacher, school principal, and educational consultant. Dr. Jordan specializes in merging traditional educational excellence with cutting-edge technology integration, drawing on his unique combination of military precision, educational expertise, and business acumen.
Further Reading and Resources
Leadership Development
"Transformational Leadership in Educational Technology" - Widener University Doctoral Research
PASA Leadership Development Resources
National Middle School Association Conference Materials on Cultural Responsive Teaching
Technology Integration
Cornell University AI Strategy Implementation Guidelines
ISTE Leadership Resources and Frameworks
Data-Driven Decision Making in Educational Environments
Professional Growth
Building Effective Professional Learning Communities
Implementing Positive Behavior Support Systems
Technology Integration for Educational Excellence
Contact Information
Email: michael.jordan3236@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-jordan-airforce
Mobile: (610)945-7333
Original "12 Brutal Truths" content credited to Justin Wright (linkedin.com/in/jwmba)
