Acquiring New Skills
Think back to learning how to drive. You may have watched from the passenger seat, played racing video games, or confidently ridden the Cars attraction at Disneyland. But none of those experiences truly prepared you for the real thing, such as navigating traffic, understanding right-of-way, or parallel parking under pressure. In this episode, Susan and Tessa explore how that learning curve mirrors the journey of leadership.
They reflect on the early stage of being unconsciously incompetent, when we don't even realize what we don’t know. Much like a new driver, new leaders often assume they are ready simply because they have observed others in the role. However, once immersed in the day-to-day demands, they quickly learn that leadership requires a whole new set of skills, awareness, and resilience. Susan and Tessa share honest examples of their own early missteps and explain the real stages of acquiring new skills.
Whether you're fumbling through your first staff meeting or trying to model leadership you have never personally experienced, this episode offers encouragement and clarity. Growth takes time, and every mistake is a valuable part of the process.
The Hosts of The Dips of Doubt:
Tessa Brock
Tessa is a passionate, engaging and inspiring presenter who tackles the tough topics of Organizational Culture, Trauma Responsive Approaches, Communication, Reflective Practice, and Self-Care with a balance of expertise, honesty, and humor. Tessa has worked with schools through Fortune 500 organizations to enhance interpersonal interactions. Through her genuine and authentic manner, Tessa skillfully uses story to drive home key concepts that make a lasting impression. Tessa has a Master’s degree, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), is Infant/Toddler Mental Health Endorsed Level III (IMH-E III), and is a Certified Executive Coach. Tessa actively coaches, trains, and consults with organizations and schools to enhance relationship-based and trauma-responsive skills and strategies used with professionals, students, and parents. The Neurosequential Network acknowledges that Tessa has completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase I level. She is an international speaker and national consultant.
Susan Rosenthal
Prior to joining the Pima County School Superintendent's office, Susan spent 30 years in the Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD) where she served in a variety of roles. She found her passion for mentoring early in her career and had a Superintendent who supported her desire to create a Beginning Teacher Assistance Program that helped new teachers onboard, acclimate and thrive. Later her work morphed into an Induction Program through her work as a Career Ladder Supervisor for K-12 educators. Susan's unique approach to teaching, learning and leadership is a result of her K-12 perspective and experiences as a former elementary teacher, high school assistant principal and middle school principal. She was afforded many training opportunities over her career and upon retiring from her former district, she spent her first year mentoring new administrators and coaching individuals obtaining their teaching certificate through Arizona Teachers of Tomorrow. Susan now serves as the Director of LEADNow! In her role, she is the co-facilitator of the LEADNow! Institute for new and aspiring principal leaders, and she provides mentorship to former LEADNow! participants who want to continue to optimize their leadership skills. She has her M.Ed., Standard Principal, PreK-12, Standard Professional Elementary, K-8, Early Childhood Endorsement, and she is a Certified NAESP National Principal Mentor.
