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The Lesser-Known Leader

Not a highlight reel. The real stories, and what they taught me about leading people.

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LeadershipCultureStrategy

Create a culture people want to be part of.

Coaching, workshops, and strategy for school and organizational leaders.

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Most organizations don't need more ideas. They need the trust, clarity, and everyday leadership that turn good intentions into results. Burde Leadership Group works with leaders and teams to strengthen culture, clarify what matters, and build the habits that move people and organizations forward.

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Portrait of Michael Burde, Ph.D., founder of Burde Leadership Group, smiling in a navy suit
Michael Burde, Ph.D.Founder, Burde Leadership Group
Know and Grow Your Team Build a Shared Vision Lead the Learning Navigate the Gray Clarify Decisions and Share Ownership Get Better Together

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Three free ways to start this week

Practical tools for the everyday work of leading people and shaping culture. No sales pitch. Use them with your team on Monday morning.

Every Monday

Insights

A curated set of talks to spark useful conversation and action with your team. Every Monday morning we refresh three featured videos to help you launch the week.

This week's trio
  • Julian Treasure: 5 ways to listen better
  • Celeste Headlee: 10 ways to have a better conversation
  • Stanley McChrystal: Listen, learn ... then lead
Watch this week's talks
5 to 7 minutes

BLG Leadership Lite

A short self-reflection on the six domains of the BLG Leadership Framework. You'll receive an email with an instant snapshot of where you're strong and where to focus next.

Your responses stay yours
  • Six domains of how you lead
  • One-page snapshot by email
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Every Friday

BLG Weekly Blog

Each week we gather what's useful into one short post. Clear ideas. Real stories. Something you can try with your team.

Latest post
  • Fair Process Is Trust People Can See (October 23, 2026)
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Our approach

How we work

Listen first

We start with your people, your context, and the problem you're actually facing. No canned playbook before we understand the room.

Make the path clear

Together we pick a few priorities that matter, then turn them into next steps leaders and teams can use this week.

Actions people can feel

People don't experience intentions. They experience actions. We focus on habits and conditions that show up in the work, not slogans on the wall.

Build and sustain

Turn priorities into repeatable habits, shared ownership, and progress that lasts.

Services

Connected work. One mission.

Helping leaders build cultures people want to be part of.

High-Performing Teams

For teams that want honest collaboration and results that stick.

  • Shared vision
  • Clear decisions
  • Shared ownership
  • Strategy and alignment
  • Getting better together
Learn more about High-Performing Teams

Michael Burde, Ph.D.

  • More than 25 years of leadership in K-12 education
  • 16 years in district leadership
  • Statewide association president and national board member
  • City commissioner
  • Ph.D., Educational Leadership, Western Michigan University

About

About Mike, founder of Burde Leadership Group.

Mike built Burde Leadership Group after more than 25 years leading in complex organizations as a teacher, principal, district leader, and community leader. One lesson stayed: people do their best work when they trust one another, know what's expected, and believe their contribution matters.

Six things we help leaders do every day: know and grow your team, build a shared vision, lead the learning, navigate the gray, clarify decisions and share ownership, and get better together.

Why BLG exists

In their words

What colleagues are saying

I have had the privilege of knowing Mike as both a trusted friend and elected office colleague, and I have seen firsthand his ability to bring out the best in people and teams. He understands that meaningful leadership is not simply about setting direction. It is about developing people, building trust, and creating a culture where individuals feel valued and motivated to contribute. His thoughtful, practical approach helps organizations align their people, culture, and strategy around a shared purpose. I confidently recommend him to any organization seeking a leadership partner who can help create a workplace people genuinely want to be part of.

Gary CareyMayor, City of Walker (Michigan)

Mike Burde is one of those rare leaders who has spent his career doing more than improving schools. He has challenged the assumptions underneath how schools are designed to work. What excites me most about Burde Leadership Group is that Mike isn't simply going to tell leaders what to do. He understands the messy, human work of leading change when the vision is bigger than the system's current reality.

Virgel HammondsCo-Chief Executive Officer, FullScale

For over ten years, I've watched Dr. Michael Burde lead with vision and expertise in change management, competency-based learning, and instructional design. A gifted facilitator with outstanding listening skills, he builds genuine collaboration among leaders across the state, making him one of the most effective and trusted voices in education today.

Dave Richards, Ph.D.President, Core2EdgeExecutive Director, Future of Learning Council

Having collaborated with educators across the country in support of student learning, I've found Dr. Michael Burde to be among the very best at guiding teams to build the culture, mindsets, and actions needed for high-level collaborative work that serves students.

Jonathan G. VanderElsPartner and Lead Associate, V&S School SolutionsAuthor and Associate, Solution Tree

Ready to strengthen the conditions where people do their best work?

Whether you're developing leaders, strengthening a team, navigating organizational change, or simply trying to determine what comes next, we'd be glad to start with a conversation.

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Practical leadership. Real teams. Actions you can use Monday morning.