Together Friends,
Welcome to May — also known in many circles as May-cember, given the end-of-year feel as the school year wraps up and we’re inundated with events and the tasks of closing the year. How are we all doing? I’m pretty excited our college kiddo is home for the summer, and half of the Semi-Together Teenagers are fully employed.
If you’re feeling the end-of-year push (Field Days! Graduations! Band Performances!), you’re not alone. This is the time of year when calendars get crowded (need a Prioritization Post-it, anyone?!), energy gets stretched (I’m taking my Vitamin C), and staying Together matters more than ever.
In the spirit of keeping things real and grounded, I’m excited to share this Together Tour (which is extra fun in light of National Nurses Week, celebrated earlier this month!) — a look inside the systems of someone managing a complex role with clarity, flexibility, and a whole lot of compassion.
Together Tour: Becca Harkleroad
This month, we’re visiting Becca Harkleroad, Executive Director of the Texas School Nurses Organization (TSNO). Becca has joined us in some recent Together courses and we loved her energy and enthusiasm.
Becca stepped into her role after years of serving on TSNO’s board while also working as a school nurse herself. Today, she leads a statewide organization that supports nurses across Texas — many of whom are working in highly independent, and often isolating, roles. As Becca shared her systems, what stood out most was how thoughtfully she balances structure with flexibility — especially as what she calls a “senior team of one.”
Let’s take a look.
How did you first find your way to Togetherness?
One of my colleagues read The Together Leader and recommended it to me. When I started digging into it, I remember thinking, “This feels like a planner for people who need planners.”
Some parts felt intimidating at first, especially the goals section. But the templates and tools really clicked for me. They gave structure to things I was already trying to do — just in a much more intentional way.
Your role is unique — you’re leading a statewide organization with a volunteer board. What does that actually look like?
For a long time, TSNO was entirely run by volunteers. I had been on the board for about four years, and we were all working really hard — but not always in a coordinated way. We were all school nurses, not association management professionals! In my professional role, I stepped in to help standardize things across districts — forms, processes, systems — while I was also in grad school during COVID.
After having a part-time Executive Director for a couple of years, TSNO realized we needed to stretch our resources and hire a full-time Executive Director. . . and that ended up being me. So now, I’m essentially a team of one, working alongside a volunteer board. That means I have to be really intentional about where my time goes.
How have you adjusted your approach to time and focus in that kind of role?
I’ve had to get much more intentional — and honestly, a little more protective — of my time. I’m very clear about when I’m available to meet, and I block off large chunks of time for deep work. That’s the work that actually moves things forward. Before, I was constantly task-switching — answering emails as they came in, bouncing between things. Now, I’ll pin emails and come back to them later so I can stay focused. That shift alone has made a huge difference.
You’re working with a volunteer board. How do you help create accountability across the team when you are not the supervisor of anyone?
That’s been one of the biggest challenges. In the past, we had a lot of ideas, but things weren’t always getting done. I didn’t have the capacity to be the thought partner for every committee and also hold everything together. So this year, we’re really focusing on clarity and shared accountability. I’m using an Action Items tracker where every task has:
- a clear description
- an owner
- a deadline
- visibility into progress
It’s still a work in progress, but the goal is to make expectations really clear so people can follow through.
You’re supporting school nurses across Texas — many of whom work in isolation. How do you support them without overwhelming them?
That’s something I think about a lot. School nurses in Texas aren’t always working within standardized systems, and many of them are the only nurse on their campus. They don’t have someone down the hall to ask questions.
At first, I tried introducing more complex tools — things like project management platforms — and it just didn’t work. It was too much. (Editor’s Note: I love a simple hub or dashboard! Find some more examples here and here.)
So now I focus on connection and simplicity. I created a resource hub where nurses can easily access what they need, and I connect people to each other. If someone has a question, I’ll often say, “Here’s a nurse who’s dealt with this exact situation.” A big part of the work is helping them feel like they’re not alone.
What tools are most essential for your day-to-day work?
I use all the core Together Tools — Weekly Worksheet, Later List, Thought Catchers, Meeting Notes, Priority Plans.
I also keep a spiral notebook for brainstorming — it’s messy, full of chicken scratches, and totally functional. When I’m done with a page, I tear it out and recycle it. It’s weirdly satisfying. (Editor’s Note: Me too, Becca, me too!)
Let’s talk about your systems at home. What helps you stay Together there?
I’ll highlight two things — one digital, one paper. My grocery list is a big deal to me. The HEB grocery store app organizes items by store layout, so I can shop efficiently without doubling back.
At home, we use a paper wall calendar — we call it the “love fern” (from How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days). That’s where we track birthdays, travel, and anything that takes one of us out of the house for a full day. My husband isn’t very tech-oriented, so this works for both of us. (Editor’s Note: This is a great thing to pay attention to when working on Togetherness with others. It’s important to build and use tools that work for all the people they’re serving!)
You mentioned “bookending” your day. What does that look like?
I’m not a big journaler, so I created a simple system. I use a quadrant reflection page where I can just jot things down throughout the day — quick thoughts, reactions, things I want to remember. My dad used to talk about being able to “sit down in your soul,” and that’s what this is for me.
At the end of the day, I do a “rose, thorn, rainbow” reflection — what went well, what was hard, and what I’m looking forward to. It helps me close out the day and move into the next one with intention.
You’ve made some intentional shifts around boundaries and focus. What’s helped you most there?
Two things: The Brick and the Lasso.
At night, I lock down my phone with the Brick so I only have access to a few essential apps. And in the morning, I use an alarm called the Lasso that requires me to physically get up and scan something to turn it off. It sounds small, but it’s made a big difference in how I start and end my day.
Becca, thank you for sharing such a real and thoughtful look at how you’re staying Together and helping school nurses do the same. I especially appreciated your push towards simplicity — and how Togetherness supports a team of one! In a role supporting a group of people who often work independently, your focus on connection and providing resources is making a real difference.
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Project planning can be murky. How do you manage a project when you’re not sure what the end result will be (or even should be)? Design an Artistic Project Plan as you and your team to help your team move forward with iterative work. (PS Have a Togetherness question you’d like help with? Ask here!)
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Planning a job switch? This is a time of year when many are planning a move from one role to another. If this is the case for you, be sure to plan your transition with Togetherness in mind!
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Make the time to complete tedious tasks. Do you procrastinate those boring tasks (or is it just me)? Schedule some time for deep admin before the summer starts so you can get these tasks off your to-do list!
