Time hasn't changed things
Originally Published in my Tumblr 2011
We are connected. We’ve got text messaging, email, ultraviolet streaming, Facebook, Skype, Tumblr, word press, websites, more email, twitter, direct messaging…
When you are dealing one on one with people put the tech away and look them straight in the eye and give them all the time they need to share what they need. Take notes, be engaged, and get to the point…but for everyone's sake get your head out of your tech.
Now I should get back to my driving! ;-)
Culture... Petri Dish -- Part II
Originally Published in my Tumblr 2011
While you can recognize the culture in most places, try changing it! Some would say it’s impossible. I don’t say that at all, but it does take a plan.
Leadership is the primary tool for changing the culture! Storytelling, visioning, modeling behavior, persuasion, decision making, etc. You gotta walk the walk and talk the talk. Tough deal sometimes when you are “living” the negative or current culture over an extended time frame. But it can be done. Find someone you trust with your life and ask them to hold you accountable. They will and you will lead as you have never led before. It’s a killer lifestyle change if you are totally immersed in the muck, but so worth it.
Be prepared after the confidence builder in the “Lessons of Leadership” that you’re ready to do a little managing. You are going to have to define roles, hire and fire a little, and really gather the troops around a common goal organizationally. Rituals and incentives work and you should remember to sprinkle a little accountability over the entire process.
After that, you will start to see changes in the institutional culture…maybe. If not the “Power” position might be your last resort. Use it sparingly because there is great truth in the rumor that “Power” corrupts. Power is punishing, threatening, and all that ugly stuff you see in prison movies.
I saw a presentation once where these three tools were best described as Inspiration, Information, & Intimidation! You’ll enjoy the journey and so will those valuable employees that share your passion.
One more thing. Always remember to follow the directions on the shampoo bottle. Don’t ever forget to wash, rinse and repeat! Keep it fresh and new every day, all the time.
Culture doesn't always grow in a petri dish
Originally published in my Tumblr account 2011
Spend ten minutes in any one place and you’ll get a pretty good idea about the institutional culture. If it’s a private institution it might take you less time, a public one may take you a bit longer. But I am sure you may, in a very short time, discover what makes them tick. (Just for fun, when no one is looking come back and talk to the people that work in the cafeteria, or the janitor, maybe even those people that work quietly in the warehouse. Now what did you learn?)
Think about it! You’ve got a birds-eye view of everything. What’s on the walls? What do they give you as you walk in the door? How does it smell? The walk around tour’s path and why? How clean are the bathrooms? Even the temperature in each room can give a small part of the culture away. Just observe all those things the next time you’re visiting someones home, school or business. I always find it interesting that some of the most warmly decorated, welcoming places are freezing cold!
Now that you’ve taken a moment to recall the culture of your favorite place ask yourself this question, “Does the perceived culture represent the true culture?” You’ll find that question to be a simple one compared to the hard one, “Does it matter?” YES, it matters! Otherwise, they wouldn’t try to be something they aren’t. Why try if it really doesn’t matter.
To be continued…
Purpose"less" Leadership
Originally Published in my Tumblr 2011
Stagnant water stinks! So does stagnant leadership.
Have you ever been someplace so long you sit in meeting with people you work with and while the leader says “This year is going to be different” the comments from the room are negative and almost certain to include shaking heads?
Or, you’re the new guy and in that very same meeting you are excited about the future, but the shaking heads soon lead to the “meeting after the meeting” and the dreaded words, “Things will never change, I’ve been around here for years and nothing ever changes.”
The leader even takes the time to privately bemoan the fact that his appointed leaders can’t ever get the job done and he must do it all. The scenario is really familiar and happens in at least 60% of small businesses and schools. How do I know? I’ve been “that” leader and I’ve witnessed others going through the very same thing.
What are the symptoms? Communication is one-sided. People are present but not attentive. Nothing gets done in a timely manner. And almost everyone in leadership is to busy telling you how important they are, rather than being a part of the solution. And employees, when they make a mistake are considered worthless and morons. Oh, one last thing! When you’re the new guy, they try to convince you that you are worthless, and you can’t change the place so don’t bother to try.
The leader really isn’t totally at fault in a setting where purposeless leadership is the norm. But that leader does bear the burden of creating a new culture. Good luck with that…or just read my next post.
Purpose
Originally Published in Tumblr 2011
I don’t really know why, but I am back to blogging again and my topics are all based on this thing called leadership, for the moment.
We are put here for so many reasons. Some have gifts in athletics, others in music, more in service and some in parenthood. Each of those things demands a certain level of excellence and even competition. But a truly gifted person finds a way to teach others to aspire to greatness, beyond their wildest dreams.
The comparison most used is that of a parent. A mother nurtures a daughter to be a better mother than she was, and a son to be the man that she would hope finds that daughter. A father does the same thing for his son, teaching him to be a man better than he was and leads his daughter to know the traits found in that very same man.
In our businesses and institutions, it is simply our purpose as leaders to develop leaders. The qualities and strengths of those future leaders should if at all possible, be greater than any of our own. When we choose that pathway we almost guarantee our success.
If we don’t, then we are likely to experience the topic in my next post.
Misdirected Leadership
Originally Publish in 2010 in Tumblr
When I worked in schools the hardest thing I can remember learning didn’t have to do with students, discipline, parents, faculty or staff. It honestly had to do with me.
If you are a leader you are expected to cast vision and prepare a pathway for the mission of the organization. As a young administrator, learning my craft and paddling by hand, I made a few mistakes. The largest was…
- To be liked
- To make others happy
- To be liked
- To tell people what they want to hear
And I could go on and on. Make a decision, communicate it, and live by it. When you’re wrong, admit it. When you need to change course for the benefit of everyone…do it. The most difficult thing I learned was in being just stubborn enough and nice enough to find a “swift” enough current in the river of administration to avoid the rapids of leadership and find the right destination.
Beyond
My father was an amateur photographer. He carefully instructed my brother and I in the proper terms for things, one, in particular, was "Depth of Field." When I was 12 years old it meant, "it's either all in focus or not." Today, while I know the proper definition, it means how I see beyond the now, the immediate, or the right now.
I devoted much of my life to preparing my students and my colleagues for what lies ahead as life-long learners. My passion was simply to be aware and prepared for what's next.
So, what's next?
We live in a world that is dynamic. Data and information drive more than our minds can fathom or accept, we've decided we're uncertain about "driverless cars," but our response is to all these new opportunities is predictable. Typically, what we don't understand we avoid and ignore. (Did you ever see a VCR flashing 12:00?)
During the last three years, I spent time in an urban classroom, serving middle school students. It was exciting, exasperating, eye-opening and exhausting! WOW! What amazingly talented students, each in their own way, learning to navigate through this ever-changing world. I surveyed and questioned students, parents, and teachers. I wanted to be able to assist them in being that life-long learner always prepared for what's next!
In ten years, even compared to the last ten, our lives will be well beyond our current focal point. I think it's imperative that our schools deliberately choose to be different. I have been gathering data and have discovered that, while doing many fantastic things, we are stuck in that traditional method of learning. More importantly, my research concurs with others and I simply can not say it better.
Are we ready for this? Will our graduates be ready to thrive in this world?
As I survey the data we’ve collected on these coming realities, and as I hear from students across the country, I’ve distilled my two chief concerns:
- Mental Health
- Moral Fluidity
You see, this coming “smart world” presents an overwhelming amount of information and choices, the likes of which our brains were not designed to handle all at once. The angst, depression and anxiety attacks we already see in adolescents is the result of many realities, not the least of which is the constant ping of the phone, thanks to social media. Get ready for more mental health issues on campus and at home. Somehow, I don’t believe the answer is simply to take more meds.
Furthermore, the moral fluidity stems from the fact that our smart world opens up all sorts of options for pleasure and opportunities for exploration, some of which we have no idea how to handle. What do we make of the moral implications of robots that can offer a cup of coffee and a sexual favor at an exclusive café? Or, how about the implications of sending robots into another nation to fight our war? Does that make it easier to declare war since it costs us technology and money more than human life? Is it right to make a moral decision based purely on convenience?
You see, our technology has the potential to carry us further than our character can sustain us. Trouble brews when our integrity doesn’t keep pace with the momentum created by that smart technology. Students can develop “elastic morality.” Tim Elmore, On leading the next generation.
There's more to come and more to learn about what I'd love to have you join me in creating. I'm rebuilding Winding Creek to continue to serve students in urban settings. Stay tuned for updates and information.
Thanks for reading along and seeing a little into the beyond with me.
Until then,
Scott
Daunting isn't it!
Before you watch this video think about your learning experience. Think about how you used a calculator for the first time - in school. Think about your understanding of differentiated instruction. Think about how in such a short time things are more dynamic, more temporary and more...just...more. Did your parent's VCR always blink 12:00? Now fathom the task of a educator! Okay you're ready. Please press play.
How does your school compare?
Our friends in Australia have some fantastic ideas. I don't think we are going to get there tomorrow, but let's make a plan and work it through. Are you with me?
I keep being reminded of some dear friends in education that always remind me that there is only one way to eat an elephant. Before we give the answer away, let's make sure we're prepared for the feast. (No elephant's were harmed in the sharing of that sage piece of wisdom --- by the way "one bite at a time.")