This article looks at what’s require to foster change from the grass roots of your organisation. It centres on what are known as ‘positive deviants’: isolated people who are already making progress toward solving the problems we all face. “The key is to engage the members of the community you want to change in the process of discovery, making them the evangelists of their own conversion experience. This means that as a leader, you will take on a very different role from the one you have played in previous change… Read more Your Company’s Secret Change Agents – Harvard Business Review →
I used this video to introduce Strengths-Based Leadership to attendees of the Emerging Leaders’ Summit 2013. It’s a great primer on why we should start with our strengths rather than our weaknesses. Playing to Your Strengths – Part I – YouTube.
Although this framework errs on the side of the analytical rather than the emotional, it’s still a useful read. Perhaps the most useful thing in it is the exploration of first order vs second order change, and how two different people can view the same change as being consistent with the prevailing paradigm or a departure from it. Each person has their own needs, and we, as leaders need to adjust to them. “Leadership matters. A significant, positive correlation exists between effective school leadership and student achievement.” via Balanced Leadership®:… Read more Balanced Leadership®: What 30 Years of Research Tells Us about the Effect of Leadership on Student Achievement →
If you’re finding it difficult to get your leader(s) to buy into the change you feel is necessary, think about approaching things from this angle: It’s up to each of us to lead our leaders You’ve got to speak up to lead up Before you lead up, you’ve got to team up. Trickle-Up Leadership | Fast Company | Business + Innovation.
Part II of leading up. If you want your leader to ‘get you’, try this approach: Prepare Open gently Initiate Summarise Establish next steps. Managing Up When You’re Down: The Power of POISE.
This guy is NZ’s own John Dewey; a visionary well ahead of his time. He came up twice during the #elsnz13 keynotes, and here’s a nice summary of his impact on education, written by UNESCO. Might be time to see whether we’re living up to his vision. http://www.ibe.unesco.org/publications/ThinkersPdf/beebye.PDF
