https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8amMCVAJQ
Times are changing, leaders are wanted, followers are needed...
What an interesting video, eh? As mentioned in some of my other peers' blogs (shout out to Tien, Brett and Marisa - ps. follow them), there has been a common theme of change. Whether it's receiving an iPad for Christmas, going from LinkedIn to Twitter, or revising lesson plans to incorporate 21st Century Learning, we have all experienced change. It truly is inevitable. It is what you do with that change that makes the difference. I need to pump the brakes a bit though. Change; where does it come from? Why is carried it out? Who are the main players?
Personal Answers: (please feel free to answer them differently)
-Changes comes from anywhere; it's mostly unpredictable.
-Change is carried out for many different reasons; change needs to happen, new directions, forced/unforced...so many different variables of why change happens.
-I first thought that the main player of change is the leader..I mean, it makes sense, right? Take politics for example; a new leader comes into power, their ideals are then filtered out into the society. Take education for example; every public school in Ontario follows the same curriculum but does that mean it is run the same way? No, it doesn't because the leaders of that school or school board leaves their imprint and changes things that they see fit.
As you can see, I always thought change came from the top and rarely ever thought about the people who actually are effected by the change; THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE! This is why I posted the video that I did. To show that although leaders are important, it is the initial follower that gets the movement going; starts turning the wheels. If it isn't for that initial follower, the leader wouldn't have any support; they'd be left on their own.
As I mentioned in Tien's post, I took an Effecting Change in Education course this past Fall and it was truly amazing as I've experienced change my entire life yet could hardly explain it to someone if they asked me what change is. If you are looking to brush up your skills on 'change' especially in education then I highly recommend this book: The Human Side of School Change. Take a second to look at this website:
So let me bring this back to you, the reader. I want to hear your thoughts about the video I posted and whether or not you agree with it. Who is more important? The leader of that change, the first follower or the followers who reinforce the 'first' follower?
Until next blog,
James Stewart
James,
ReplyDeleteObviously we both were on the same thinking trail! You focused change from a leadership perspective and the theory behind change. From my experience teaching in schools, I always reflected on my lessons everyday. Did it work with the students? Were they engaged? Did they understand the main concept? Were they able to take what they learned and applied it seamlessly to real-world application? Through these reflections, change may or may not occur. In a way, educators are innovators in how they teach their students and are creative in ways to reach all their students. Not only should educators reflect on their practice, but also collaborating with other teachers/administrators in the school. There is a reason why professional learning communities (PLCs) exist in schools. To answer your question, I think change has to occur in the individual first (the leader). They must believe in the change and be confident in where they stand. I also believe that it takes a lot of convincing to get followers to accept change. If you think about it, research exist in our world to answer questions and to prove a perspective. Through research, and proven results, change can occur.
Tien
Thanks for sharing your perspective on change and how it relates to leadership (and the video!). The importance of the first and second followers is highlighted and I also believe that leaders have to be passionate about their cause to motivate others to follow. In the clip, if the leader was not passionate about continuing to dance, he may have stopped before the first follower had a chance to "jump in". Passion and belief in a cause are essential (similar to Tien's comments) as is integrity. Doing what you say you will do is important for followers to stay following.
ReplyDeleteThrough my own professional journey, I have learned that leadership comes in many forms and change occurs at many levels - at the top and "on the ground". Both need to happen in order for real change to occur. As Fullan (2013) notes, paying attention to small "wins" and setbacks on a regular basis is the essence of "change management". I have been fortunate in my current position to be involved in meaningul work while feeling capable and helping to make small progress (as outlined in Stratosphere, p. 22). Although I am not in a formal leadership position, I certainly have an opportunity to lead from within and contribute to change within my department - with the objective of better serving our students and positively influencing their successful transition from school-to-work. Hoping to be an "activator" rather than a "facilitator" now!
Thanks for another great read James!
Marisa
Hi James,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Love the video.
I think change is incredibly important for all of us to be successful in our endeavours...same goes for the students we teach, mentor and advise each day.
As far as the importance of leadership is concerned, I've been influenced by Robin Sharma and John C. Maxwell, world-renowned authors and speakers on the subject of leadership, whose work I have referred to a number of times. Look them up when you have a chance!
Sharma has a great book called "The leader who had no Title", for instance, and Maxwell's work offers many great quotes, such as;
“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.”
And, on the topic of change...
“We cannot become what we need by remaining what we are.”
and
“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
John C. Maxwell
I also believe that anyone can be a leader. Some will be more influential than others, but everyone has the capacity to lead. Especially in education. You don't have to be an Administrator, Teacher or Counsellor. You can be a student. You can be younger, older, more or less experienced. It doesn't matter. What does matter, is that you are willing to do what is right, for the betterment of others. In education, that means doing what is needed to aid in one's learning. As a teacher, if a student shows me a very valuable fact, study tip, learning tool or shares an influential story about their learning experience, I'll broadcast it to everyone I know. If their leadership can help even one other person in that class, I would be a fool not to share it with others. As a student, I think that this exercise of blogging and commenting, is a great tool for each of us to exercise our leadership and ability as change agents and people of influence in the field of education.
Thanks for pushing us to consider this topic further James! Great post.
Great video that emphasizes an aspect of change we rarely think about. How to be a good follower has its own set of rules I guess but seems to need to be a spontaneous path to be meaningful. We all need to be able to change and that is what each of you has said. In this course it seems that you are open and willing to do so. First step whether a follower or presumed leader.
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