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Wk4 Leadership Project Blog Post: Leadership Role Model Reflection

photo courtesy of addyosmani.com 

Ok, so here goes a little dreaming…I love Google. Maybe you’re thinking, “Right, who doesn’t?” Whenever I drive by the Corporate Google offices here in Austin, I end up coming home and doing a little research, I mean it’s just right there, not far from my house!

There are very specific reasons why I love Google that are directly related to leadership. One of those reasons is culture and diversity. I would love to be a part of an organization of people from all over the world who come together to collaborate on ways to create products that make life more interesting and efficient for the world. There is no single “type” of Googler. Google hires creative, innovative and smart people who are able to work collaboratively to think into the future and explore the next world-changing technology that could impact billions of people. This is like the NASA of everyday technology!

Another reason that I love Google is that women lead major portions of the business. I look to women as role models for leadership because I am a woman. That is not to say that I cannot learn from male leaders, I can and do, but a holding female leadership as a core value is a very important to me.

Finally, as a leadership role model, I appreciate how Google sees their employees as human beings. While they may refer to their employees as Googlers, at least they are not numbers. From what I know about the company, they have invested the same type of innovation that goes into their products into their benefits. They care about the whole person, that is, they strive to address the needs of their employees like we wish any company would. Their benefits are designed around taking care of the whole person’s health; physically, emotionally, socially and financially.

I’m not saying that Google is a perfect company or the only possible great place to pursue a career but it is certainly a role model for 21^st century companies on the cutting edge of innovation in technology, marketing and employee care.

Week 4 Wimba Blog Post

I was sorry to miss this Wimba session because I really enjoy the conversations related to the reading. In lieu of attending, I am posting my own responses to the questions posed to the live group.

How is The Art of Possibility different than The Power of Positive Thinking or Oprah’s “The Secret?”

This was a difficult question for me to answer because I’ve not read either of those books so it was good for me to read other’s responses to the question. It seemed that the key difference was that The Art of Possibility starts from a point of reality then expands that reality with the question, “Now what are you going to do?”

What were the most meaningful chapters for you? Why?

It is difficult for me to pick favorite chapters because all of the chapters are beneficial to me in different ways so I will have to choose a few chapters that are most relevant for me currently. I found chapters 3 & 6 very relevant to my current evolution. They are kind of related. Chapter 3 is “Giving an A” and Chapter 6 is “Rule Number 6/Don’t Take Yourself so Seriously”. There has been a lot of pressure on me this year to “make the numbers happen” that my campus needs to meet AYP (national standards). The pressure from administration has been relentless and it began before the students even arrived. Along with the need to meet national standards for funding, Texas introduced a new standardized test with impressive rigor that made meeting former standards extra fun. So this was an interesting year to undertake a graduate program! To be honest, I have just had my nose to the grindstone for 12 months. The process has taken it’s toll on my emotionally and even physically. I have questions with regard to the profession of education that will remain unanswered but knowing that I am nearing the end of this graduate program has created some room for a shift. I would not want to live my life like this and I’m glad that this season is coming to a close. It is time for me to lighten up and give myself an A. In moving forward, I hope that I am able to extend the same levity and encouragement to my students that the Zanders do in their work.

What things are you going to take from the reading and use in your teaching and life?

The Art of Possibility is very much in line with a general life philosophy that I have maintained and practiced for years. Even though I still consider myself a beginner, when Zander speaks of “a universe of possibility”, “creating space for possibilities to emerge”, “being the board” and “telling the WE story” these are aspects of the life I aspire to live, personally and professionally.

Response to Mary Wilson’s Week 4 Reading Blog: Being the Board

Mary’s Blog:

Every chapter of this book has shifted my perception of my world a little bit. Being the board tilted my perception even more. I, as many people do, often blame others for what happens to me. But in this chapter I was presented with a new way of thinking. Putting the blame on others takes all of your power, it makes it where the situation seems helpless because it is out of your realm. Instead in the new way of looking at things you take that power back on to your "board" you have control of situations, or how you perceive the situation. 

I try to apply all of the chapters I am reading to my own life and this one is no different. I have been really stressed out lately and often blame it on my kids, my students, homework, time. But this is taking the power away from me. If I bring everything back to my board then I can choose a different way to look at or view my world. I chose to have a family (whom a truly love and am thankful for), to work at a school with challenging students, and to attain my master’s degree this year. As I sit here at the start of a holiday weekend completing homework with my youngest child on my lap my older one sitting next to me, a stack of papers to grade, and a husband urging me to hurry up so we can leave on our vacation, I have to think this is my life, this is my board and I love it.

My Response:

Mary, I enjoyed your candid blog post. This has been such a challenging year and it has been nice to have some time this month to reflect of who we are as leaders. It has been especially nice to dream a little about the leaders that we hope to become, how we want to “show up” in the world and where we’d like to take our post-EMDT dreams to make them into realities. I think that the reading this month has been well positioned in terms of our overall learning. As I stated in my blog about being the board, there is so much freedom in holding a perspective that puts us in control of our interpretations of situations. Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope you had a great vacation. You deserve it!

Response to Nykoli Hyatt’s Week 4 Reading Blog: Who Said it isn’t About Me?

 Nykoli’s Blog:

It isn't about me...Really?

My daughter is always reminding me that things aren't always about me but I believe her to be wrong.  It is always about me in as much I am always involved, I might not be at the forefront, I might be giving to others but I believe that so long as I am actively involved then I will make it about me.  

I believe in treating people's children with dignity and respect.  I have children and I hope that the kindness I extend to other people's children will be blessings waiting out there for my two.

Is it the power of music or the power of possibility? Or even the powerful force of paying forward.

The possibilities of that first spark. To see it ignite, take hold... the changes, make a child, an adult believe in the possibilities of their own existence is something I would like to witness.  I am in contact with some of my past students, maybe I am witnessing without being consciously aware that I am (I just thought of that). This is s wow moment for me.

I always feel that there are choices and even when our back is up against the wall, we have choices.  When we do one thing, it means we have neglected the other choice (irrespective of whether we think it so or not).

Whether I accept myself as the Board or not, I guess that is what I am. Using Mr. Zander's analogy, I imagine, would empower me rather than feeling like 'stuff' happens to me and life is fair/unfair. It is not an easy concept to accept and put into practice at this point, but with conscious thought and effort, who knows...

Being the Board all the time may leave one weary. I just can't seem to conceptualize how it would work as I think about it, others around me would have to be in a similar mind frame (as Cora, knowing about the 'A') in order for it to 'work'.

Rule number 6 is a great start for me. I do take myself too seriously and I get what Mr. Zander but once again a bit difficult to create these frameworks of possibilities and share it with others on a daily basis... Some things are much easier said than done (practiced). Could it be just small acts of kindness (like the teacher did for that student) or is it much more?

This way of thinking, living, being, calls for a renewing of the mind which no one would argue is an ill-fated task, but rather a conscious way of assessing and living one's life.  Whether it is or isn't, I guess I will start with small acts of kindness for right now, I do not feel like being concerned with anyone else but myself.  I will have to start small if I hope to incorporate these frameworks of possibility as part of who I am.

This all calls for a consciousness of thinking...

Though I have seen small changes (every now and again) in past students.  I haven't had the opportunity of seeing any of them realize their potential yet... but I believe I will see that and Lord knows, I am hoping to see that time and time and time again repeated by many.  I have encountered numerous young lives that I know have abilities beyond what had before been tapped into... My hope is that something I said, something I did will be remembered and that will take them to their dreams... and far beyond... only time will tell.

Hasanni and Imani- the possibilities are endless-You are and I know I will see great things!

My Response:

Nykoli, as I read your blog, I felt like to could track a progression of thought. It seemed that you were processing some new information and thinking of how to practically apply some new insight. That was fun to read! I have read Zander’s book previously so it was nice for me to be in a more reflective mode than assimilation mode. I love that you ended your blog by applying the promise of endless possibilities towards your children. If there is a better gift that a mom can impart to her children, I don’t know what it is. You may enjoy reading a little book called, Mastery by George Leonard. I have found it to be a great little handbook for applying new learning. I have referred to it many times throughout my time in this program. 

MAC Week 4 Reading Blog: The Art of Possibility Chapters 9-12

photo courtesy of pixalatedpallet.com

Chapter 9. Lighting a Spark

The art of generating a spark of possibility seems very connected to presence. If am able to stay open to the “noticing” that we read about last week, then I am often able to feel for openings, ways to connects. Many times this kind of connection will happen with words but sometimes it’s small gestures or even just allowing space that can be enough to let what might occur to occur. I’ve experienced this kind of connection in my work, personally and creatively. So often “enrollment” is simply allowing things to unfold naturally and that natural unfolding often seems serendipitous.

Chapter 10. Being the Board

At some point in my adult life I began to think of responsibility as “the ability to respond.” The actual definition is not far off but somehow embedding my personal response into the meaning of the word made a difference for me. Now that I am the board, the captain of my ship, the master of my fate, I get to choose. Often choice is related to redesigning something and sometimes it’s about cleaning up messes that I’ve made but it’s all mine even if it’s only mine in thought or perspective. I am the board and I make the executive decisions of who I choose to be in the world.

Chapter 11. Creating Frameworks for Possibility

This chapter allowed me to reflect on the power of gratitude. In my own personal experience, gratitude had been the single most powerful practice that I have cultivated. In terms of restructuring meanings and creating visions, there’s a lot to be said about creativity, letting go of spiral thinking and living without a scarcity mentality but nothing will expedite the process of creating frameworks of possibilities for me like gratitude.  

Chapter 12. Telling the WE Story

I had to laugh about getting past the “us and them” in this chapter because I get so caught up in the “me, myself and I” that I’m often not even in that conversation! But I do get the point. I like how Zander gives contrasting conversations in this chapter. When you compare an “I” conversation with a “we” conversation, the possibilities really stand out. “I” conversations sound very closed. I don’t know an effective leader who is not good at maintaining this type of perspective.

Week 3 Leadership Project HUB

An International Society for Technology in Education publication 

 The title of my project is, "Research on Social Motivation and School-Wide Broadcasting." After choosing to publish, I read through lots of journals to find a good fit for the content of my paper. Initially, I wanted to publish with Edutopia for reasons previously posted. They are currently only accepting articles in the form of blogs so I will continue to pursue that type of publication this summer. For this project, I submitted my project for publication with ISTE's magazine Leading & Learning with Technology. This publication features practical ideas for integrating technology into classrooms. I think my experiences with school-wide broadcasting will fit well with this publication and their readership.


Week 1 Leadership Blog Post

Week 2 Leadership Blog Post

Leadership Project Document