Several of my first blog posts have been based on the article, "13 Personality Traits That Can Keep You From Success". However, there is one trait that we all posses that, if not addressed, can keep us from success. That trait is not being able to disconnect.
As an educator for the past 20 years, I live, breathe and sleep all things school related. Not a moment can go by that I can stop thinking, dreaming, worrying, or planning about my educational life. When I was a teacher, I would plan my lessons in my mind at all hours, including in my sleep where I would wake up and write lesson plan ideas on a napkin beside my bed (like Seinfeld) and wake up in the morning trying to decipher what I wrote down. I would think about nothing else except how I could do a better job in preparing for my moments with my students, for it was everything to me.
As I grew professionally, my job responsibilities changed from the classroom level to the school level as a Science Department Chair and then an Assistant Principal to the district level as a CIO and Director of Technology. While my responsibilities on a day to day basis changed, my goals were still the same...do everything in my power and influence to insure the best education possible for all students in my class, school and district. This occupied a lot of my mental energy and time. Even at home with my own family, everything became a lesson, a learning experience. This was not a bad thing, at least I don't think it was. Even as I sit here today, December 29, 2014 in my 6th day of what is supposed to be a vacation, I am here writing this blog.
So here is the point of this post. I need to disconnect...at least for a brief moment in time to recalibrate, refresh and start with renewed passion and energy, not because I am burnt out (which I am not) but because it will make me more focused and thus, more successful. I have one more week of vacation and while I brought home 3 books to read on leadership, I will disconnect for a few days and recharge my batteries.
Here is what I will do, or not do: (only after I finish this post and share it on Twitter)
1. I will meditate to try and clear my mind to get a restful night sleep.
2. I will not check e-mail or Twitter from now until January 3.
3. I will read a book for pleasure...not a book on Leadership.
4. I will enjoy nature...maybe take a long walk or hike with the family.
5. I will spend time with my children doing something that they want to do, even if it is silly and has no educational value whatsoever.
6. On New Year's Eve, I will make a list of all the things that I am thankful for and share it with my family...I will try and keep it personal instead of professional, although I am very thankful for the work that I am able to do. (A post of the difference between things you "have to do" and things you "get to do" will come in January.)
7. I will spend some time relaxing, although I need to learn how to do that.
Thank you to anyone who has spent the time to read any of my posts. I hope that they got you thinking, because writing them sure got my mind working. Happy New Year!
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Monday, December 29, 2014
Friday, December 26, 2014
Transforming Instruction...with Technology Post #1
So, I caught your attention with the title of the post. As educational leaders, we are all interested in learning how to transform instruction with technology. The problem is that we are often stuck in the "distracted phase" as I discussed in one of my previous posts. In my quest to unpack what it means to transform, I was given a book to read titled, "Transforming Leadership" by James MacGregor Burns. As described by Stephen Covey, "The goal of transformational leadership is to “transform” people and organizations in a literal sense – to change them in mind and heart; enlarge vision, insight, and understanding; clarify purposes; make behavior congruent with beliefs, principles, or values; and bring about changes that are permanent, self-perpetuating, and momentum building." - Steven Covey,
Author of 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.
In the early part of "Transforming Leadership", Burns makes a distinction between the verbs "change" and "transform". "To change is to substitute one thing for another," while transform meant to "cause a metamorphosis in form or structure."
In recent conversations, my colleagues and I have been preparing for a BYOD integration in the next nine months. Here is where "change" needs to be "transform". As we discussed the implementation of BYOD, I am concerned with the substitution phenomenon that will have a detrimental effect on our efforts. For example, BYOD could serve to substitute a device for a textbook...a device for a notebook...a device for handing in homework. Instead we must have a collective vision on how the use of technology will enhance and transform instructional practices. The vision needs to come first, otherwise, substitution will inevitably get in the way. The SAMR model tells this to us.
Since the goal of transforming leadership is to focus on a vision, clarify purposes and align behaviors with beliefs, I will begin to focus my blog on this purpose. My goal here would be to clarify my own thoughts and begin to align my fellow leaders to bring about the changes that are necessary to transform instructional practices using technology.
From another blog post, I came across this quote in reference to technology, "New tools often substitute, sometimes augment, and very rarely redefine the learning experience (thank you, SAMR). It is how the teacher and students use these tools for learning that truly matters. And when technology is used to redefine a learning experience, the revolution is what the students make, create, and build with their tech…not in the many ways they can consume information." via A.J. Juliani http://ajjuliani.com/shifting-ed-tech-narrative/
I have two beginning goals in mind for our BYOD adventure that will transform instruction and learning experiences for students.
Author of 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.
In the early part of "Transforming Leadership", Burns makes a distinction between the verbs "change" and "transform". "To change is to substitute one thing for another," while transform meant to "cause a metamorphosis in form or structure."
In recent conversations, my colleagues and I have been preparing for a BYOD integration in the next nine months. Here is where "change" needs to be "transform". As we discussed the implementation of BYOD, I am concerned with the substitution phenomenon that will have a detrimental effect on our efforts. For example, BYOD could serve to substitute a device for a textbook...a device for a notebook...a device for handing in homework. Instead we must have a collective vision on how the use of technology will enhance and transform instructional practices. The vision needs to come first, otherwise, substitution will inevitably get in the way. The SAMR model tells this to us.
Since the goal of transforming leadership is to focus on a vision, clarify purposes and align behaviors with beliefs, I will begin to focus my blog on this purpose. My goal here would be to clarify my own thoughts and begin to align my fellow leaders to bring about the changes that are necessary to transform instructional practices using technology.
From another blog post, I came across this quote in reference to technology, "New tools often substitute, sometimes augment, and very rarely redefine the learning experience (thank you, SAMR). It is how the teacher and students use these tools for learning that truly matters. And when technology is used to redefine a learning experience, the revolution is what the students make, create, and build with their tech…not in the many ways they can consume information." via A.J. Juliani http://ajjuliani.com/shifting-ed-tech-narrative/
I have two beginning goals in mind for our BYOD adventure that will transform instruction and learning experiences for students.
- Give students the opportunity, the knowledge of how and the desire to access the wealth of information around them in a way that supports their individualized learning so that they may make, create and build.
- Teach the skills and provide opportunities for students to collaborate, share and socialize during the learning process.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
The Dreamer...how to avoid the dreamer stage and put things into action
The dreamer has lots of big ideas. But every dream needs direction and a system of execution for success.
Here are the 7 Habits of successful innovators:
1. Constantly connect the dots.
2. Commit to asking questions.
3. Actively try new things.
4. Find points of intersection with others.
5. Have a sense of purpose.
6. Cross-pollinate ideas.
7. Make innovation a daily routine.
I want to focus this post on numbers 1, 3, and 5. While the others are important, I will not focus on them here...maybe in another post. Connecting the dots is vital to the success of any initiative or "dream". The idea needs to connect to the broader vision or purpose. We do not work alone, as we hear all the time, we cannot stay in our silos. In education, there are many points of connection...parents, community members, state mandates, laws and regulations, students, teachers, money, etc. Dreaming is important, but it will be nothing more than a dream if not acted on. Connecting the dots can act to resonate the idea and push it along. Imagine a swing for a moment. When you swing your legs on the downswing (its resonant frequency), it acts to increase the height of the swing, but if you swing on the upswing, it acts to impede the height of the swing. Connecting the dots in your organization acts in the same way. You can build momentum and your idea can resonate, but only when action is taken at the right moment.
Trying new things is also an essential element to innovation and converting your dreams to your reality. How else will you be able to dream if you don't have alternative solutions? There is risk in trying new things. I get it. It is difficult, but very necessary. It also may mean making mistakes. If everything you ever tried always worked out, then you are either the luckiest person in the world, or you are sleeping and still dreaming.
Connecting the dots starts with item #5: Have a sense of purpose. It is the foundation of all my other posts...to avoid the pessimist, to not be the loafer, to not being distracted or not being the procrastinator. Purpose can be defined in many different ways. A sense of purpose can be assigned to your life, or as simple as a moment in time. For this purpose, the purpose I am speaking of is your overarching reason to do whatever it is that you are doing. For me in education, the purpose for every action is to ensure the best possible education for all students. I start with that purpose each and every day. Even as I write this blog, my purpose is to share my experience and knowledge with any teacher or administrator in the field so that they can be better tomorrow than they were today. It also helps me!
Don't just dream...put your dreams into action!
Follow me @brian_seligman
Here are the 7 Habits of successful innovators:
1. Constantly connect the dots.
2. Commit to asking questions.
3. Actively try new things.
4. Find points of intersection with others.
5. Have a sense of purpose.
6. Cross-pollinate ideas.
7. Make innovation a daily routine.
I want to focus this post on numbers 1, 3, and 5. While the others are important, I will not focus on them here...maybe in another post. Connecting the dots is vital to the success of any initiative or "dream". The idea needs to connect to the broader vision or purpose. We do not work alone, as we hear all the time, we cannot stay in our silos. In education, there are many points of connection...parents, community members, state mandates, laws and regulations, students, teachers, money, etc. Dreaming is important, but it will be nothing more than a dream if not acted on. Connecting the dots can act to resonate the idea and push it along. Imagine a swing for a moment. When you swing your legs on the downswing (its resonant frequency), it acts to increase the height of the swing, but if you swing on the upswing, it acts to impede the height of the swing. Connecting the dots in your organization acts in the same way. You can build momentum and your idea can resonate, but only when action is taken at the right moment.
Trying new things is also an essential element to innovation and converting your dreams to your reality. How else will you be able to dream if you don't have alternative solutions? There is risk in trying new things. I get it. It is difficult, but very necessary. It also may mean making mistakes. If everything you ever tried always worked out, then you are either the luckiest person in the world, or you are sleeping and still dreaming.
Connecting the dots starts with item #5: Have a sense of purpose. It is the foundation of all my other posts...to avoid the pessimist, to not be the loafer, to not being distracted or not being the procrastinator. Purpose can be defined in many different ways. A sense of purpose can be assigned to your life, or as simple as a moment in time. For this purpose, the purpose I am speaking of is your overarching reason to do whatever it is that you are doing. For me in education, the purpose for every action is to ensure the best possible education for all students. I start with that purpose each and every day. Even as I write this blog, my purpose is to share my experience and knowledge with any teacher or administrator in the field so that they can be better tomorrow than they were today. It also helps me!
Don't just dream...put your dreams into action!
Follow me @brian_seligman
Monday, December 22, 2014
Positive thinking can bring about positive change
After reading an article by Shawn Achor in the Harvard Business Review, I wanted to try these 5 steps to changing my mindset from its current state to a more positive one. Here are the 5 steps and my responses in purple.
- Jot down three things they were grateful for.
- I am grateful for my family. I have a beautiful wife and 4 wonderful children. Not a moment goes by that I am not thankful for all they are.
- I am grateful for my job. I get to be a part of the entire educational system in the district I work in. I get to influence change in every aspect from Kindergarten to 12th grade, from Literacy to Mathematics, from Principal to Custodian to Teacher and everything in between.
- I am grateful for my health. While I could lose a few pounds, I am otherwise healthy. It is too easy to take that for granted.
- Write a positive message to someone in their social support network.
- I chose to write a short message here in this blog rather than on Twitter so that I would not be held to 140 characters. There is a colleague I work with that is always willing to stop what he is doing to help me think through issues or problems I am facing. I won't say that he answers my questions, because he doesn't. He helps me think them through so that I may answer my own questions. He also is able to tell me what others cannot. He is always honest, and always right to the point. This colleague is supportive and at the same time pushes me to think differently. For that, I am thankful.
- Meditate at their desk for two minutes.
- Mind like water...
- From David Allen's book, "Getting things Done":
In karate, there is an image that's used to define the position of perfect readiness: "mind like water." Imagine throwing a pebble into a still pond. How does the water respond? The answer is, totally appropriately to the force and mass of the input; then it returns to calm. It doesn't overreact or underreact.
The power in a karate punch comes from speed, not muscle; it comes from a focused "pop" at the end of the whip. It's why petite people can learn to break boards and bricks with their hands: it doesn't take calluses or brute strength, just the ability to generate a focused thrust with speed. But a tense muscle is a slow one. So the high levels of training in the martial arts teach and demand balance and relaxation as much as anything else. Clearing the mind and being flexible are key.
Anything that causes you to overreact or underreact can control you, and often does. Responding inappropriately to your email, your staff, your projects, your unread magazines, your thoughts about what you need to do, your children, or your boss will lead to less effective results than you'd like. Most people give either more or less attention to things than they deserve, simply because they don't operate with a "mind like water."
- Done
- Exercise for 10 minutes.
- Be right back...
- OK...working in a school, wearing a suit makes it difficult to exercise... so I cheated...I briskly walked through the building up a flight of stairs, down another, across the building, up another flight of stairs and back down. I promise to exercise more later.
- Take two minutes to describe in a journal the most meaningful experience of the past 24 hours.
- In the past 24 hours, I had a very important conversation with my mother after a realization or epiphany of sorts. After watching my 4 children open their Hanukkah presents at a record pace and my oldest child (15) asking me, "That's it?", I realized something truly remarkable. I realized that my kids don't have the ability to understand completely what it means to give up something so others could be happy. They don't or can't understand that I gave up buying things for myself, like a new suit for work, or a new pair of shoes, so that I could buy my son a new iphone or the new uggs for my daughters. My realization was not as much about my kids, but about my own mother. I immediately picked up the phone and called her. I told her that I was sorry that I couldn't understand it before today, but that I was so appreciative of all the things she was able to give me and my sister throughout the years, even those years, when she barely had any money for gas to get her to work. I told her that I now know what she had to give up, what she had to sacrifice to give to me and my sister and that I loved her for it. I also know now that she did those things not because she wanted a "thanks mom", but because she wanted to see me be happy, just like it makes me happy seeing my own kids smile and laugh.
Being happy is a state of mind. It is about being appreciative, grateful and caring. I am happier now than I was 20 minutes ago mostly becuase I have brought to the surface all the things that make me happy. Now all I need is some music. I'll listen to my favorite songs on my way home.
If you want to smile and think differently about what makes you happy, I encourage you to watch Shawn Achor's TED talk: Click Here.
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The loafer...just expecting it to all get done!
According to @LollyDaskal "The loafer passively assumes that things will just work out by themselves, instead of tackling problems and working toward solutions."
We all know people in our organizations like this. They get by without a care in the world, just expecting that things will get done, and they usually do, but by someone else. The rest of us stress out trying to get those things done, by first worrying if it will get done, then worrying how it will get done, then worrying about actually getting it done.
Well, there is something that you can do about it, but it is not what you might think. Your first inclination might be to just get things done yourself, as the adage says, "If you want something done right, then do it yourself." However, this will only perpetuate the problem. Enabling others around you by doing the work yourself only serves to validate this behavior and it will only be a temporary fix. To solve this problem, one must first decide who should be the one doing the work. If there is someone in the organization that should be doing the work then you can certainly take the initiative to create the optimal conditions for that person so that they get it done. It could be that they need a structure to get it done or a time limit. They also might just need to know that it is an important task to be completed. Sometimes, we assume that others will know what items we think are important, when in fact, they do not, or cannot prioritize correctly.
Expectations should also be set and be explicitly given. "Check ins" or updates might be needed for some. You should know your people well enough to make that determination. To complicate things more, there are definitely times when there is no "positional" leader that can make the determination on who should be doing the work. It is then that either someone takes charge or the group makes a decision on who should do the work. Here is when "the loafer" could find his way back into the discussion, because the loafer will assume others will just do the work. Sometimes, it takes a courageous conversation with someone to let them know that they are the one who needs to do this work. Those conversations are difficult, but essential in a healthy organization. We all have unique expertise that help us lead given certain circumstances. These are the moments that help foster good leadership.
Another challenge with the idea of the "loafer" is that I might not realize that I am "the loafer". This can occur when I think someone else should be completing a task, when in fact it should be me. Unless someone confronts me and tells me that I should be doing something that I am not, the only way to identify when I am being the loafer is to constantly check in with what I am doing, and what else I need to be doing. Self checks can go a long way to ensure that I am not the loafer and that I am doing everything I can to ensure success of the organization. The person who has the most influence in making sure I am not the loafer is me. It goes back to a previous post on not being "too provileged" as I said, "When leading any organization, one must always do four things that are vital to ongoing success; be proactive, ask questions, actively try new things and reflect on progress. These habits will ensure that I will not be the loafer, nor will I feel "too privileged" to work hard.
How Leaders Can Get More Done Through Others: How Micromanagement Can Kill Productivity and Creativity
Follow me @brian_seligman
We all know people in our organizations like this. They get by without a care in the world, just expecting that things will get done, and they usually do, but by someone else. The rest of us stress out trying to get those things done, by first worrying if it will get done, then worrying how it will get done, then worrying about actually getting it done.
Well, there is something that you can do about it, but it is not what you might think. Your first inclination might be to just get things done yourself, as the adage says, "If you want something done right, then do it yourself." However, this will only perpetuate the problem. Enabling others around you by doing the work yourself only serves to validate this behavior and it will only be a temporary fix. To solve this problem, one must first decide who should be the one doing the work. If there is someone in the organization that should be doing the work then you can certainly take the initiative to create the optimal conditions for that person so that they get it done. It could be that they need a structure to get it done or a time limit. They also might just need to know that it is an important task to be completed. Sometimes, we assume that others will know what items we think are important, when in fact, they do not, or cannot prioritize correctly.
Expectations should also be set and be explicitly given. "Check ins" or updates might be needed for some. You should know your people well enough to make that determination. To complicate things more, there are definitely times when there is no "positional" leader that can make the determination on who should be doing the work. It is then that either someone takes charge or the group makes a decision on who should do the work. Here is when "the loafer" could find his way back into the discussion, because the loafer will assume others will just do the work. Sometimes, it takes a courageous conversation with someone to let them know that they are the one who needs to do this work. Those conversations are difficult, but essential in a healthy organization. We all have unique expertise that help us lead given certain circumstances. These are the moments that help foster good leadership.
Another challenge with the idea of the "loafer" is that I might not realize that I am "the loafer". This can occur when I think someone else should be completing a task, when in fact it should be me. Unless someone confronts me and tells me that I should be doing something that I am not, the only way to identify when I am being the loafer is to constantly check in with what I am doing, and what else I need to be doing. Self checks can go a long way to ensure that I am not the loafer and that I am doing everything I can to ensure success of the organization. The person who has the most influence in making sure I am not the loafer is me. It goes back to a previous post on not being "too provileged" as I said, "When leading any organization, one must always do four things that are vital to ongoing success; be proactive, ask questions, actively try new things and reflect on progress. These habits will ensure that I will not be the loafer, nor will I feel "too privileged" to work hard.
How Leaders Can Get More Done Through Others: How Micromanagement Can Kill Productivity and Creativity
Follow me @brian_seligman
Saturday, December 20, 2014
Creatively using technology with a purpose "ChatterPix"
Over the past month, we have added iPads to our Kindergarten and First Grade classrooms. The iPads were placed in those classrooms with some planning and some professional development. The intent was to let teachers explore a little bit, then identify needs and focus professional development based on the diverse needs of teachers at various levels of expertise.
An amazing thing is beginning to take place. Teachers are starting to get comfortable with the technology and are beginning to creatively use them to enhance their instruction. I was so happy to meet with one of our Kindergarten teams this past Friday where one teacher shared with me and the rest of the team how she was able to use ChatterPix with her students. Let me walk you through the process this teacher took to get to where we were on Friday.
1. Said teacher met with the school's Library Media Specialist to discuss ipad integration.
2. The LMS mentioned the use of the app ChatterPix. If you don't know the app...check this out: Chatterpix
3. The two teachers collaborated on the use of the app with a kindergarten class.
4. Students used the app to create visual stories based on a book they were reading as a class.
5. Being so successful, the teacher shared with her grade level colleagues how she used this app.
I was so impressed, I went home and showed my wife and young daughters (ages 3, 6, and 9) how great this app is and how this teacher used the app in her classroom.
This is how innovation occurs. I have the belief that teachers, given the support and the technology, will find creative ways to utilize these tools to enhance and improve instruction. It was truly supported by this experience.
You can also find some more examples of how chatterpix can be used: Click here for a Pinterest board on Chatterpix
Follow me @brian_seligman
An amazing thing is beginning to take place. Teachers are starting to get comfortable with the technology and are beginning to creatively use them to enhance their instruction. I was so happy to meet with one of our Kindergarten teams this past Friday where one teacher shared with me and the rest of the team how she was able to use ChatterPix with her students. Let me walk you through the process this teacher took to get to where we were on Friday.
1. Said teacher met with the school's Library Media Specialist to discuss ipad integration.
2. The LMS mentioned the use of the app ChatterPix. If you don't know the app...check this out: Chatterpix
3. The two teachers collaborated on the use of the app with a kindergarten class.
4. Students used the app to create visual stories based on a book they were reading as a class.
5. Being so successful, the teacher shared with her grade level colleagues how she used this app.
I was so impressed, I went home and showed my wife and young daughters (ages 3, 6, and 9) how great this app is and how this teacher used the app in her classroom.
This is how innovation occurs. I have the belief that teachers, given the support and the technology, will find creative ways to utilize these tools to enhance and improve instruction. It was truly supported by this experience.
You can also find some more examples of how chatterpix can be used: Click here for a Pinterest board on Chatterpix
Follow me @brian_seligman
Friday, December 19, 2014
The distracted...how to avoid it.
I bring you back to my post a few days ago on the procrastinator, where I described our biological responses that cause us to procrastinate. The same can be said for being distracted. There is a biological and biochemical response in our brain to things that easily distract us. We have evolved over time to use our five senses to keep us alive and propagate. That includes using our intellect to find food and mates. Like many other animals, our brains look for bright, colorful and unique objects and deems them "pretty", "amazing" or "interesting". Our brains are attracted to those objects that distract us. That is why when determining the best tablet to use for instruction, it is very important to look beyond appearances and surface features, to know whether it makes sense to purchase.
Being preoccupied by what distracts us can easily be controlled. Just like controlling the urge to procrastinate, the easiest way to avoid being "the distracted", is to set goals and have protocols in place to make informed decisions. Be careful not to let the pendulum swing too much in the other directions as you may become a "loafer", or even a "procrastinator".
Being mindful of not being easily distracted by the bright lights can be a challenge to your ability to make decisions. Follow these easy steps to help you on your way to making informed decisions that are not swayed by SOS (Shiny object syndrome).
4 False Beliefs... Marshall Goldsmith via +Inc.
Stages of Decision Making
Many different techniques of decision
making have been developed, ranging from simple rules of thumb, to
extremely complex procedures. The method used depends on the nature of
the decision to be made and how complex it is.
The method described here follows seven stages:
- Listing all possible solutions/options.
- Setting a time scale and deciding who is responsible for the decision.
- Information gathering.
- Weighing up the risks involved.
- Deciding on values, or in other words what is important.
- Weighing up the pros and cons of each course of action.
- Making the decision.
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Thursday, December 18, 2014
the Pessimist...
The Pessimist...we all know one or two, but many of us can also be the pessimist and not even realize it. The pessimist is always negative. This is crippling to an organization, especially when the leader is the lead pessimist. Since we cannot change others easily, we must focus on ourselves.
There are times in the day when we can become the Pessimist. The idea is to know it and avoid it like the plague. I know I can become the pessimist when I am cranky, hungry, too warm, thirsty, and definitely when I am too tired. I become a grouch and nothing that I see is ever in a positive light. Now while this only occurs for brief moments in the day, I have the power to prevent it.
I came across this article on the 11 Tips to be more positive: 11 Tips to Help You Think More Positively
They include: Believe in yourself, set clear goals, form a mental picture of your success, take ownership and responsibility for your life, talk to yourself, eliminate the negative, associate with positive people, count your blessings, find the silver lining, relax and enjoy life more, and if all else fails, then fake it.
These simple tips can go a long way to remove much of the negativity associated with your life. As a leader, it is essential to be positive about what you can accomplish, even though it may seem the world is against your actions. Stay positive, set your goals each and every day, and aim for success. Keep the pessimist inside you hidden away.
There are times in the day when we can become the Pessimist. The idea is to know it and avoid it like the plague. I know I can become the pessimist when I am cranky, hungry, too warm, thirsty, and definitely when I am too tired. I become a grouch and nothing that I see is ever in a positive light. Now while this only occurs for brief moments in the day, I have the power to prevent it.
I came across this article on the 11 Tips to be more positive: 11 Tips to Help You Think More Positively
They include: Believe in yourself, set clear goals, form a mental picture of your success, take ownership and responsibility for your life, talk to yourself, eliminate the negative, associate with positive people, count your blessings, find the silver lining, relax and enjoy life more, and if all else fails, then fake it.
These simple tips can go a long way to remove much of the negativity associated with your life. As a leader, it is essential to be positive about what you can accomplish, even though it may seem the world is against your actions. Stay positive, set your goals each and every day, and aim for success. Keep the pessimist inside you hidden away.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
22 Minute Meeting
After reading a post by several leaders I follow on Twitter, I decided to have a 22 Minute Meeting: See below:
You can also read about it here: http://scottberkun.com/2010/the-22-minute-meeting/
You might be wondering why I scheduled a 22 minute meeting? The easy answer is time. There are so many scheduled meetings that last 1, 2, or even 3 hours that I just needed this meeting to make an informed decision. I decided that since there was a clear agenda (1 real item) it was a good time to break out this protocol.
We met last Friday in one of our conference rooms. In attendance were 4 elementary principals, an ELA supervisor, three instructional specialists and myself. I sent the agenda to the group 2 days before the meeting, including the protocol (22 minute meeting rules). I also sent links to resources that might be useful in helping each member recommend a decision at this meeting.
We began the meeting on time. There are too many meetings that I attend that start late for one reason or another. My time is as valuable as anyone else's so I wanted to respect that and began the meeting promptly at 12:30. Actually, one member of the group reminded me to start the meeting on time at 12:29...while we were waiting for one member to arrive. So, we began the meeting on time, and without one member, who arrived 1 minute later.
We kept to the agenda...lay out the issue, open dialogue about the problem, make recommendations for next steps. At one point, the conversation went off topic and was suddenly pointed out and set back on track. For the rest of the 22 minute meeting, we respectfully listened to each other as I took notes. Actually in all honesty, the meeting was 30 minutes, but not because we took long; I decided to make it 30 at the onset. At the end of the meeting, I restated what we decided and the meeting was adjourned.
The next morning, I sent an e-mail to the group thanking them on the brief, but productive meeting and identified our agreed upon points.
While we could have made this meeting 60 minutes or longer, the 22 minute protocol required that we cut out the parts of our meeting that were extraneous. This included off topic dialogue and tangents that brought us to places we didn't intend to go. The meeting had the most important elements of any good meeting:
1. Focused Agenda
2. Protocol to follow
3. Clear outcomes
4. We all left the meeting knowing what we accomplished.
I just wish all our meeting could be that brief and productive.
I do want to express that not all meetings are this neat. Some meetings, especially ones in education are difficult because they require that we think outside the box and often outside of our comfort level. We often ask each other thought provoking questions that take time to process and explore. Meetings like this are as essential to our work as the 22 minute meeting.
You might be wondering why I scheduled a 22 minute meeting? The easy answer is time. There are so many scheduled meetings that last 1, 2, or even 3 hours that I just needed this meeting to make an informed decision. I decided that since there was a clear agenda (1 real item) it was a good time to break out this protocol.
We met last Friday in one of our conference rooms. In attendance were 4 elementary principals, an ELA supervisor, three instructional specialists and myself. I sent the agenda to the group 2 days before the meeting, including the protocol (22 minute meeting rules). I also sent links to resources that might be useful in helping each member recommend a decision at this meeting.
We began the meeting on time. There are too many meetings that I attend that start late for one reason or another. My time is as valuable as anyone else's so I wanted to respect that and began the meeting promptly at 12:30. Actually, one member of the group reminded me to start the meeting on time at 12:29...while we were waiting for one member to arrive. So, we began the meeting on time, and without one member, who arrived 1 minute later.
We kept to the agenda...lay out the issue, open dialogue about the problem, make recommendations for next steps. At one point, the conversation went off topic and was suddenly pointed out and set back on track. For the rest of the 22 minute meeting, we respectfully listened to each other as I took notes. Actually in all honesty, the meeting was 30 minutes, but not because we took long; I decided to make it 30 at the onset. At the end of the meeting, I restated what we decided and the meeting was adjourned.
The next morning, I sent an e-mail to the group thanking them on the brief, but productive meeting and identified our agreed upon points.
While we could have made this meeting 60 minutes or longer, the 22 minute protocol required that we cut out the parts of our meeting that were extraneous. This included off topic dialogue and tangents that brought us to places we didn't intend to go. The meeting had the most important elements of any good meeting:
1. Focused Agenda
2. Protocol to follow
3. Clear outcomes
4. We all left the meeting knowing what we accomplished.
I just wish all our meeting could be that brief and productive.
I do want to express that not all meetings are this neat. Some meetings, especially ones in education are difficult because they require that we think outside the box and often outside of our comfort level. We often ask each other thought provoking questions that take time to process and explore. Meetings like this are as essential to our work as the 22 minute meeting.
Are you too "privileged" to work hard for your success?
"The privileged feels entitled to success--but without passion, perseverance, and hard work, the only thing that's likely to appear is disappointment." via @LollyDaskal
When leading any organization, one must always do four things that are vital to ongoing success; be proactive, ask questions, actively try new things and reflect on progress. These aren't once in a while things, they must be ingrained habits.
Being proactive means to start each day with purpose. Sitting at your desk waiting for things to come to you is not a good way to be productive or successful. Hard work and persistence will ultimately pay off in time. Being proactive also means being thoughtful and organized; thoughtful about what to do and organized to actually get it done.
However, being proactive also means that you need to ask the right questions to know when and what the right work is. Be a good listener and actually listen for answers to questions. Know that sometimes a good answer to a question is another question. Don't be frustrated by this. It is a good way to help you think through your own questions without someone giving you the answer that you are seeking. I have learned that asking questions is not only about getting an answer, but about processing the thinking to help solve the problem. "Seek first to understand" is Habit 5 from Stephen Covey's book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". When you ask questions, you should listen to understand. Hopefully the person you are asking the question to is not just solving the problem for you. Remember that the point of asking questions is to learn or influence your own thought processing.
The image above is next to my computer monitor in my office. I look at it often. Much of the items on this list centers on actively trying new things. Whether it is trying something you have never done before or using a color you don't like, doing things outside of your comfort zone is essential for activating your creativity. Trying new things can be challenging and scary, especially if it relates to technology. Even if it fails, trying something new can spark creativity in ways you could never have imagined. My last recommendation on this subject is to give it some time. Anything new and different will be difficult and uncomfortable at first. Give it time...if it wrong, you will know.
Each and every day you have the opportunity to better your world. This could be as simple as being a better person tomorrow than you were today. Maybe a smile or a courteous gesture could make someone a little happier? In order to be better tomorrow than yesterday is to reflect on where you are and where you are going. Without monitoring progress, you cannot make crucial adjustments. It is those adjustments that makes all the difference in the world. I would ask several questions as I drive home each night. Did I achieve what I set out to achieve today? Why or Why not? Could I have done things differently? How? What will I do tomorrow to be better?
These are habits that will put you on the track towards success. Don't be "privileged". Work hard and persevere and you will be the success you have always imagined.
When leading any organization, one must always do four things that are vital to ongoing success; be proactive, ask questions, actively try new things and reflect on progress. These aren't once in a while things, they must be ingrained habits.
Being proactive means to start each day with purpose. Sitting at your desk waiting for things to come to you is not a good way to be productive or successful. Hard work and persistence will ultimately pay off in time. Being proactive also means being thoughtful and organized; thoughtful about what to do and organized to actually get it done.
However, being proactive also means that you need to ask the right questions to know when and what the right work is. Be a good listener and actually listen for answers to questions. Know that sometimes a good answer to a question is another question. Don't be frustrated by this. It is a good way to help you think through your own questions without someone giving you the answer that you are seeking. I have learned that asking questions is not only about getting an answer, but about processing the thinking to help solve the problem. "Seek first to understand" is Habit 5 from Stephen Covey's book, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". When you ask questions, you should listen to understand. Hopefully the person you are asking the question to is not just solving the problem for you. Remember that the point of asking questions is to learn or influence your own thought processing.
The image above is next to my computer monitor in my office. I look at it often. Much of the items on this list centers on actively trying new things. Whether it is trying something you have never done before or using a color you don't like, doing things outside of your comfort zone is essential for activating your creativity. Trying new things can be challenging and scary, especially if it relates to technology. Even if it fails, trying something new can spark creativity in ways you could never have imagined. My last recommendation on this subject is to give it some time. Anything new and different will be difficult and uncomfortable at first. Give it time...if it wrong, you will know.
Each and every day you have the opportunity to better your world. This could be as simple as being a better person tomorrow than you were today. Maybe a smile or a courteous gesture could make someone a little happier? In order to be better tomorrow than yesterday is to reflect on where you are and where you are going. Without monitoring progress, you cannot make crucial adjustments. It is those adjustments that makes all the difference in the world. I would ask several questions as I drive home each night. Did I achieve what I set out to achieve today? Why or Why not? Could I have done things differently? How? What will I do tomorrow to be better?
These are habits that will put you on the track towards success. Don't be "privileged". Work hard and persevere and you will be the success you have always imagined.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
13 Personality traits...and what you can do about it
I recently read a post titled, "13 Personality Traits That Can Keep You From Success". Here is the list of traits that if left unchecked could keep you from being as successful as you would want to be:
The procrastinator
The privileged
The pessimist
The distracted
The loafer
The dreamer
The nonbeliever
The frightened
The analytical
The lazy
The visionless
The small-minded
The nonproducer
My next 12 blog posts will tackle each of these traits and what you can do to prevent them from bringing down your leadership.
The Procrastinator: We all procrastinate. If you think about it long enough, you can think of 10 different activities you avoid or put off for one reason or another. It has to do with our biological and biochemical responses our brain has to identifying our most important needs for survival. For example, you are sitting in your office beginning to eat your lunch when your brain is telling you, "keep eating...I'm hungry". Until you begin to choke. Now your biological urge to eat is sidetracked because you need oxygen. Your brain is telling you to forget eating...even after you get your breath back.
So, how does this relate to leadership? Once we identify our default behaviors, or understand why they occur, we can then begin to work at overcoming them. Our brains tell us to avoid things that are difficult, challenging or life threatening. Again, this is a biological defense mechanism. So, if you avoid writing observation reports becuase they are difficult, you must overcome that behavior to avoid being the procrastinator you don't want to be.
Procrastination occurs sometimes as an automatic mechanism to avoid certain actions. We sometimes do it without even knowing we are doing it. The point here is to recognize that we are procrastinating and change the behavior.
One way to avoid the automatic behavior associated with procrastination, is to make a "To Do List" or identify priorities each and every day, week and month. Making something that you tend to avoid a priority, will reduce your inclination to procrastinate. Good Luck. Now it is back to writing observation reports.
Added: 1/7/15: I recently read this article in the New Yorker:
Steel’s recommendation borrows from the approach of the NYU psychologists Gabrielle Oettingen and Peter Gollwitzer, who study self-control and goal-setting: make your targets as small, immediate, and specific as possible. For instance, Steel uses timed ten-minute sessions to get started on tasks that he doesn’t quite want to do. “The problem with a goal we’re avoiding is that we’ve already built into our minds how awful it’s going to be,” he said. “So it’s like diving into a cold pool: the first few seconds are terrible, but soon it feels great.” So, set the goal of working on a task for a short time, and then reassess. Often, you’ll be able to stay on task once you’ve overcome that initial jump. “You don’t say, ‘I am going to write.’ You say, ‘I will complete four hundred words by two o’clock,’ ” Steel says. “The more specific, the more powerful. That’s what gets us going.”
The procrastinator
The privileged
The pessimist
The distracted
The loafer
The dreamer
The nonbeliever
The frightened
The analytical
The lazy
The visionless
The small-minded
The nonproducer
My next 12 blog posts will tackle each of these traits and what you can do to prevent them from bringing down your leadership.
The Procrastinator: We all procrastinate. If you think about it long enough, you can think of 10 different activities you avoid or put off for one reason or another. It has to do with our biological and biochemical responses our brain has to identifying our most important needs for survival. For example, you are sitting in your office beginning to eat your lunch when your brain is telling you, "keep eating...I'm hungry". Until you begin to choke. Now your biological urge to eat is sidetracked because you need oxygen. Your brain is telling you to forget eating...even after you get your breath back.
So, how does this relate to leadership? Once we identify our default behaviors, or understand why they occur, we can then begin to work at overcoming them. Our brains tell us to avoid things that are difficult, challenging or life threatening. Again, this is a biological defense mechanism. So, if you avoid writing observation reports becuase they are difficult, you must overcome that behavior to avoid being the procrastinator you don't want to be.
Procrastination occurs sometimes as an automatic mechanism to avoid certain actions. We sometimes do it without even knowing we are doing it. The point here is to recognize that we are procrastinating and change the behavior.
One way to avoid the automatic behavior associated with procrastination, is to make a "To Do List" or identify priorities each and every day, week and month. Making something that you tend to avoid a priority, will reduce your inclination to procrastinate. Good Luck. Now it is back to writing observation reports.
Added: 1/7/15: I recently read this article in the New Yorker:
Getting Over Procrastination
By Maria Konnikova
The following is a brief excerpt:Steel’s recommendation borrows from the approach of the NYU psychologists Gabrielle Oettingen and Peter Gollwitzer, who study self-control and goal-setting: make your targets as small, immediate, and specific as possible. For instance, Steel uses timed ten-minute sessions to get started on tasks that he doesn’t quite want to do. “The problem with a goal we’re avoiding is that we’ve already built into our minds how awful it’s going to be,” he said. “So it’s like diving into a cold pool: the first few seconds are terrible, but soon it feels great.” So, set the goal of working on a task for a short time, and then reassess. Often, you’ll be able to stay on task once you’ve overcome that initial jump. “You don’t say, ‘I am going to write.’ You say, ‘I will complete four hundred words by two o’clock,’ ” Steel says. “The more specific, the more powerful. That’s what gets us going.”
Monday, December 15, 2014
What is EduCreaTechnics?
OK...so I decided to blog...My reason for blogging is simple. As George Couros wrote, "Just remember, if you impact only one teacher, you often impact at least 20 kids, if not a whole lot more." So here goes something.
When I decided to begin a blog...after reading George Couros' post on "4 Reasons People Don’t Blog and Ideas to Help Change Their Mind"... I decided to put my mind to the test. What will I blog about? The answer came pretty quick. I would blog about what I know best, "technology". Since there is a lot out there already, I wasn't sure how much I can offer the public on technology. I needed another angle. After reading much of what Sir Ken Robinson has written and spoke about, I decided to add creativity to the blog.
So, EduCreaTechnics is my made up word using Wordoid Go ahead and Google it...you won't find anything. Hah! So, since I created the word, I can make up its meaning. I define EduCreaTechnics as the invaluable and successful use of creativity and technology in the educational space. Or in other words, how we can successfully and creatively utilize technology in the delivery of instruction or in our learning environments to best prepare our students for the world?
Having the tools in place does not guarantee a viable use of technology. Just because we place iPads in classes or make sure that all classrooms have SmartBoards, doens't mean our teachers will automatically be creative and innovative. We need to do more. Our kids rely on more!
In the last month, my district has added iPads to Kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. I am trying to give them the time and space to learn to use them on their own and begin to know what is possible. Then we will get together and see how we can creatively incorporate them into instruction through some form of professional development. At least, that is the plan.
I have started a hashtag (#K2iPadapps) to help guide them towards what may work best...so if anyone finds anything, feel free to add the hashtag.
With every blog post, I will end with a few questions...things that I am wondering at the moment...ending my stream of consciousness with some thoughtful questions that may lead to my next post. At least that is the hope!
I wonder...
Follow @brian_seligman
When I decided to begin a blog...after reading George Couros' post on "4 Reasons People Don’t Blog and Ideas to Help Change Their Mind"... I decided to put my mind to the test. What will I blog about? The answer came pretty quick. I would blog about what I know best, "technology". Since there is a lot out there already, I wasn't sure how much I can offer the public on technology. I needed another angle. After reading much of what Sir Ken Robinson has written and spoke about, I decided to add creativity to the blog.
So, EduCreaTechnics is my made up word using Wordoid Go ahead and Google it...you won't find anything. Hah! So, since I created the word, I can make up its meaning. I define EduCreaTechnics as the invaluable and successful use of creativity and technology in the educational space. Or in other words, how we can successfully and creatively utilize technology in the delivery of instruction or in our learning environments to best prepare our students for the world?
Having the tools in place does not guarantee a viable use of technology. Just because we place iPads in classes or make sure that all classrooms have SmartBoards, doens't mean our teachers will automatically be creative and innovative. We need to do more. Our kids rely on more!
In the last month, my district has added iPads to Kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms. I am trying to give them the time and space to learn to use them on their own and begin to know what is possible. Then we will get together and see how we can creatively incorporate them into instruction through some form of professional development. At least, that is the plan.
I have started a hashtag (#K2iPadapps) to help guide them towards what may work best...so if anyone finds anything, feel free to add the hashtag.
With every blog post, I will end with a few questions...things that I am wondering at the moment...ending my stream of consciousness with some thoughtful questions that may lead to my next post. At least that is the hope!
I wonder...
- What is the tipping point where teachers see the value in learning to be innovative and take risks?
- When is it ok to push teachers to take chances and risks when using new technology?
- Why do so many teachers need step by step directions to be innovative? Is this happening everywhere, or am I looking in the wrong place? Am I seeing it wrong?
- What conditions am I creating that is stifling creativity in our teachers and administrators?
- Am I ready for the criticism associated with these questions...will I even provoke discussion around my thoughts?
Follow @brian_seligman
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