Leadership and Managemnt

Being a leader is a often a dance between leading and managing. Seth Godin's analogy of the balcony and the dance floor is useful in helping define the roles needed by a leader.

Defining the support you are giving your team

Here are some graphics that work well when you are considering the support that members of your team need and thus impact on how you lead. This may help in giving  specific feedback to team members that will be effective in helping them move forward with their thinking and contribution to the team. It is from the work of Ken Blanchard, he talks about how situational leadership and how you lead will differ depending on the context.  Have a look at: How we Lead, some great posts to consider.

Innovative Learning Spaces Means Collaboration

Moving forward effectively with innovative and flexible learning spaces means that you have to work closely with colleagues. There is no hiding behind a closed door with 24 children and hoping that others don't pop in to see what you are doing.

While that is exciting for many it is daunting for others. This article suggests strategies and systems that can be used to contribute to effective collaboration. Many we are already using but these can always be developed to be made more useful.

Great tools to collaboration
Googledocs and sites - share planning, information, ideas and resources
MATEs - Mutually Agreed Team Expectations make how you are working explicit to all
Scheduled Meeting times
Strategic Pairing - designed to complement and bring out the best in each other.

This is a great article from Edutopia that uses these tools and leads to further readings if interested.

Difficult Converations

One area of my own leadership that I know needs constant is the skill of having difficult conversations. This is tricky and requires a lot of thought, planning and role play in order for me to be fully prepared. I have worked with Joan Dalton in a Learning Talk webinar and she has written many resources for this topic. Susan Scott's 'Fierce Conversations' is another fantastic resource. I haven't heard Viviane Robinson speak but this is a link to a shared powerpoint that has some wonderful tips and strategies. I will certainly look out for her in the future.

How effective are the teams that you are working in?

This is a predecessor of a recent post about the effectiveness of school teams. It is a quick measure and is worth reading and reflecting on the teams that you are a part of.