Monday 13 July 2009

How an open mind can have far reaching effects

I am a parent governor of a local secondary school, and have been for the past 4 years. During this time ive done my 'duty' by sitting through the most dull of committee meetings on premises, policy reviews, pay structures etc etc. I have to admit that I haven't really enjoyed a good 75% of my time as a governor. I just not a 'committee' person. Don't get me wrong - I love working and collaborating with other people to create a future something, I just don't enjoy doing historical reviews of whats just happened. For this reason I didn't think I'd given my best to the school..... until Friday that is.
The Head-mistress (they call them 'principles' these days) is a smart lady; she is a driver of change and at the same time a great leader of people, and so her visions and changes (tough as they may be sometimes) are, in the majority, 'followed' by her team of teachers and support staff.
I like our Principle, and enjoy sitting and chatting with her about the future of education. Often we chat in her office while we wait to interview a new teacher, or chat in the school lobby while we wait for a Governor meeting to start, and sometimes we chat by email. But it wasn't until last Friday that I learned those were more than just interesting 'chats' to her.
I was attending a 'teacher development' day. The school was shut and 100 teachers and support staff took the day to revisit the school mission - there are a lot of changes going on in our school and the education sector in general, and so thinking about our mission statement seemed like a good thing to do. It was a very productive day.
As we came to the end of the day, the principle came to close the event and made reference to me and our 'chats' - "everyone needs a Tim in their lives" she said - I was a bit taken aback
"I love the way he helps me to explore things" - I was getting embarassed
"He doesnt know it, but it was Tim who helped me decide on the application for our second school specialism of 'applied learning'" - I was shocked......... and absolutely delighted!
As I sat on the bus on my way home after the event I wondered what Id done to really help her. I am not an expert in education, I am not an expert in futures...... so what had I done?
My conclusion is that through our chats, I had helped her to 'explore', I had asked questions, and listened to her responses. I had provoked her thoughts, and built on her responses. I didnt need to know great detail about the topic because by simply keeping an open mind, I had enabled her to explore areas of her own work that she might not have been able to do had she been talking with an 'expert' in the subject.
And so thanks to a simple open mind, a generation of school girls will go through their education with a focus on their 'applied learning' - Now that really makes up for all those dull committee meetings! :-D

Sunday 22 February 2009

blogging

why doesnt everyone blog

Tuesday 3 February 2009

Seeing the bigger picture

Its quite unusual for us to have a good covering of snow across the UK. It must be quite odd for those countries who have heaps of snow day in day out to watch the UK grind to a halt at the first sign of snow-flakes. Schools close, traffic halts, work falls apart....... And rightly so I say! Lets have more occasions to change our routines, get out into the fresh air and lark about.
As is usual in the UK the snow falls 'heavily' on one day and is gone with the next couple. And so I took delight in a quick walk this morning in the sunshine with the snow still all around - it really was a beautiful sight (I say 'was' because as I write this afternoon, its pretty well disappeared), and while walking an idea occurred to me....
If the google earth people were to take a snap-shot of Britain right now (on the threshold of snowfall and thaw) they would have a fabulous picture of which households have effective loft insulation or not. This data could be useful for government environment taxes or loft insulation supplier customer files.... it might even be useful to identify those people who are most at risk from hypothermia.
It also made me think that we clearly run our heating too high in our house and that the kids should learn to love a wooly

Monday 2 February 2009

Demonstrating change doesn't have to hurt

If we are going to bring about change in our work and workplace - we have got to make a change. And making that change usually has to start with ourselves. If we cant demonstrate to others that we mean change, how can we expect others to change themselves.
I rather like the approach that President Obama is taking - demonstrating that you are prepared to be daring, doesn't necessarily mean that you have to sweat over it.
Check out this refreshing list of new management practices that Obama is bringing to the White house
http://www.businesspundit.com/honest-tea-only-one-aspect-of-obamas-com-management-style/