Brenda's Blog

10/26/2007

A Leap in Leadership:
Using Technology as
A Catalyst for Change

"One key to successful leadership is continuous personal change. Personal change is a reflection of our inner growth and empowerment. Empowered leaders are the only ones who can induce real change."
~ Robert Quinn

I've always squirmed a little when it�s suggested that the insufficiencies I see around me or in someone else can be altered by "my" response to the situation or the person. While I feel fairly comfortable placing the blame in other places, I'm not so keen about being the one who takes the first step toward changing how I approach the situation. It�s easy to be inspired by Mahatma Gandhi�s stirring charge to �Be the change you want to see in the world," it�s another thing to live it out in the workplace.

In Leaders First Change Themselves, Dennis Sparks proposes just that. Citing five assumptions that underlie the personal changes required to change organizations, Sparks identifies ways leadership can serve as a catalyst for change. As I�ve pondered those ideas, I�ve wondered how they can be activated and extended through the use of emerging technologies. Below are some suggestions.

REVISITING THE LEADER MINDSET

Sparks suggests that leaders need to identify the assumptions and behaviors that might interfere with them initiating change. That reflective action is not for the faint of heart. It requires a sincere commitment to reflection, something that many educators are doing through the use of Weblogs and Wikis. Although that also might be a private process, those who open their online journals to the public, benefit from the personal growth attained from the bounce and catch of reflective dialogue.

ESTABLISHING CLARITY AND RESISTING RESIGNATION AND DEPENDENCY

True leaders (and their followers) will not resort to throwing up their hands in despair. According to Sparks, it is imperative that leaders create a culture of empowerment, a place where creative problem solving reigns. True leaders do not perpetuate a culture of We Cannot Do.

HIGH QUALITY PROFESSIONAL INTERACTIONS PRECEDE HIGH-QUALITY TEACHING

Creating a culture where mutual respect, collaboration and an ongoing thirst for improvement pervades, is the mark of a strong leader. Although those qualities can exist via face-to-face encounters, the Web has expanded professional learning communities to include access to teacher leaders and curricular experts from all over the world. Using listserves, technology-supported projects, Webcasts, podcasts, and Skype, educators are able to link to the expertise and exemplary practices outside their school and district walls. That exchange is a win-win encounter for all involved.

INTERPERSONAL INSTRUCTIONAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE

Successful leaders are consummate communicators and problem solvers. Although the value of face to face communication skills cannot be underestimated; equally important is a leader�s ability to communicate using digital tools that bridge time and space. That is evidenced in the many of the tech savvy campaigns of recent presidential hopefuls, such as Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton. Tools like wikis, blogs, videos, myspace, YouTube, and even Twitter are being used to communicate important political messages and are helping to create a virtual political leadership presence across the land. Those same multimedia communication principles can be employed by educational leaders.

TAPPING INTO THE CREATIVE GENIUS OF CLASSROOM TEACHERS

Formerly limiting teacher input to matters directly associated with their classrooms, wise leaders increasingly are recognizing and valuing the talents and expertise of the teachers within their districts. Teacher leaders are joining other levels of leadership at the policy-making and research table by bringing fresh, relevant perspectives and real-time examples from the classroom. Teachers are developing their own vision of teacher leadership by joining their voices together to implement change, and by developing and sharing their skills as teacher researchers.

About the Author

Brenda Dyck is a sessional instructor at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). In addition to teaching preservice teachers, Brenda is the moderator of MiddleTalk, a listserve sponsored by the National Middle School Association (NMSA). Her "HotLinks" column is a regular feature in NMSA's magazine, Middle Ground. Brenda also is a teacher-editor for MidLink magazine.

10/26/2007