This class has served to reinforce many of the ideas about leadership that I have acquired in previous positions, and given me a few more. I was already familiar with many of the concepts from the change exercise, including the different categories people fall into when dealing with change (pioneers, leaders, early adopters, late adopters, resistors). In fact I talked about these in my first blog entry, before knew we would cover them later. I was also familiar with the idea of building a change network, and using that to drive changes within your work environment (in my case not a school).
I am currently a leader in my job, and I think I already use many of these ideas in my day to day job. However it never hurts to rethink your position. or to refresh your knowledge of these basic concepts. Anyone can be a leader in their job. For teachers and developers of people, this usually means rethinking how best to connect with your students, then use you knowledge of change principles to start sharing those ideas within your organization. I hope I will get many more opportunities to improve the training and development of people within my organization. I will do this by bring new ideas to the table, and conencting with the right people to try and turn those ideas into actions.
Since you are already a leader at work, did you find the simulation of change that we did familiar to you? I know that in the school that I teach in, many would have been having flashbacks at not getting anywhere due to people resisting change. I wish however, that many of the people who are the most resistant to change would attempt to implement one themselves, this might be a way for them to see the viewpoint of the leaders that attempt to introduce changes.
ReplyDeleteI agree that anyone can be a leader in their job. I like how you outlined that we must be proactive and initiate the change and then connect with the right people to share and spread this change throughout an organization. Prior to this class, I did not realize the large amount of time that needs to be invested into the communication aspect of change. I know appreciate this much more as I reflect on the good and bad leaders I have experienced. How will you communicate and share your visions with others so that it can make an impact?
ReplyDeleteI think that revisiting what kind of leader you are or finding ways that you can improve as a leader is very important. I think that many of us become quite comfortable in our positions and do not always think of how we can continue to improve ourselves.
ReplyDeleteJohn, I like that as someone who has been in a leadership position for some time can do some self reflection and continue to grow and learn how to improve as a leader and a developer of people. You make an excellent point that making a personal connection is step one that lays the foundation for the learning about to take place. Great insight~
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