Our Iceberg is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under any Conditions by John Kotter (2005)
Are you finding members of your school district resistant to change and not reaching the stage to step up to action?
Using a parable to discuss the changes we are required to make in education is made easier with a collective book read and this book by Kotter could be one way to do this. Similar to the penguins, we have members on our staff who speak up like NoNo and pose, "Can you guarantee that this data and conclusions are 100 percent accurate?" Do you have staff who can see other members they work with who would rather argue about particulars that have little relevance to the change necessary but can focus energy in a manner to prevent moving toward a potential solution?
We cannot make these changes alone and team building is necessary. Get the message out so that both good news and bad are articulated in such a way that your scouts will be able to determine the best way to move collected efforts forward. The book describes how the penguins tackled each of the waves that need to occur for the different stages of change to move forward.
Changes in culture of buildings are important and often necessary for improved learning for our kids. Creating a professional learning community or using an existing one around Our Iceberg is Melting may be a step toward implementing any change you want to implement in your district.
Here is the eight step process taken by the penguins:
Set the stage
1. Create a sense of urgency
2. Pull together the guiding team
Decide what to do.
3. Develop the change vision and strategy.
Make it happen.
4. Communicate for understanding and buy in.
5. Empower others to act.
6. Produce short-term wins.
7. Don't let up.
Make it stick.
8. Create a new culture.
The book will set the stage for a discussion around the role of thinking and feelings also. Not something we address often enough in our professional development process.
An easy read to purchase from our contact:
Tracey Kubitz
Kubitz Educational Services
PO BOX 279
Hamel, MN 55340
763-478-5110
Fax: 763-478-5114
Tracey@Kubitzbooks.com
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