Collapse: the lesson behind the lesson - Day 10 - 6.27.2010

Isn't it great when we get to watch leadership in action!! From my perspective, there are very few leaders that really model great leadership in action. As Kent Peterson (2010) in his presentation on Leading and Shaping School Culture told us "you are a symbol of what you do." Howard Baher (2010) also shared, "People watch you, they don't care what you say." Dr. Laugerman (2010) stated, "It's about what you do, what you model. The actions prompt inspirations."

On Sunday afternoon, June 27, after 10 previous days of intense thinking, we came together one more time to watch a movie none of us were familiar with that was going to promote some critical thinking for all of us. When Dr. Frontier introduced the activity of the day he quickly corrected that it was not "movie day" even though that is what we wanted it to be. To be honest, by this time we are tired. We don't want our minds to be challenge any more. Critical thinking will hurt our brain. I suppose this is where many employees get when many changes happen at a quick pace in any business or institution. 

We gathered at noon. The popcorn was ready. We want to get on with it and get home. Maybe we can even leave early. Ready...set...oops technical difficulty!

12:20 - Dr. Jonas expresses that the technology wasn't working. They were going to give it about 15 more minutes to try to get things going. The crowd began chanting, "Let us go, let us go." Unrest began.

12:30 - Nothing yet. Can we just go home?

12:35 - Still waiting

12:45 - Here comes Dr. Frontier. The video is working. Our hearts sink. Now we are starting late and there is no hope for getting out early. Oh, man.

What happened in the next 30 minutes was one of those times where was was demonstrated had a profound impact on me as a leader. Watching Dr. Frontier handle this crowd who wanted nothing more than to go home was really something else. While the film was very though provoking and interesting, watching our leader is the lesson that we should have all taken away that day. 

Our lesson began with an activity to prepare our thinking. Carefully selected, it quickly got us engaged in conversation with others around a topic to set up the activity. We moved into a couple of other intriguing questions that would guide our thinking. The use of powerpoint (visuals) to supplement the presentation, not lead the presentation, were used. An quickly, our group was fully engaged in the learning opportunity for the afternoon. How did this happen after such a rocky start? Here are key components of leadership modeled that day by Dr. Frontier...

• All difficult situations are recoverable!
• Never give up.
• Have resolve.
• Be resourceful.
• Be kind. Thank each other.
• Show compassion.
• Use what you know about teaching and learning.
• Don't give an option to opt out.
• Question, question, question.
• You don't need to have the solutions/answers
• Take the time to set the context, it will help you get through the toughest of times.
• Promote critical thinking.

In my current situation where I provide professional development opportunities for teachers very often, I need to keep this example in my mind. It exemplified the type of leader that I want to be seen as. That my actions speak much louder than my words. I call it the lesson behind the lesson.

Baher, H. (2010, June). Leadership principles from a life at Starbucks. Lecture delivered at Summer Institute at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI.

Frontier, A. (2010, June). Documentary analysis: Collapse. Lecture delivered at Summer Institute at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI.

Nikolay, P., Commodore, C., & Laugerman, B. (2010, June). Shaping leadership for innovation. Lecture delivered at Summer Institute at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI.

Peterson, K. (2010, June). Leading and shaping school cultures. Lecture delivered at Summer Institute at Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, WI.