Lesson Ten: Candor Cancelation #9, The Avoider
Below Please Find Your Welcome Video for Lesson Ten
This is Lesson Ten of your Candid and Compassionate Feedback Virtual Masterclass. In this lesson, we introduce several key concepts that will improve your feedback immediately. The final of the 9 Candor Cancelations is the ultimate problem with feedback, The Avoider. You’ll learn what that means and why leaders fall into this trap. We begin by reviewing one last assumption that leaders need to quit making, we finalize your understanding and practice with professional dialogue, and you learn about the antidote to being The Avoider. You’ll have readings to do and your Leadership Development Activities to complete before the final lesson where we wrap everything up. Enjoy! Below please find your welcome video for lesson ten.
Watch our video to lesson ten: Candor Cancellation #9, The Avoider
Below Please Find Your Lesson Ten Video
Reading and Resources
Skim the References section of your Candid and Compassionate Feedback book–pick three resources to read to deepen your knowledge about feedback
Listen to our podcast with Douglas Reeves about school improvement and the need for change
The Avoider
Candor Cancellation #9–The Avoider: Ahhh, the avoider. Someone who ducks situations. Don’t be a leader who avoids problems. Leadership requires a voice, and when we keep quiet or silence others on an issue, we concede to a continuation of the problem.
Scenario: Exasperated, Mr. James sat in the assistant principal’s office, blaming his team for derailing the momentum they needed with technology integration. In particular, he focused on two veteran teachers on the team and how they were “stuck in their ways.” Unfortunately, some of their concerns were valid.
Impact: The problem is that when leaders avoid concerns, they are communicating that they don’t really care about it. That’s the opposite of leading with candid and compassionate feedback.
Avoidance is the ultimate candor cancellation because it demonstrates a lack of concern and a lack of expectations for ourselves as a servant to the vision that we set.
Leadership Development Activities
Before the next session, complete the following:
- Can you think of a time that you avoided an individual’s concerns about an initiative or something else?
- Identify someone who you should listen to more despite it being difficult. Set up a meeting with them and plan to ask questions.
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Review And Reflect: Leading Change in Times of Change — #ReviewAndReflect
This is TheSchoolHouse302’s monthly #reviewandreflect, wrapping up our focus on leading change is such unpredictable times. We focused this month on growth and what we’ve learned so far during the pandemic.
Our review and reflect series embraces the powerful sentiment about learning, brought forth by Soren Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
Don’t miss our quick Review and Reflect video. We reviewed this month’s content and reflected on our own leadership lessons learned.
- Did you see our blog post, Educators Strike Back. It’s been called a “must read” for teachers and leaders.
- In the above video, we talk about the three books we recommended this month. Leading change is hard, which is why we need to turn to the experts.
- You can’t miss our podcast with Dr. Douglas Reeves. We reflected on what he said about having a “bias for action.” Check out the podcast and what we say about it in our video.
We can’t wait to hear from you.
PS — We’re getting ready to start our first ever Assistant Principal Mastermind. If you’re an assistant principal, and you want to lead better and grow faster, contact us at [email protected] so that we can put your name on the list (almost full).
PSS — Did you know that we’re running our first ever Masterclass on Candid and Compassionate Feedback. Starting in January, you can join us for five sessions on the leadership pitfalls of candor and how to solve them. If you’ve ever had a feedback conversation go wrong, you know how bad that feels. We’ve identified 9 problems and their solutions. Find out more here.
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Grab a Copy of One of Our Books:
7 Mindshifts for School Leaders: Finding New Ways to Think About Old Problems. Order it Here
Retention for a Change is an Amazon Best Seller and our Latest Book: Order it Here
Passionate Leadership is an Amazon Best Seller. Click here to order today.
