Change Your Mind?

So it may have been a cheap publicity stunt to have my first blog be an emotional tug on your heartstrings by posting and writing about my recently and dearly departed Mom. However if you go back to the "About" , this blog site is titled MomKnew. https://jamiemckinnon5.wixsite.com/website My ramblings are a dedication to my mom who was a creative life long learner that smiled most when she would ponder the possibilities when presented with a problem.

Today I reflect on a phrase I heard this past week that challenged my thinking. "Cognitive Diversity" - a wide variety of ways people think and solve problems. In our ever evolving and complex world today, more than ever, we must respectfully be open to challenging our thinking. This reminds me of a book I read many years ago, "The Opposable Mind, How Successful Leaders Win Through Integrative Thinking" - by Roger Martin. He captured the value of appreciating cognitive diversity by suggesting that great leaders, in his research, demonstrated the ability to hold opposing ideas while accepting both and more importantly they were able to creatively resolve the tension between them and generate something new - even better.

When I read the news these days or ponder the challenges before me in my work, I experience the same polarizing views on topics that many of you experience. It seems like a lost art, the ability to hold two opposing ideas and accept both, maybe take the best of both and not judge so selectively. You see my Mom Knew. I think her ability to be a true problem solver kept her focused on a better outcome, not on a specific outcome. She found great meaning and joy in new creative solutions. I think of the long debates I had with my mom and how they changed over time. What really allows us to change our minds? Change our thinking. I have always been intrigued by how we can have such different perspectives of the same situation and why then, would one ever change their view? I have joked with colleagues in the past by saying "I have principles and if you don't like them I have others!" What I really mean is that my own truths are subject to change as new information is available and its source is verified - what was the source "thinking". Is something better possible? I suppose that is the focus of media literacy these days and no doubt a key skill in navigating the world we live in, a world with an abundance of information but a shrinking respect for the value of diversity in thinking.

So what makes us change our minds?

It has been just more than a year since I returned to the role of Principal. I joined a school during a pivotal time in it's history. We have a had couple curve balls in the past few years including a pandemic. In an early staff meeting I referenced VUCA, a military term to describe the necessity to lead in times of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Some feedback I received did not appreciate the military reference so I apologize for referencing David Goggins today, a Navy Seal and author of a New York Times best seller "You Can't Hurt Me – Master your Mind and Defy the Odds" He writes about challenge, change, and growth, and how it comes in the most difficult of times. I particularly liked his reference to growth mindsets and a simple question: "we change our clothes, our hair style, the paint in a room, etc... but how often do we change our thinking?" What are we truly capable of? Where will we be as a community in 2021 and beyond?

I ponder, how have we grown in the past years, as a community, as professionals, as individuals? (COVID qualifier; not just short-term pandemic learning.) I wonder these things as I reflect on my role and my own purpose in my work and life. My own personal mission is to let light shine before others, creating opportunity and permission for them to do the same.

When is it a Time of Renewal and does it require a change in our thinking?

• Have we changed (read "grown") our thinking? (beliefs, biases, trust, team, accountability)
  

  • Some of may be familiar with Argyris's ladder of inference in system thinking. https://exploringyourmind.com/chris-argyriss-ladder-of-inference/

• Do we jump to conclusions? Reevaluate our assumptions?

• Do we think first or judge?

• Have we change our thinking on student safety? (Physical, Emotional, Social)

• Have we change our thinking on priorities? (competition, achievement, brotherhood, service, trust)

• Have we changed our thinking on learning? (Competencies, C's, assessment, experiences, voice, evaluation, performances)

• Have we changed our thinking on equity and inclusion? (gender, race, LGBTQ, socio-economic,)

• Have we changed our thinking on service? (teach and experience empathy)

More importantly have we grown and improved the lived experience of students. These are all tough questions and certainly focused on life beyond the pandemic – but a reflection on a true preferred future for education and learning.

The Japanese have a word for continual growth and improvement - "Kaizen"

If you feel threatened by the questions feel free to replace the word "change" with "Grown" Seems many people are afraid of change but everyone like to grow. Do we grow, do we evolve our thinking, beliefs, and actions? Do we relentlessly pursue improvement as the world changes around us? Yes we do and we will need to continue to be agents of change.

On a personal note, I hope I can answer yes to most of the above questions with acknowledgement that there is much more to do. This is not just a personal journey, we all must do our part, paradoxically, we are "alone in this together".

We must not rest, although we may need some. Take time to embrace the cognitive diversity around you, it tests, stretches, and renews our own thinking to create solutions better than than we can imagine on our own.

Cheers.