Full Description
Building change for the long game
It's natural to resist change - but when we fundamentally commit to putting our students first, we must also commit to make lasting changes in current practice. Can we lead individuals and school teams to embrace strategic effort and lasting growth despite challenging circumstances and inevitable resistance?
For school leaders willing to change their behavior on behalf of their teams, the answer is Yes! This practical, thoughtful book builds on what we already know about change, invites reflection, and provides guidance to develop changes that will last. Readers will learn to:
Organize and create conditions in which staff and students flourish
Focus on phases of change and address the critical leadership practices that will simultaneously move change forward and address the kinds of resistance that may appear
Apply two long-term stories of district change to their own particular contexts, so they can avoid mistakes and focus on strategies that work
Create their own relationship-rich, personalized path for leading and managing change
We can build more reliable and effective changes in schools by ensuring steady progress over time. Dig into this informative book to discover the what, how, and why of a holistic change architecture to move your teams toward impactful changes that will stand the test of time.
Contents
Foreword
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
The Reality
The Good News
What This Book Will Not Be
A Peek Inside
Chapter 1: Build It for the Long Haul
Nourish Change for a Long Life
Lead With a Deep Knowledge of Each Phase of Long-Term Change
Lead With a "People-Sensitive Mindset" of How the Change Efforts Will Play Out
A Snapshot of Our Two School Districts Attempting Change
Chapter 2: Giving Initiation the Attention It Deserves
Take the Time to Start the Right Way
Leadership Essential Actions During Initiation
The Leaders of Our Two School Districts Initiate the Work
Chapter 3: Troubleshooting Implementation Over Time
Lead for the Long Term and Expect to See a Range of Quality in the Change
Leadership Essential Actions During Implementation
The Leaders of Our Two Districts Implement their Work
Chapter 4: Ensuring Permanence
Don't Think the Work Is Over!
Leadership Essential Actions During Institutionalization
Our Two School Districts and the Attempts to Institutionalize the Work
Chapter 5: Anticipating Some Pushback
Accept and Appreciate That Resistance Will Happen at Some Point in the Change
Realize the Complexities of Resistance and Why It Triggers Strong Emotions in Us
Our Two School Districts and the Attempts to Manage the Resistance
Chapter 6: Strategies for Understanding and Managing the Pushback
Embrace the Unpleasantness, but Embrace It Calmly and Strategically
Chapter 7: Productive Talk About the Change
Effective Conversations Are Your Most Powerful Tools for Learning and Change
The What
The What Combined With the How
Our Two School Districts and their Attempts to have Productive Talk About the Change
Chapter 8: Finding the Moments
References
Index
