Leadership and ChangeLeadership and Change

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Jeffrey J. Smith Ed.D.Jeffrey J. Smith Ed.D.Superintendent of Balsz SchoolsSuperintendent of Balsz Schools

Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizonajsmith@balsz.k12.az.usjsmith@balsz.k12.az.us

Leadership and ChangeLeadership and Change

As superintendent you have many As superintendent you have many pressing issues to deal withpressing issues to deal with

Deciding what to change and how to lead change is a major consideration for any school system

The following are some helpful tips on how to manage and lead change in your organization

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Positive Energy vs. Negative Positive Energy vs. Negative EnergyEnergy

Are you moving toward what you want or away from what Are you moving toward what you want or away from what you don’t want? you don’t want?

Positive energy attracts momentum because you are Positive energy attracts momentum because you are working toward a preferred futureworking toward a preferred future

Negative energy wears you down in ways you might not Negative energy wears you down in ways you might not even know. Wearing you down with worry, emotionally even know. Wearing you down with worry, emotionally hijacking your thoughts. When we are worn down hijacking your thoughts. When we are worn down emotionally we cannot make the best decisionsemotionally we cannot make the best decisions

““In my experience, men go to greater lengths to avoid what In my experience, men go to greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire”they fear than to obtain what they desire”

Dan Brown The Da Vinci CodeDan Brown The Da Vinci Code 3

Changes are like WavesChanges are like Waves

It seems only logical to be on the lookout for the next wave that It seems only logical to be on the lookout for the next wave that might swamp your boat but you might be surprised how many might swamp your boat but you might be surprised how many leaders are not prepared when a wave of change swamps the leaders are not prepared when a wave of change swamps the organizationorganization

Be careful not to be so focused on present issues that you pass up Be careful not to be so focused on present issues that you pass up on incremental changes that can move you in the right direction on incremental changes that can move you in the right direction

Putting together various strategies can bring synergy to an Putting together various strategies can bring synergy to an approximation of your destination- kind of like tacking in the windapproximation of your destination- kind of like tacking in the wind

““We can’t change the direction of the wind but we can change We can’t change the direction of the wind but we can change

the direction of our sails”the direction of our sails”

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The Change The Change YouYou Seek Should Seek Should MatterMatter

The wrong fight can debilitate an organization, fighting over things The wrong fight can debilitate an organization, fighting over things

that don’t really matter, wasting time and energythat don’t really matter, wasting time and energy

Big changes are about big things that have the potential to Big changes are about big things that have the potential to

fundamentally change the performance and success of your fundamentally change the performance and success of your

schoolsschools

Discussing things that matter engages peopleDiscussing things that matter engages people

No matter how conflict avoidant a culture may be in general, most

people are willing to fight for things that will dramatically improve

their well-being and that of their students

Things that matter stir passions and controversyThings that matter stir passions and controversy 5

Does the Change have a Does the Change have a Sense of Noble Purpose?Sense of Noble Purpose?

A Noble Purpose energizes people to go above and beyondA Noble Purpose energizes people to go above and beyond

People have a more significant investment in the changePeople have a more significant investment in the change

It should affect all levels of the organizationIt should affect all levels of the organization

There should be no personal advantage to youThere should be no personal advantage to you

You should be able to explain the change so the average You should be able to explain the change so the average person understands and agrees with the needperson understands and agrees with the need

Navigating change involves a logical and cerebral Navigating change involves a logical and cerebral discussion of the facts. However successful change efforts discussion of the facts. However successful change efforts also include an emotional connection to the people in the also include an emotional connection to the people in the organization organization

Noble fights are not always tidy, but they are worth the Noble fights are not always tidy, but they are worth the strugglestruggle

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Focus on the FutureFocus on the Future Make the change not only believable and desirable but compelling- so Make the change not only believable and desirable but compelling- so

compelling in fact that not making it happen becomes the problem compelling in fact that not making it happen becomes the problem

A truly compelling future vision focuses people so intently on real, A truly compelling future vision focuses people so intently on real,

achievable benefits they are willing to work through the costs and achievable benefits they are willing to work through the costs and

controversies associated with achieving those benefitscontroversies associated with achieving those benefits

Make gains explicit, especially at key moments in the process

The key is always looking out in front of the organization and

considering every option

““Leadership is serious meddling in other people’s lives” Leadership is serious meddling in other people’s lives” Max DupreeMax Dupree

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Success and Failure Success and Failure are a Result of Leadershipare a Result of Leadership

One thing both successful and dysfunctional organizations One thing both successful and dysfunctional organizations have in common is leadershiphave in common is leadership

Successful organizations got there through leadership and Successful organizations got there through leadership and failing organizations got there through leadership failing organizations got there through leadership

Some want to blame the families, the students and the Some want to blame the families, the students and the environment for the poor performance of students. The truth is environment for the poor performance of students. The truth is that most of the choices made that lead to a widening of the that most of the choices made that lead to a widening of the achievement gap are made by schoolsachievement gap are made by schools

Develop a patient focus on building strategic intent into Develop a patient focus on building strategic intent into sustainable realitysustainable reality

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Leadership is about Leadership is about Authority not PowerAuthority not Power

PowerPower- (do it or else!) When we resort to power it is because - (do it or else!) When we resort to power it is because our authority broke down. Asserting power damages our authority broke down. Asserting power damages relationshipsrelationships

AuthorityAuthority- The skill of getting people to willingly comply - The skill of getting people to willingly comply because of your personal influencebecause of your personal influence

Give people what they need and they will give you what you Give people what they need and they will give you what you needneed

Leadership is not about lighting a fire under people’s butts it’s Leadership is not about lighting a fire under people’s butts it’s about lighting a fire in their heartsabout lighting a fire in their hearts 9

Make it Sport not WarMake it Sport not War Characteristics of War Characteristics of War

Firestorms, friendly fire, collateral damage and civilian casualtiesFirestorms, friendly fire, collateral damage and civilian casualties You risk devolving into a messy protracted civil war that can bog You risk devolving into a messy protracted civil war that can bog

down the district down the district

Characteristics of SportCharacteristics of Sport Timelines, rules of engagement, definition of the field of play Timelines, rules of engagement, definition of the field of play

including what is out of boundsincluding what is out of bounds Sport involves consequential uncertaintySport involves consequential uncertainty Your role is to be cheerleader, coach and refereeYour role is to be cheerleader, coach and referee Judge behavior without regard to personal preferenceJudge behavior without regard to personal preference

The greatest conqueror is he who overcomes the enemy without a The greatest conqueror is he who overcomes the enemy without a blow blow

  --   -- Chinese ProverbChinese Proverb 10

Universal Reactions to ChangeUniversal Reactions to Change

People feel awkward and ill at easePeople feel awkward and ill at ease

They think about what they lose not gainThey think about what they lose not gain

They feel alone, even if others are doing the same thingThey feel alone, even if others are doing the same thing

They feel they can only handle so much changeThey feel they can only handle so much change

Everyone is at a different level of readiness for changeEveryone is at a different level of readiness for change

Some are concerned they do not have enough resourcesSome are concerned they do not have enough resources

When the pressure is off, people revertWhen the pressure is off, people revert11

For any questions feel free to For any questions feel free to contact: contact:

Dr. Jeff SmithDr. Jeff Smith

Superintendent, Superintendent,

Balsz School DistrictBalsz School Districtjsmith@balsz.k12.az.us

602 629-6410602 629-6410

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