What is the skinny on Change?

Today, I had the opportunity to discuss the book Motion Leadership by Fullan. As we approach the middle of May and begin to think about the end of the 2017-2018 school year, we also start to think about the work moving into next year. What do we want to change? How can we improve so that next year is better than this year? What were the successes this year and how do I recreate that next year?

Motion Leadership shares one simple concept: "What is the skinny on Change?" This short read helps to distill many aspects of change theory into simple and clear concepts. But like the game of blackjack, the concept may be easy, become a skilled practitioner takes time and effort. Following the reflective questions throughout the chapters help guide your thoughts and make you reflect. For example in chapter two, Fullan shares a story about Ontario's Schools on the Move (Schools who have demonstrated repeated improvement in Literacy and Numeracy). In the example he poses the question, "If you were the principal in one of these schools, could you explain to others what you did to create repeated results?" 

Wait, what!?

As teachers and principals, we often are busy in moving through our process to improve our results that sometimes we forget to take a step back and look at the process itself. Motion Leadership is a good book with examples across different areas, which helps you to be metacognitive.