Innovation: Change vs Growth by https://padlet.com/paulsrowland/8g58mzhuf6dv Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” (J. Maxwell) Compare and contrast of change vs. growth for students and teachers. How do change and growth impact classrooms? What about the overall culture of a school building. While it might seem simple, consider things like: how do people often react to change? how many seek out opportunities for growth? etc. en-us 2020-02-07 21:34:40 UTC 2020-02-08 17:49:53 UTC hello@padlet.com The Parable of the Farmer paulsrowland https://padlet.com/paulsrowland/8g58mzhuf6dv/wish/442548156 One of my favorite stories is the parable of the farmer (If you have not hear it, please watch the video at the end of this post first). The changes that the farmer went through couldn’t be assess good or bad; just that they were changes. A continuous unfolding of life from his perspective. The farmer was open to the idea that there was reason for change and didn’t rush to judgement in trying to evaluate those changes. Because changes were all they were. Like a piece of rock transforming to a diamond, or a mud slide in California destroying homes the changes to the farmer were just that – a change to the physical environment that couldn’t really be evaluated unless you know the bigger picture. That is what I see change is. It is simply the natural, organic evolution of circumstance around us facilitated by the decision or actions of forces internal or external to our lives.

Change, like growth, has its own set of characteristics. Change can be instant, imposed, a one off event, or the beginning of growth. Change can be transformative sparking the growth, or stagnate if nothing is productive comes from it. 

Changes happens in all facets of life such as family, work, school or relationships. In organizations, likes schools or businesses, the culture of an entire group is a fragile ecosystem filled with habits, norms and ways to do things. The slightest change can have ramifications throughout the eco system like the change that recently happened at my work. An initial public offering of stock was completed which took a private company and gave us a new set of “owners”. Does this change effect our environment? Yes, some reacted to this like it was a wonderful opportunity for the company while other were more detracting in their assessment of the change. Thus, this “change” has impacted a global organization in various ways seen and unseen. People are so eager to evaluate this change “good” or “bad” because they fear it. 

It is the same in schools and classrooms, as well. Teachers and students using technology to learn skills and express creativity are suddenly told there will be a reduction in the funds to provide those technologies. It can have a sweepingly negative effect on the school culture and abilities to carry out authentic learning, or it can be an opportunity to innovate. 

In my line of work, they use a method of change management that follows the ADKAR model. Awareness – Desire – Knowledge – Ability – Reinforcement. This model purports that change is a sequential process that must be done in order and be processed from the current level of each person. This is how we, and other businesses, deal with change. It deals with the very human aspects that most change raises which his fear and discomfort. But like the farmer, not all change is good or bad…it just is. It is what you do with the circumstances you are dealt that matters. Will you grow or not?

]]> 2020-02-08 16:07:26 UTC https://padlet.com/paulsrowland/8g58mzhuf6dv/wish/442548156 Change affects Us, but Growth changes us. paulsrowland https://padlet.com/paulsrowland/8g58mzhuf6dv/wish/442558626 We have discussed that change is actually a neutral event that humans assess and attach value to out of concern, fear, anxiety or discomfort. We have demonstrated that change has its own characteristics that can produce growth such as, Change can be: Instantaneous, imposed from the outside, a one-off event, created by a single decision. Those are the difference from growth, but they “can” produce growth. It’s all in how you look at it. Growth is an option, as the book details. The characteristics of growth are that it is slow, internal, incremental, developed through consistent effort, and is motivated by the decision to grow. In order for growth, either institutionally (i.e. schools or businesses) or personally, to take hold the growth must be embraced by the people, or person, affected. Growth is a choice. Growth is the ability to assess a change and decide to work within the constraints, or opportunities provided, and develop a path that moves us forward. In this section of the Padlet, I include an video by a very inspiring young man who suffered a great set back. His name is Nik Miller. He was a Marine and suffer catastrophic injuries due to a motor vehicle accident. He endured a major “change” in his life. The video illustrates his climb from change to growth. In school and business environments, changes not quite as severe happen all the time. To grow, this happens, means to see the change for what it is, and with an innovative mindset seek out the opportunities and possibilities to spark real growth. 

How does growth impact us in a working environment? Think back to the situation with my work. Changes because of the IPO and change in ownership will happen. Changes in structure or philosophy or goals will happen. For me, and my counterparts, it will be up to us to see how we will adapt and flourish within the changes that happen. As a trainer, I am doing this by helping the department adjust their training modules to be online vs ILT. The company is trying to address some utilization problems by moving to a more adaptive and learner-centric model. The idea is causing concern and fear in those who believe that online training is not helpful. They are afraid of losing connection with people. My plan is to ease them into the changes; to educate them slowly as to the uses and value of the model I propose. The idea is to build the capacity for employee growth through easy to access, online training vs the ILT that is the current norm. In the end, my goal is to transform their fear of this change into a mindset of growth and innovation.

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