Influencing Change
Leading change in any organization is definitely a challenge and requires much preparation beyond the plan produced during this course. The information in this course has provided a reliable foundation on how to influence others to see my vision. As a leader of innovation, there are steps to take in order to persuade colleagues to embrace change. First and foremost, you must understand your ‘why’ if you expect people to consider change, they must see your purpose. Identifying key influencers is an important step in the Influencer Strategy. These are the people that will help you spread your message and incorporate procedures. The six sources of influence and vital behaviors is the groundwork done by the leader to make change as comfortable as possible for everyone else. The leader has to identify the team’s motivators and abilities and how to influence them personally, socially, and structurally. Planning is one challenge, but execution is another. The Four Disciplines of Execution teaches how to accomplish wildly important goals with your team while finessing the demanding whirlwind of daily tasks. While leading change, there are going to be many crucial conversations in order to be successful. These are high stakes discussions about topics that absolutely must be addressed. Knowing how to lead the group through these conversations is the most important factor of keeping the team together.
My WHY Statement
Why?
Every student deserves the ability to visualize and harness their musical potential.
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How?
Students will use E-Portfolios to allow for a subjective monitoring of musical progress, technical development, and personal goals
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What?
Students will embrace creativity and expressiveness in route to becoming the best musician they can be.
Influencer Model
In order to influence others to embrace change, I must present my desired result, and identify vital behavior that need to change. I will also address what motivates my team and what they are capable of. The six sources of influence list ways to influence my team from a personal, social, and structural standpoint. Lastly, I need to identify who my key influencers are and why.
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1. Starting with my team gives me a higher chance at success with colleagues buying into my plan because we are a team and help each other tremendously throughout the year. Also, they are veteran teachers and very outspoken, so if there are any questions or something that may need to be tweaked for a better fit, then they will have no problem letting that be known instead of denying it altogether.
2. Having them incorporate the E-Portfolios with their extracurricular activities instead of in class allows students to continue to enjoy the dynamics of the classes they love. Students that take extra interest in a subject join the clubs and will experience creating their e-portfolios there.
3.We as a team have the power for the e-portfolios to eventually trickle down across the campus and have many many students using them! But as a start, my goal is for the specials teachers to have their students create and manage e-Portfolios. Ideally, in a few semesters, the entire specials team will have a group of students with e-portfolios and we can continue the culture moving forward.
Four Disciplines of Execution Plan
Chris McChesney said “When urgency and importance clash, urgency wins.” By urgency, he’s speaking of the whirlwind, the day to day must-perform tasks that absolutely require immediacy. Urgency is the main characteristic of the whirlwind. With everything going on it’s difficult to make time for other important responsibilities. So The Four Disciplines of Execution is designed to help you achieve your goals amid the whirlwind.
Crucial Conversations
A discussion with high stakes, different opinions, and strong emotions is considered a crucial conversation. A successful communicator has the ability to handle crucial conversations effectively. This person has the skills to address any topic, no matter the comfort level. They possess the tools to keep high stakes discussions positive, safe, and goal oriented. Remaining focused on goals during the conversation is a key procedure to settling rising emotions. This is why establishing common goals as a team is such an important step in the Four Disciplines of Execution. During crucial conversation you can have constructive dialogue towards something mutual. A successful communicator must create a safe environment for conversation by doing two things; listening and looking in the mirror. Communication is listening with the intent to understand, instead of the intent to reply. Also, the leader should consider aspects of their own attitude that possibly need to change.