Jenny’s take on the importance of conversations
Today my thoughts do not particularly lie within any literature, although I am aware Jude’s last blog highlighted some research around the area and she has a keen interest in this field. My comments here are more of me simply sharing my reflections of a surreal day. There are so many things that I have learnt and can take from today but one that is resonating with me is the importance and power of conversations.
I was lucky enough that today, amongst all the chaos that we find ourselves in, I was able to find an hour or so to have my fortnightly chat with Jude and meet Neil Gilbride, a lecturer in Education at Gloucester University. So many things were discussed and touched upon during this time from CPD, the importance of research for new teachers and its place in their development and engagement in teaching, the power of completing a Masters, individuals roles as change agents in the education system to the importance of Greek yoghurt for my son if in isolation.
One of the things that was obviously a topic of conversation was the current situation we find ourselves in and how this is new to so many of us. As well as sharing our thoughts on the moral and social role that teachers play in the current climate we also moved onto the topic of leadership. Many headteachers and leaders have shared frustrations over the limited direction that they are being given and how it is left to them to make these critical decisions on the path schools should be following. This is not a blog sharing my thoughts on whether that should be the case, as I feel I shared this enough earlier in the day. My reflections are more on how deliberating on leadership decisions like this are powerful beyond any book. The importance of the decisions that Head teachers are currently making cannot be down played in terms of the impact that they have on the school, staff, students and local community, it was enlightening listening to the emphasis Neil placed on the ‘weight’ of these decisions on not only all these stakeholders but also the weight on the head teachers. This was enlightening not because it was something I hadn’t thought about, but more because it reinforced the power of the conversation that we were having and of the conversations I make time for each fortnight. How they serve a greater good than simply offloading and sharing ideas but more that this reflection time is key to ensuring that decisions that are made are informed decisions, have been thought through, considered from different perspectives but that are also lead in the right way. Without specifically discussing decisions that any of us had made we were clearly all considering our approaching to leadership experiences to date.
We also discussed the structure of Masters assignments and I am mindful that my ramblings above have clearly failed to meet the expectations of paragraphs discussed… sorry Neil!
This thought followed me throughout the day and led me to have a further discussion with a colleague who shared how they felt there was often not that time for staff to have these professional conversations due to the time constraints and timings of the day. I do not have the answers here for that but is definitely something that in my development as a leader I want to pursue. Wenger (1998) highlights how these communities of practice are a ‘versatile and dynamic knowledge resource and form the basis of an organization’s ability to know and learn’. What a powerful tool it would be to be able to have these communities that talk about their teaching and pedagogy, and about how leadership at all levels can be most effective. I know how powerful the community of practice I was part of today has been in steering my leadership throughout today and in the future.
I feel it is easy to rush along ticking things of the to do list and therefore failing to make time for these conversations, yet the things discussed are the things that will make us better leaders, will enable us to reflect on decisions and learn from things. Although for the hour or so today nothing was ticked of my list, in fact more things added, it helped me see things from different perspectives and contributed to my continual development as a practitioner and a leader, I know it has made me more efficient and effective and for that I feel was an hour extremely well spent.
Jude’s reflections
Jenny is totally right that today was chaotic and I know we won’t be alone in thinking that but being able to find time for our coffee and conversation became even more important than usual. For me, it was a joy to sit with two people whom I hold in such high regard and talk about change, leadership, academia and the current situation. I have learnt so much from both of them that to bring them together was a meeting of minds that was a pleasure to behold.
But aside from my academic fangirling, Jenny is spot on – making the time to have that kind of professional conversation is so important. Interactions of those kinds create the space for real reflection and from that comes real professional growth. It is a tricky thing to make time for. The outcomes and impact often can’t be measured and sitting for a coffee and talking can feel indulgent in a cram packed timetable but if more people were to allow themselves to pause and talk they would realise the power of conversation.
Talking is an invaluable source of CPD and it is free (apart from the cost of the coffee!) – creating a culture where conversation is actively valued and promoted could be transformational. It has been huge for my professional development and having a third person there today to shine a light on the rapport Jenny and I have made me reflect on what a unique working relationship we have created. We have created a model that works, that has impact and that is powerful which I think is something to be proud of. More people should embrace talking in the work place!
Wenger, E (1998), Communities of Practice: Learning as a Social System, “Systems Thinker,” June
Creating Cognitive Classrooms 