What it means to foster in-depth conversational and knowledge-sharing culture in your institution?

This is a relatively long post here, but important to me and hopfully spurs creative thoughts in everyone.

Few years ago I ended up discussing with one of my superiors about an incidence in that particular institute that led me to think, what it means for the organization to foster deep, meaningful and in-depth knowledge-sharing culture.

I have been thinking this question for a while now, and would love to hear your thoughts around the issue. Here's what I have been pondering lately on the matter.

Educational institution as a whole would benefit from a working culture that is based on trusted knowledge-sharing through communication and dialogue between all stakeholders, even between schools, organizations and policy makers.

Most of us are familiar with the Aristotle's project that Google revealed in 2015. It struck me with disbelief back then that the middle managers were not informed of work performance benefits arising from lower levels of micromanagement and better internal communication. Now the question is, how many of teachers, head teachers or other education professionals and leaders are educated to communicate effectively, lead team meetings that strive for mutual understanding and psychological safety paying attention to everyone present, to go through pressurized discussions and deal with difficult issues where negative emotions emerge? How to act as ombudsmen between parents, colleagues or students. How to restore trust that is broken to the point of legal liabilty?

Difficult issues are difficult for a reason. We are supposed do undress our ego from the need to be right and heard of and verbalize our emotions that often lead to vulnerability and option for the other party to take advantage of us. We tend to focus on fear instead of possibilities. Fear that may arise from existential, fundamental, social or competence issues introduces behavioral reactions that rarely build up confidence or show up as a virtue.

Acknowledging the psychosocial framework and supporting the growth of individual strengths is the new black in leadership also in education. Trusted and open channels of communication penetrating the organizational hierarchy will boost our ability to cope and succeed as a team of teachers, as an organization, institution and society. I believe that sharing responsibilities and freedom, allowing failures and communicating clearly the four W's (why, what, who and when) embedded in the new black of leadership will tap the self-esteem of everyone and work begins to blossom. The same rools applies rather well in parenthood too.

So, how to foster such in-depth and meaningful knowledge sharing culture within the educational setting? Well, it's all boils down to defining the processes that involve some form of interaction and communication. And when the communication need arises, listening is gold, asking meaningful questions that allow the person to express feelings and ideas freely is equally important. Leaders are needed to back up the process and include the well-being at work as an internal strategy. Good and open dialogue is the foundation of well-being. Once the strategy is laid out, the school can begin to design the "tools of trade" and start the journey to become the best school ever.

I know, it's not exactly that straightforward, but broadly speaking, the fundaments are there.

Thanks for reading!

Submitted September 29, 2020 at 01:15PM by carllange https://ift.tt/347NkhH