This summer I read the book "Dare to Lead" by Brene Brown. If you are not familiar with Brene Brown or this book, I highly suggest you read it.
In this book Brene discusses the importance of daring leadership. She talks about the myths of vulnerability and our job as leaders to create a place where everyone can show up as their best selves.
One of my favorite quotes that I remind myself of with the beginning of the year quickly approaching is this:
Gosh this quote just gets me in my feels, because it's true. When talking to people about my new role, it is often brought up that working with adults must be better than working with children. I have pondered on that a bit but each time I come to the same conclusion.
Whether working with adults or working with children, we are still working with humans.
As I reflect on my summer of not preparing a "classroom for students", I have realized going into instructional coaching has not been much different. You still want to create an inviting space for your "learners".
With students, the beginning of the school year is all about relationship building. It's about learning your students. It's about creating an environment where they feel valued and safe to speak their minds and collaborate together. We know as educators that without that foundation, the rest of the year will not go as planned.
Adult learners deserve the same amount of time and attention to attend to fears and feelings as the students we serve.
How Do We Create That Space?
Whether adult or child, we are all learners. Whether in a classroom or instructional coach room, it's still a learning environment.
Starting the year on a solid foundation is important for the trajectory of the remaining year.
Brene talks about a practice called "Container Building". Container building creates Psychological safety. Psychological safety as Brene says is, "team members feeling safe to take risks and be vulnerable in front of each other". Without psychological safety, team members will shut down.
We have all been in a PLC where someone does not feel psychological safety. The person who doesn't speak out for fear of the judgmental comment. The person who doesn't answer a question for fear of sounding stupid. We know and at some point WE may not have felt safe. We may have been that person.
Without psychological safety, collaboration cannot exist.
PLC can quickly become a one man show without that ever being the intention.
Container Building
Brene's idea behind container building is to have group members answer three key questions:
What is one thing we need from the group in order to feel okay sharing and asking questions?
What is one thing that will get in the way?
What does support look like?
This can be done anonymously or not (you know your team). The answers are then complied and Brene suggests creating three containers. These "containers" then become norms or vulnerability norms for the group.
Doing this at the beginning of the year can really set the tone for trust and understanding in your PLC groups.
Interested in Container Building?
I've created a resource to help facilitate "Container Building" in your professional learning communities below.
Click the picture to purchase!
Interested in Container Building?
Print the resource from above out.
Allow group members independent reflection time to answer.
Share answers as a group.
Collaboratively fill the Group Container with norms discussed as people were sharing.
Refer back to these during discussions daily.
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