I just finished reading [finally- since I have had the book for over a year] Kotter's Our Iceberg Is Melting about change and succeeding under any conditions. It is similar to Who Moved My Cheese? in that it is a fable.....Kotter uses penguins and their need to change in order to get across his eight steps to change......the book was a very fast read....I will need to read it again with a different lens this time.....Kotter's 8 steps are nothing we have not heard of before.....however, reading the book reminded me how important it is to be open to change. It is said..."without change there is no growth...." So why is it that we know this.....recite the quote....and yet, so many of us are so unwillingly to change.....?????????
This book aligned quite a lot to Lencioni's book on Silos.....the premise behind Silos is change.....or at least be willing to come together with common goals....in order to do that, we must be willing to change.....
I am now reading Lencioni's book- Miserable Jobs....I was skeptical at first.....mainly because I love my job....but it is really not about that...it is about culture and the way culture in an organization [which begins with the big bosses] determines how happy we are in our jobs....I have just started this book....so I dont have much to say right now....however, I have always been an advocate of treating people right....in my head rings- "do onto others as you would have them do onto you....." that is true anywhere...family, relationships...and work!
Uncertainty
14 years ago
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You model your joy about treating others with respect every day here at work. Your joy at learning and creating and applying that passion to your job shines through as well. What a great combination - to love people, love learning, and and love your work. We are all lucky to be in an environment where these qualities are valued and promoted. I think Sharon sets the stage for this as she did when she was my principal.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read "The Iceberg is Melting," but it reminds me of the technology iceberg. People are getting left behind if they refuse to venture into the digital age even in little ways. It is scary for the older generation, but not impossible to build little bridges to where the world is with technology. I think in my retirement, I'm going to offer classes for the Age of Aquariuans, to safely venture into this new age. Can't you just see it? But at least that will be a way for them to move away from the tunnel vision of television into the possiblilites of the connections they can make in the digital world.
karen - such an appropriate comment regarding being left behind. i used to talk to my students about what emotion is the greatest motivator and it often came up that it depended on what age or stage of life you were in. the idea of being left behind could certainly spark fear in to some. who wants to watch everyone else move forward? i'm hoping the recent technology buzz, although a bit late on some fronts" will move people not only to evaluate where they stand, but into action as well.
ReplyDeleteas far as loving what you do - i'm not sure you need to be head over heels about it all, but you need to be on the right side of thinking to not be miserable.