Monday, August 31, 2009

What type of frame is most commonly used by leadership in your educational system? Why?

There is no doubt in my mind that our school system operates under the assumptions emphasized by the Structural Frame. From the senior leaders to the grade-level professional learning communities, individuals in our system are focused on setting, working toward and achieving goals. Furthermore, we continually seek new and innovative ways to reach these goals in a more effective and efficient manner. While there is some merit in having a clear focus and direction, it does not come without its consequences. One of the most significant consequence our system has perceived to suffer is a loss of focus on the Human Resources frame. However, as we are undergoing a shift in leadership as a system, our focus has been shifting as well. With that said, let me be the first to caution that having a pendulum that tends to sway more often toward any one frame might not yield the best results! I am a much happier employee when there is a better balance between the frames!

3 comments:

  1. I could not agree more. Working toward acheiveable goals is what all educators strive for. I think your leadership change will be a good one. It may be a struggle as paradigms shift, but shift happens. :-)

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  2. I agree that a stable and balanced set of frames makes for the best organization, as long as the balance is well-suited to the needs of the organization.

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  3. I have always been very interested in the correlation between leadership shifts and overall achievement. A former superintendent explained it this way, "You've got two kinds of leaders -- sprinters and marathon runners." How do these shifting frames impact organizational thinking? What long-range ramifications are attached to frequent shifts in organizational frames?

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