Positive Outcomes with Innovator's Mindset Characteristics: The Process of Learn, Model, Practice, and Apply

Embodying George Couros's 8 Characteristics of the Innovator's Mindset can make us better leaders, teachers, and students. We cannot just learn empathy, problem finding (and solving), risk taking, networking, observing, creating, being resilient, and reflecting. We need to be able to apply these skills. We need our students to do the same. 

 When it comes to these 8 characteristics, the most positive and beneficial way to both incorporate and empower others to use them is through teaching, modeling, practicing with feedback, and applying to the world beyond the context in which it is learned.

EMPATHY: For others to understand empathy, it not only needs to be defined, but they need to see it. This can be done through videos and modeling. The more authentic and meaningful, the more engaged they will become.  Once understanding and sharing the feelings of another is learned and demonstrated, it needs to be practiced is a safe environment and in a context that is understood. Only then can it be applied beyond that. By truly embracing empathy, new viewpoints will allow for better outcomes.

PROBLEM FINDERS (and SOLVERS): The same steps can be taken: learn, demonstrate, practice, and apply. If we don't have people finding issues or obstacles to being more efficient and productive, it's harder to develop solutions to become better.

RISK TAKERS: While learn, demonstrate, practice, and apply are key, having a safe and supportive environment with a growth mindset will allow more motivation and freedom to take risks and learn from failure. 

NETWORK: We have to allow our teachers and students to collaborate, reflect, and deprivatize their practices with others (in and outside of their buildings). I do this through my state and national associations, but for the last three years, I have also learned so much from my Twitter contacts. One of the best networking tools was the Twitter Challenge by my colleague @MrDomagalski. It was so beneficial, I did it with my teachers. 

OBSERVANT: This is another characteristic that needs to be learned, demonstrated, practiced, and applied. Instead of recreating the wheel, we need to be innovative by making it better, more personalized, and meaningful. We do this through research, observation, and analysis. Why do you think more people go to YouTube to learn something? They are seeing and observing what they want to learn. 

CREATORS: To learn to be creative, we need to go beyond modeling. Sometimes this puts limits on others. Just because we do it a certain way, it's not the only way. I always want my teachers and students to come up with an even better, more creative way. When I don't put limitations, I always get better outcomes than I had even imagined. 

RESILIENT: Learning, modeling, practicing, and applying are key to becoming resilient. Fostering a growth mindset where failure is a part of the learning is an authentic practice of life. 

REFLECT: Reflective practices are one of the best core practices to learning. This practice also needs learned, demonstrated, practiced, and applied within and out of context. Meaningful learning grows from being reflective. This is even stronger when it is done within a network with similar interests and goals. 

The common process for all of these characteristics is that they need to be learned, modeled, practiced, and applied to truly be developed.  Having safe environment where risk taking and failure are not only accepted but expected will stimulate more motivation and growth for positive outcomes.  

Embracing Change with Positivity

"Change is an opportunity to do something amazing" (#InnovatorsMindset @gcouros). 

I used to teach the book Who Moved My Cheese? to my seniors. The book spoke to me since I was a newer teacher and had visions of doing things differently. While some of the staff were excited and the principal supported my vision, others hemmed and hawed like the mouse characters in the book. 

Now as an instructional leader, I want to embrace and support change, especially change that is going to foster the skills our students need for their futures. I try to #LeadPositive by also modeling this type of change for my staff. I read Innovators Mindset over the summer and was both hooked and inspired. 

My opening building PD used modules from ASCD's Teaching Innovation and Creativity series. I even had staff use Schoology to have their discussions that day and will continue this practice throughout our journey this year. What sparked the most passion was the relevant and fun team building activity that we opened our day with: Chopped for Educators.

#PowerUpMMS Team Building "Chopped for Educators"

Our building has a former home economics room that we know use for our life skills class, but it served as the perfect place to have our opening team building activity.

Challenge  Rubric

The teams had a mystery box challenge (see link above) and the winning team won a great goodie bag of school supplies for each team member. The staff loved the hats and aprons, and only had 30 minutes to complete their task. The assistant superintendent, secretary, and custodian judged the dishes created.

After the competition, we talked about all of the 21st Century (#Milan21, our Modern Teacher branding) skills this competition needed: Creativity & Innovation, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Communication & Collaboration, Flexibility & Adaptability, Initiative & Self Direction, Social & Cross Cultural Skills, Productivity & Accountability, and Leadership & Responsibility. In addition, we discussed how just this one exercise not only hits all of these skills, but all content areas could think of standards their students could learn and demonstrate with minor tweaks. 

I took a risk using up some of my building PD this way, but it paid off. I was positive and enthusiastic about the day and activities. The teachers had fun; team building happened; it was relevant; and it modeled what I have been preaching:

• Risk Taking is key for staff and students.
• Some of the best ideas are out of the box.
• Learning can happen in many ways.
• Failing is necessary for growth.
• Learning should be interactive and fun.
• Transforming practices are key to being more student-centered. 

I am totally behind the change that needs to take place for our students. We have to support and guide our teachers on all levels of readiness. The #IMMOOC network is going to help and support me to better do just that! How about you?

The Best Version of Ourselves

Personal and professional growth comes in many forms. To be our best version of self, it means that we need to take risks, learn from those outcomes, work to be positive and see the good while ridding the negative and bad, and most importantly, forgive ourselves and others. Holding on to regret, anger, or even vengeance, will act as anchors to improvement. Challenging ourselves and staying positive is the way to a better life.

Taking Risks: Growing and becoming better comes from taking risks and pushing ourselves to do what sometimes feels impossible. The biggest, most rewarding growth comes from the most challenging tasks.

Growth Image

Learning: The learning during struggle and growth is key to becoming better. We learn from mistakes; we learn from the journey.

Learning Image

Seeing the Good: Having a positive outlook keeps us focused on hope and people. Finding the good in others and ourselves helps us find purpose to make a difference.

Positivity Image

Dissolving the Bad: Letting go of negativity will help us stay focused on the positive and the journey to do and be better.

Letting Go Image

Forgiveness of Self and Others: Sometimes we get stuck in becoming our best because we are overtaken with anger, hurt, regret, or even guilt. It is just as important to forgive ourselves as it is to forgive others.

Forgiveness Image

Repeat: Being the best that we can be means a long-life journey of risk and challenge, growth, and a commitment to seeing and being good as well as bringing out the good in others. #LeadPositive

Next Gen Teaching: A Quick Guide to the New School Year

Both the classroom and the instruction need to change to better engage and challenge our youth.

1) Take Risks: Model and demonstrate learning from failure, taking risks, and discovering the end verses starting with the end in mind. Check out Diana Laufenberg's "How to Learn? From Mistakes" Ted Talk where she explores experiential learning, student voice, and embracing failure. Read Dweck's Mindset book to understand a shift in mindset. We must be open to extending the learning beyond the classroom walls. We must teach our students to embrace challenges and to learn from failure. Start by modeling it.

2) Facilitate: Be more than the sage on the stage. Become a director of learning. Shift your practices to student-centered approaches. Check out this chart comparing teacher versus learner-centered practices. Largely based on Huba and Freed (2000), the following descriptors factored into the student-centered instructional practices variable in my dissertation study (Spickard, 2015):

• Students are able to apply the learning.
• Students receive feedback (preferably from multiple parties).
• Students become sophisticated knowers.
• Learning is interpersonal for the students. 
• Students are actively involved in their learning.
• Teachers also demonstrate that they are learners.
• Teachers coach students.
• Students understand characteristics of excellent work.
• Students integrate both general and subject-based skills.
• Teachers intertwine teaching and assessing. 

3) Create a Collaboratory: Shifting your classroom design is key to fostering the 4Cs: Creativity, Collaboration, Communication, and Critical Thinking. Check out this slide share for some ideas. A coffee shop/living room feel is a better alternative to the traditional rows. Traditional spaces will only lend itself to traditional practices. Here are some creative DYI projects for redesigning on a budget.

4) Ignite Passion: Students can only be as passionate and excited about teaching and learning as their teacher. Check out Christopher Emdin's Ted Talk on "Teach Teachers How to Create Magic." Student choice will help bring out the passion and "spark magic."

It's time. Now is the future. There is no more waiting. We need to take risks, facilitate learning, build a collaborative environment, and create passion.

My First, Tenth Year: Opportunites to Grow

I am excited that this year has been one of the most rewarding years of my career so far. I have had several opportunities to grow professionally. It has been far from easy, but I have had the opportunity to work with a fantastic group of dedicated and talented teachers. In addition, I have completed my year as MEMSPA President and have benefited tremendously from the support, professional learning, and networking the organization has given me. Lastly, I have made my way back into the classroom, teaching graduate classes in educational leadership with Concordia University.

There are years that I find it hard to believe that principals are leaving the profession after 3-5 years, and to be perfectly honest, I have had a year or two where I wondered if I were going to make it. In my entire ten years as a middle school principal, I have learned that is mostly outside influences that make it the most difficult. For me, it has never been about the students and rarely about upset parents or staff. The most difficult years have been when legislature makes decisions that project hardships on stakeholders. Those effects were even more difficult than leading a building through my husband's deployment. Negativity can really affect the morale and building climate. 

However, "mind over matter," "...make lemonade," and most importantly, "#leadpositive" got me through even the most difficult of times. Taking a positive mindset and combining that with the personal passion to grow and help others do the same combats adversity.

Starting a new year or a first year especially, is never easy. Learning about all the stakeholders takes more than a year. An education profession is never ending, but it is even more difficult when you are learning a new culture, establishing climate, and figuring out your own identity within the organization. Building trust is vital and takes time. Fostering collaboration is essential to growing as professionals. Most importantly, establishing ways to build achievement and growth within your staff and students as well as yourself takes a collective mix of perspective, honesty, and open-mindedness.

I have learned a great deal from my new position and district. While bringing in my own skillset, I have also learned a great deal from my staff. This has been my first year with standard-based grading and PBIS--two initiatives that have such a tremendous influence on educating students. I have been a part of team collaboration. It is so amazing what groups of teachers can do together, and everyone benefits from that work. My administrative colleagues have been supportive, provided coaching, and made me feel a part of this amazing team that is founded on tradition and focused on excellent. To top it all off, the students are at the heart. The smiling faces, the willingness to learn from mistakes, the innovative, caring application put into their education is truly the fuel to my passion. Serving my new school has been rewarding, and I am fortunate enough to have that compounded with serving my professional organization.

My loyalty to and admiration for MEMSPA started ten years ago when I took on my first principalship. Four years ago, getting involved at the state level confirmed all that the association has to offer. This has been a great year, spreading the #LeadPositive message and encouraging principals to not only stay and lead positive but to also share the positive word, happenings, and accomplishments within their buildings. Serving and representing principals around the state has been a truly rewarding experience. MEMSPA is a huge support to me and my profession. It has been equally rewarding by stepping back into the classroom.

I have broadened my skillset as well as gained an increased appreciation for teaching in the present times. Doing both an online and face-to-face class this year has diversified my pedagogy. In addition, I am driven to stay current on the topics of my classes: leadership, professional development, evaluation, and supervision.

I have been truly blessed this year with all of the opportunities I have had and the people with which I have had the pleasure to meet and work. None of this would be possible if it weren't for my supportive and encouraging husband and understanding children. The 2015-16 school year has been a rewarding year. I can't wait to see what 2016-17 has in store! 

Learning, Teaching, and Leading Like a Champion

As administrators, we have the power to be the beacons to our teachers and students.  As they journey to success, we can encourage them to grow, learn, and embrace mistakes. Success that comes easy doesn’t define our character as much as when it’s worked for, earned, and accomplished through trial and error.

In Carol Dweck’s Mindset (2006) book, she uses a sport’s perspective in Chapter 4 to demonstrate how mindset is applied to champions. The three “findings” that she highlights can be applied to all areas of life, especially leading, teaching, and learning. Our students, teachers, and leaders need to see themselves as the champions they are.

Finding 1: “Those with the growth mindset found success in doing their best, in learning and improving.” As teachers and leaders, we need to foster an environment where hard work is more rewarding than the success itself. In turn, success can be achieved by working hard and getting better.

Finding 2: “Those with growth mindset found setbacks motivating.” We need to teach and model that failure is not the end but a beginning to bettering ourselves by learning and evolving. To fail is only the First Attempt in Learning. It is not the outcome that defines us, but it is the journey that gets us there that does. The more challenge we overcome, the more learning that happens.

Finding 3: “People with the growth mindset in sports took charge of the processes that bring success--and that maintain it.” We need to teach and model how to use motivation and to take control of what can be done to get better. This means knowing that it’s OK to fail as long as we can learn from it and try again.

We are more than any outcome. We are an accumulation of all that is put into an outcome. Whether a good or bad outcome, each journey is an opportunity for growth and improvement. Taking risks is how progress is made. Taking the difficult road came be more rewarding. Creating safe environments where our students, teachers, and leaders can learn, fail, learn, repeat makes for better success in the end.

If we dig deep into the meaning of the word champion, we will see words like defender, protector, advocate. This is beyond the winner or victor definition of a champion. The previous descriptors are about making the world a better place. We can help our students learn like champions, our teachers teach like champions, and we can all lead like champions is we focus on others and the process to become better people.

This is a different mindset than the "winning" culture that has been created over the years. We have the power to change this. We can give our teachers and students safe environments to take risks, make mistakes, and learn--an environment that recognizes the journey and a growth mindset. We owe it to our profession. What are you doing to create this culture? Share it out and lead by example. #LeadPositive

Beating the Odds with Positive School Climate

Should we really be concerned with raising our test scores or should we be more concerned with our students having a positive, caring, and safe environment? My vote is the latter, and research is supporting that too! 

Blum (2007) states that a positive school environment "creates an optimal setting for teaching and learning.... [and includes] four of its major components: 1) caring relationships, 2) academic environment, 3) structure and safety, and 4) participatory learning." 

Voight and Hanson's (2013) study on schools that beat the odds learned that the "pockets of excellence" that successful "beat the odds" schools had in common were a positive school climate. Their research "implies that things like high expectations for students, caring relationships between teachers and students, and feeling safe at school are more associated with success than teacher or administrator experience or student support services staff ratios.”

Therefore, raising student test scores should be the product of the goal, not the goal itself. The goal is creating a positive school environment. Every educator wants to establish high expectations in an academic environment that is safe for all students. These are sometimes easier to foster than what is even a more important factor: caring relationships.

Students (and staff) need to know that we care. Students are more invested in their learning in caring and positive environments. To achieve and maintain these types of environments, it takes dedication, enthusiasm, and passion.

Dedication: We must be committed to keeping our learning environment, our staff, and our students on a positive track. Setting goals and inspiring them by modeling and demonstrating day in and day out that we care about them should be our main focus. We need to prevent as much outside negativity as possible from entering our schools, and more importantly, we need to brand and advertise all of the positivity our schools create to the outside community. We can only expect our staff and students to be as positive and dedicated as we are as leaders.

Enthusiasm: We can only expect our students to be as enthusiastic and have the desire to learn as our teachers/staff are enthusiastic and have the desire to teach and learn. Moreover, we can only expect our teachers and staff to be as enthusiastic to teach and learn as we are to lead, teach, and learn.

Passion: We have to realize that few people are passionate about testing. We are passionate about people and ideas that are meaningful to us. We are passionate about people and places that we care about in our lives. We have to create enough passion to cultivate the caring environment and caring relationships that will promote success in all other measures of achievement.

This is only the starting point, but it is the foundation that can support everything else.
We must support one another, our staff, and our students. Stay positive (#LeadPositive), model your dedication, enthusiasm, and passion. Everything else becomes easier with this foundation.


Links to these studies are included at the bottom of this blog for a better understanding of their studies, results, and implications. The positive, motivational blog is just an awakening, there is much more to be done.

Blum, Robert, Best Practices: Building Blocks for Enhancing School Environment. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 2007.

Voight, A., Austin, G., and Hanson, T. (2013). A climate for academic success: How school climate distinguishes schools that are beating the achievement odds (Full Report). San Francisco: WestEd.