Leveraging Polarities: Addressing Complex Issues Without Being Overwhelmed

There’s a need for mindful adaptivity in response to the disruptive changes happening in our work and society. Much of the chronic conflict and polarization we face are unavoidable and unsolvable. These dilemmas need diversity and divergent thinking. This session provides practical resources leaders can use to manage tensions in their work.

CONNECT & ENGAGE

Polarities are natural competing tensions inherent in all individual and organization systems. Honoring and embracing polarities is about resourcefully engaging the fullness and complexity of life. As human systems increase in diversity, change, uncertainty, and conflicting demands, so does the need for understanding and developing adaptive and holonomous mindsets.

To function holistically, honor diversity, and produce collective results, individuals must recognize their dual identities within systems as autonomous and interdependent.

Participants will initially engage with foundational principles and then explore contextual paradoxes and strategies to manage them.

LEARN

In this workshop, you will learn about the diverse and dichotomous conditions that give rise to certain tensions and challenges such as ambiguity and certainty, embracing one’s culture while honoring another’s cultural norms, and providing structure and freedom.

Participants will:

• Identify tensions in their school and community contexts;
• Develop maps to make invisible tensions visible;
• Conceive of ways to increase the benefits of diverse perspectives;
• Explore resources to support polarity principles in mediating self, individuals, and groups toward balance.

REFLECT & APPLY

After exploring principles, maps, strategies, and structures, participants will reflect on the role of their identities in navigating holonomous tensions.

Participants will also have time to consider ways they might consciously use personal and group tensions, diversity, and divergent thinking as resources to develop further cultures that promote community and productivity.

Additionally, they will develop and share a plan with a few next steps for integrating these ideas into their work and life.

Leaders as Facilitators: Navigating with Empowering Mindsets

Educators are reaching breaking points in massive numbers and need meaning, clarity, and psychological safety. Leaders are buffers of energy and morale for groups they support. Safety and empowerment come from facilitating, not influencing, the outcome when leading groups. This session shares mindsets that support presence and impact. These mindsets also foster healthier school communities and promote wellness and job satisfaction.

CONNECT & ENGAGE

Leaders need to be self-aware, authentic, and intentional. As leaders, you attend meetings, lead meetings, guide groups, and develop teams. Mindsets inform how we see, understand, and behave. Educators need leaders who live mindsets that foster healthier school communities.

Drawn from Bob Garmston and Carolyn McKanders’ book, It’s Your Turn: Teachers as Facilitators (MiraVia Publishing, 2022), this workshop offers an opportunity to connect to your practice and a deeper understanding of the following mindsets:

• See groups as they could be
• Groups grant consent
• Prepare… don’t attach
• Diversity enriches
• Never let a conflict go to waste.

LEARN

During this workshop, learn about mindsets and tools for facilitation and processes for groups that support inclusion, flexibility, safety, and success.

During the session, you will:

• Enhance understanding of the importance of facilitation;
• Experience effects of mindsets;
• Recognize the value of Five Mindsets in facilitation;
• Increase repertoire of tools and processes to operationalize each Mindset.

REFLECT & APPLY

After exploring the mindsets, strategies, and processes, you will reflect on ways these practices already show up in your daily routines. You will also have time to consider which mindsets resonate most and how they might be used to support groups.

Additionally, there will be processing time to organize and integrate thinking for application of ideas into work and life.

None.

Save paper and effort where possible!

For your convenience, and to support our efforts in being "green", all handouts/files posted here have been notated with an A, B, C or D indicating the following:

(A) hardcopies needed at workshop
(B) electronic version on laptop is sufficient (for viewing during the workshop)
(C) required reading PRIOR to the workshop
(D) file not needed for workshop itself, but simply material of additional interest/reference

(A) Leveraging Polarities: Addressing Complex Issues Without Being Overwhelmed

(A) Leaders as Facilitators: Navigating with Empowering Mindsets