CALMet XV 2023: Community of Practice -- How or if to hold the reins?

Hi Ivan and Madalina,

This is a key question you have raised. I wonder if CoP is the perfect place to distinguish Management from Leadership.

Maybe Leadership is what is needed in a CoP, not Management ("holding the reins"). Management could take ownership away from the group.

So, rather than holding the reins, you might use the metaphor, "helping to pull the cart". Leadership by example. Not asking others to do what you don't also do yourself.

Pat

Re: Community of Practice -- How or if to hold the reins?

ConnellBernie - 2023年11月15日星期三 03:27

Hi Pat,
I had to stop and contemplate and also look up the differences between management and leadership in term of what I'm thinking Ivan and Madalina meant.
What came to mind is something I've experienced and read about here and there: how a sense of belonging is met by having a place for both listening and contributing. I remember reading an article years ago about the success of social services programs by looking at an individual's strengths and community support versus fixing a deficit. I recently came across a similar theme at the beginning of the book Small Teaching by James Lang. He says " Too often we view our students through a deficit lens, seeing what they lack and trying to fill it up with our teaching. But, of course, students bring an incredible array of assets into our classrooms,... and I believe that teaching strategies that help students feel like they belong ... provide the most effective route to the cultivation of such community." Both pointed out that you often have to resist the urge to provide an answer to solve a problem.
As Ivan hinted at- there is often a fine line between running the show and allowing it to happen - going with the flow. Providing some steering when necessary although providing a space and schedule to keep it moving.
In the context of a sense of belonging, I think both leadership and management can play a role.

Cheers,
Bernie

Re: Community of Practice -- How or if to hold the reins?

ParrishPatrick - 2023年11月15日星期三 08:47

Resisting the urge to solve a problem, but being willing to help come up with a solution, I think. It is modeling that process of problem solving that might be the most important take away.

Re: Community of Practice -- How or if to hold the reins?

SMILJANICIvan - 2023年11月29日星期三 08:09

This is how I get reminded about the value of Calmet community! Behind my back, a very nice and focused discussion, with a very tangible output - "modeling that process of problem solving" and "Providing some steering when necessary although providing a space and schedule to keep it moving" is what I will take from it. Indeed, as Bernie said, there is often a fine line between running the show and allowing it to happen. I think we are converging to the fact here, that the managers and leaders respectively (I also had to dwell over these two) have to keep the show going (providing a space and schedule) and lead by example on how to solve the problem (by not giving the solution perhaps). Not always easy to keep this in mind, but on the other hand it comes pretty naturally - this is the way you actually 'keep the reins' when it comes to educating your children for instance (and we are born with that additional sense).

Many thanks both, you wrapped this session very nicely!