Years ago, I had a conversation with an educator who could not understand how and why I connected relationships to innovation in education. To me, it is impossible to create an innovative organization without them. Here is what I wrote in “The Innovator’s Mindset” about this idea:
“…relationships are crucial for innovation, which is why you’ll always hear me say that the three most important words in education are: relationships, relationships, relationships. Without them, we have nothing.“
So why do relationships matter? Simply put, if you want someone to take risks and try new things, they have to know you have their back AND want you to succeed. A culture where we both push and support one another is crucial to creating new and better opportunities for all learners, including the adults.
I also discussed this in the book:
“Squashing the ambitions of those who want to go above and beyond to try something new will ensure schools have only “pockets of innovation,” at best, and, at worst, no innovation. Sooner or later, the innovators will get tired of asking for forgiveness. They’ll move on to places where they’re trusted to use their creativity and passion—or, perhaps worse, they’ll settle into the status quo. In either case, learners will be deprived of their ingenuity. Rather than limiting educators’ initiative, and thereby students’ learning opportunities, let’s create environments of competitive collaboration, where educators at all levels push and help one another to become better.”
But often, we think this culture of innovation is created and maintained only by administrators, not realizing how we all contribute to the environment where we work and learn.
Recently, I reshared an idea from someone on social media, that I thought was interesting. In all honesty, when I shared it, I wasn’t 100% sure that I agreed with the idea in totality, as I always try to look at things through a critical lens and ask myself, “What am I missing here?” I am not looking to criticize as much as I am trying to understand different perspectives other than my own. One of the crucial characteristics of being innovative is being empathetic:
But with the thought that ideas can’t come to life or be improved without them being shared, I reposted the image from another count. Within minutes, another person shared that it was a “terrible” idea with no feedback or thoughts on why or how it could be altered.
What does that type of “feedback” do?
A couple of things (at minimum).
First of all, it can often diminish the voices of others. Simply put, when I hear my ideas are terrible with no feedback, I might not want to share them again. I know I would be discouraged, and some might say, “Grow a thicker skin,” and I would say, “Be a kinder person.”
I tweeted the below in 2017 and still believe in that idea:
The other thing that a public dismissal of an idea without any thoughtful feedback is encourages everyone watching to shrink themselves. Many would think (and I know I have), “Why would I try something new or put myself out there if I am only going to be told my ideas are stupid?” Something I truly believe is that from our actions and what we do in front of others, more people say nothing and then make a choice of what they are going to do moving forward.
I always try to give grace to others and understand that the person who posted the comment could have been having a bad day and that criticism with the lack of feedback could have just been a moment. Honestly, I try to be the best part of every person’s day, but I have failed at that more times than I care to admit. If I was judged by my worst moments only (and this is true for everyone), I would be an utter failure.
I just wanted to write this as a reminder that education is about the elevation of not only ideas but, most importantly, people. Our words and actions can inspire people to be better versions of themselves, or they can shrink who people are meant to become. We can challenge ideas while lifting people.