I recently presented at the Western Australian Technical Support in Schools Association (WATSSA) 2024 Conference on the importance of Leading Upwards, Outwards and Inwards in the context of school IT teams. One concept I discussed was the need for life-long learning and its importance in helping us grow and develop. This is not a new concept and is one that many areas of a school would find relevant. To dig a little deeper, ask yourself these three questions:
- Do I encourage the sharing of ideas?
- How do I promote the importance of self agency and developing a growth mindset?
- Do I take risks and engage in flearning (Learning from failure)?
Reflecting on these questions can help facilitate a culture of collaboration and assist you in identifying areas of growth and development for yourself and the teams you lead.
Encouragement is crucial to life-long learning. It is important that we encourage ourselves and those around us to seek new and exciting challenges. So go on, give it a go!
Shane Parnell
