I'm two months into the third year of my 'new' role as Curator/Acting/Mentor Principal for the Western Cape Education Department. A role that in every sense has been exciting and rewarding, yet extremely disillusioning at times.
One thing that definitely stands out for me during my pursuit for improvement, which is in essence a fact finding mission, is the power of familiarising oneself with the contextual nuances at play within the organisation, before attempting to change anything. The biggest mistake, I've discovered on this journey, is to make assumptions based on other's perceptions of what is wrong or right within the organisation or what was visible on the surface, either good or bad. In time and with the patience required, the heart of the organisation is exposed. Importantly, if positive change is to be affected, one has to first allow a proper evaluation over time, space and by observing the different roleplayers in action, in order to discover the realities in the life of the organisation.
One doesn't need too much time to identify physical needs or challenges, as a checklist can develop at first glance when it comes to the physical observed in a moment. My personal experience however taught me that this, the observable within the life of the organisation, though important, is a far cry from ensuring an effective and maintainable turn-around. It is that which lies hidden, beneath the surface that need to be discovered first before enduring and effective, corrective measures will bear reward. This discovery sounds far easier on paper than it is in reality. Learning orgaisations are dynamic and each come with a set of immensely challenging characteristics. For one, it involves people of varying levels of diversity, expertise, experiences, knowledge, values, soco-economic realities, commitment, passions, willingness to contribute and maybe most importantly, admitting the need for a positive turn-around and the acceptance of each individual's role in the process.
The characteristics of a team to facilitate this process with maximum results include passion, commitment, tenacity, resillience, goal-drivenness, healthy work ethic, diligence, selflessness and team spirit. In the absence of one or more of these character traits in the majority of the working team, no intervention, no matter how smart will have the desired effect towards a sustainable turn-around.
"Valuable beyond measure are the team players who are willing to have a look within in order to change that which is evident outside as the destructive forces of the
organisation. There's nothing more powerful than a synchronized,
needs-based and goal ditected team effort.'
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