Harvard Graduate School of Education - Leadership: an Evolving Vision 2007

Once upon a time a high heid yin from East Lothian was called upon to accompany five beautiful, highly intelligent, vivacious, drop dead gorgeous, head teachers on their journey to excellence. Despite his small goods, Don chose to accept this mission and he began to impart his passion and wisdom surrounding the mysterious world of blogging at Glasgow airport departure lounge. To ensure a sense of belonging, Don issued top of the range celtic toories to establish open source leadership (WHIT?).

His relentless nagging (hold on to that - write it down, write it down!) of these five beautiful, highly intelligent, vivacious, drop dead gorgeous, head teachers on their journey to excellence, ensured that they blogged and reflected and blogged and reflected and blogged and reflected and blogged so much that they got blogged off!

Don is a net worker par excellence. During a visit down under to the Charles, Don’s ingenious non verbal communication skills (sign language) impressed the international audience so much that they have been used frequently in all lectures. In addition his entrepreneurial skills have funded his remaining stay in the Big Apple. (Has he mentioned Broadway!?).  Who else could have been in charge of the kitty?
Don peerie goods introduced the five beautiful, highly intelligent, vivacious, drop dead gorgeous, head teachers on their journey to excellence to raspberry martinis, purple rain, Fred and Gingers and the world of fine dining – they did draw the line at sushi!
Upon reflection as the five beautiful, highly intelligent, vivacious, drop dead gorgeous, head teachers on their journey to excellence neared the end of their journey they realised that they had learned the importance of invitational/ distributed/ adaptive/ collaborative/ reflective/ open source/ instructional/ value added/ blogging leadership and the impact this will have on their return.

Don’s girls would like to say thank you for this CPD experience.

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!!   OOPS WATCH THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

When I learned that I was going out to Harvard with five female colleagues I have to admit to some trepidation:

• What would my wife say?
• Would I feel out on a limb?
• Would they drive me nuts?

Well my experience so far - Day 5 - has been exceptional.  What a great group of people they are but perhaps more importantly I think I have gained an insight into what it is to “be one the girls”.

So what’s different from being “one of the boys”?

That’s actually more difficult to answer than you might think but there is definitely something.  The obvious answer would be to say that they are more caring, consensual and supportive and I suppose that these are characteristics that I have observed. However, it’s more subtle than that - and I think it’s got something to do with the way that they carry out conversations.

I know I shouldn’t generalise from my experience but I think they listen and want to hear from each other - rather than just always wanting to contribute or push their own ideas.  I wonder if male conversations aren’t just a little bit more ‘competitive’ i.e. I listen and then I want to top it by recounting my experience or idea.  The women don’t seem to work that way the conversations are all the more enjoyable and possibly productive for that. Now I know my presence is corrupting that true “girls” environment but at least I’ve been given an insight into a very different world.  Thanks Girls.

Oh and my wife - well I think I now understand why she likes a night out with the girls - she joins me out here on Thursday - so I’m looking forward to her meeting my “girls”