I found Simon Sinek's theory of the Golden Circle to be fascinating. First, giving an explanation of the limbic sections of the brain being responsible for all of our feelings. I so often make many decisions based on what either feels right or wrong to me. As Sinek has now enlightened me, the limbic sections of the brain are responsible for all human behavior and decision making; however, there is no capacity for language. What I have once thought was a gut decision made by me, I have learned that this is all happening because of the biology of the brain. Secondly, I always thought that great leaders such as Martin Luther King were all born with a special gift and it was their destiny to reach people. According to Sinek, all great inspiring leaders think, act and communicate in the same way....from the inside out. Hence, the birth of the Golden Circle.
The Golden Circle - Why? How? What? explains why some organizations and some people are able to inspire where other's aren't. The people who communicate from the inside out, they are communicating to the part of the brain that controls behavior and then allows people to rationalize it with the tangible things we say and do. This theory provoked a thought process within me, I know I am a teacher, I know how to teach, but what is my Why? As I continue to ponder what my why is, I come up with many different ideas of what my why is; however, I keep going back to the one thought that I can not get out of my head. I believe that students learn best when they know someone cares for them and believes in them. I believe that the messages that students hear shape what they think of themselves. Once, I can build them up and help them see what I see, I can open their world up to all possibilities.
The Golden Circle also explains why in 2014, after being a substitute teacher and then accepting a teaching position for the following school year ended in me seeking another school to teach at. The principal of the school cared about test scores and how can her school be the best. I found myself filled with anxiety before and after Common Planning each week. Everything she believed, went against my why. I interviewed at another school and upon entering it felt more like home to me. My current principal cares about the students first. This is why I want to be part of this community of learners. I need to be at a school where my why is valued.
The message was two-fold for me, get students to buy into my why. They need to believe what I believe about them. Inspire them to believe in themselves. Once I get them to buy into what I believe, they will do it for themselves. Within each of us lies a great leader, what sets a great leader apart from all the rest, is they are motivated by the why and not by what they get in the end.
Christina,
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate to your response. I too believe these students need to know we believe in them and their ability to do great things. That must have been a horrible teaching year for you, knowing you had to face these non-believers every week at CPT...UGH! How very challenging to sit with these people, every week, knowing they don't believe or care about the students, only their scores...teach to the test...raise our scores! How about, "How was your weekend?" or "Are you feeling OK?" asking the students questions that show you genuinely care about them and their needs.
I think that many of us have had that moment when we realize that the people around us don't share the same WHY... I am glad you were able to find your way into a space that was more aligned with your beliefs!
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