Agile Leadership is not about being like a drill sergeant, but it is very much about “move it, move it, move it!” Agile leaders do not stand still. They do not wait to see what is going to happen. Our educational institutions need to be more agile. Here’s my take on how all of us who are passionate about improving education and advancing human intelligence can be more agile.
I learned agility through agile software development. We learned to iterate quickly, to not be afraid to take risks, and to learn from failure. As decades past, I realized that the same principles apply to organizations. We need to be able to adjust to new information and test our assumptions. We don’t need chaotic change for the sake of change. We need to be good at changing.
In a school setting, iterating quickly can mean piloting new curriculum in a few classrooms, gathering feedback from teachers and students and then adjusting before expanding the implementation within the district.
Agile leaders understand that primal instinct that we either hunt or we are hunted. There’s a sense of urgency that we most move. We must use all of our senses to navigate unfamiliar territory and that we need solid, reliable information to support decisions. How do we get solid, reliable information? By constantly challenging what we believe to be true and accepting the evidence that even if something was true yesterday, it may not be true today.
What assumptions are you making about student learning that might be outdated? For example, are standardized tests still the best measure of students’ learning outcomes in our rapidly changing world?
Agile leaders listen to their people. In education that means listening to teachers, students, parents, and employers. It means testing our assumptions by trying new curriculum, new pedagogies, new organizational structures, new technology, and even redefining what the learning objectives should be for students in 2025 and beyond.
Agile leaders understand that primal instinct that we either hunt or we are hunted.
Create regular feedback loops with your stakeholders. Surveys and focus groups are good but conversations with teachers and students are even better. Ask the hard questions, like “do you feel what you are teaching/learning is relevant and develops the skills needed in today’s world?”
Agility means reducing risk by iterating quickly with small test groups, measuring outcomes, and then refining. It means being willing to fail fast and learn from what doesn’t work. It means being fearless, but absolutely determined to achieve success, and then never be satisfied with that success. If something you try isn’t working don’t drag it on trying to get it to work. Analyze what happened that didn’t meet your expectations and apply that learning to the next try. Remember, what works in another school may not work in your school. Don’t force it. Figure out what works in your context, with your teachers and students.
On “The Education Innovators Podcast”, I’ve interviewed many agile leaders who are breaking down barriers, debunking long held truths about learning and teaching methods, and demonstrating that technology is an important part of the future of education. I’ve talked to many educators who are fearlessly innovating and iterating, constantly moving forward. One example is the success Colleen Kelley is having teaching college level chemistry to fourth graders using comic books. She was brave and innovative and has achieved amazing success.
I’ve also encountered a large contingent of educators who fear change and insist that we simply need to invest more in our failing systems and schools. These educators believe that if we do more of the same, we will somehow improve the outcomes. Our education systems are not going to fix themselves. Instead of clinging to outdated models, focus on building the capacity to change. Provide professional development on agile methodologies and create a safe environment for teachers to take reasonable risks and build a culture where experimentation is valued.
Agile leadership does not mean going it alone. It does not mean you have to take charge and blaze a trail all on your own. In fact, the best agile leaders understand that they don’t have the answers. They need smart people around them who they trust and respect. If you are trying to do something new in your school, you are not alone. Find your allies. Start small and prove that you can learn from trying new things. Of course, you have to minimize risks and do things that are ethical and protect children, their data, and their education. But you are not protecting them by continuing to do that which has proven to be less and less effective, which is the current situation for much of public education.
Move it! Move it! Move it!
I learned a long time ago, there are 3 types of people. Those who make things happen. Those who watch things happen, and those that wonder, what happened? Agile leaders are in the first group, and we need more of them in our schools. Are you ready to be an agile leader? Get moving!
Eric Byron is an education podcaster, with a lengthy career in technology, entertainment, and education. He has been an entrepreneur and worked for large corporations like Disney and Electronic Arts (EA Sports). He lives in Hong Kong currently and enjoys traveling and meeting new people. Eric is the host of the The Education Innovators Podcast.