SouthWest Metro Intermediate District 288

Keeping HOPE Alive

“Never deprive someone of hope. It may be all [they] have”.
- H. Jackson Brown

These are very difficult times. Health issues, individual financial problems, and family concerns. Racial issues are causing most of us to re-examine our thoughts of equality, equity, and systemic racism. Many are asking, ‘is positive change possible?’ Answer: YES and it takes effort and action on our part. Combining the work of Marshall Goldsmith’s (2009) book Mojo and Rosie Ward, John Robison (2020) Rehumanizing the Workplace with their practical HOPE strategies. Scott Russell Sanders said, “memory grips the past, hope grips the future.” Where are you spending your mental energy? Here is an acronym for HOPE that may help to change our routines in combating negative thoughts or events that trigger emotions and behaviors. H.O.P.E.

H – Honesty and Humility. Be honest about what is happening, results that we are getting, and what we want to change. If we cannot take a ruthless assessment of reality, the chance of change is limited. Have humility to listen, learn, and lead actions that will get better results. As a white male, in order to learn, I want to ask questions of others who are not like me. That is how I learn from different cultures and perspectives. 

O – Optimism and Options. Martin Seligman, UPenn, has written extensively about Positive Psychology and Learned Optimism (1990). This is not happy talk. Talk to people you trust to see what they do in similar situations. Create multiple ways to get to a goal. Develop emotional agility to use those options when needed. Ask others how they deal with disappointment, delusion, and diversion. Find people who have found good options staying away from the doom loop. 

P – Personal and Persisting. What can I do to help myself and others to find positive responses to long-term problems? Start with what you can do and enlist others to join you. I recommend the book Beyond Ally by Akbar. We need allies and advocates. No more standing by hoping things will get better and giving no effort for change. See a previous New Rule - https://learningomnivores.com/rules/be-aware-of-bu... ‎ Persisting with actions that will contribute to a more equitable education and community. Strong values require constancy of purpose. 

E – Efficacy and Equity. Efficacy is the belief that we can make a difference and then taking action to do something. As Ibram X. Kendi (2019) explained in his book How to be an Antiracist, “One who is supporting an antiracist policy through their actions or expressing an antiracist idea.” If we want to change it, take actions that dismantle systemic biases and support what helps with equity. Change to make life better for all. Equity is NOT Equality. Equality is giving everyone the same.. 

Session 1: May 6 – Emotional Anorexia: Educators and organizations are experiencing higher levels of anxiety, disengagement, and less satisfaction for their hard work. Learn some of the strategies to rehumanize the workplace.

Session 2: May 13 – You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have: The focus will be on building collaborative and supportive places to work. Psychological safety will be the priority based on Amy Edmondson’s research. 

Session 3: May 20 – Leading a Positive Culture: Leadership behaviors model what school could be. What are some of the practical skills and leadership can promote to attract, retain, and sustain a positive learning culture

Presented by Dr. Bill Sommers, Past Administrator and Leader, Author, Thought Leader, Certified Marshall Goldsmith Trainer