Thoughts on Education, Innovation, and Embracing the Unknown

Daring Colleagues-

During the past two weeks as you have been diligently and wholeheartedly preparing for e-learning I have been amazed by your willingness to jump in and embrace the unknown that is before you. In design, we call this the messy squiggle.

And while it often times looks exactly like a messy squiggle, it actually can feel more like this!

photo courtesy of Stanford d. School

So, as your Innovation Coordinator I have been thinking a lot about what support I can give you right now during this time. As we all know, we need innovation now more than ever, yet I can’t help but want to start by telling you to pause.  To take a deep breath.  A part of innovation is that it’s disruptive. It’s messy. It’s ambiguous.  It’s hard. There isn’t always a right solution.

My advice to you is permission to let the disruption happen. Yes, pause and observe the constraints before you. We’ve often heard it said that creativity thrives on constraints, so let yourself not only say that and believe it, but feel it as well.

Researcher, lecturer, author and podcast host Brené Brown defines vulnerability as uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure. In her 20 years of research she has dispelled the myth that vulnerability is weakness and instead states, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity.”  As educators, this pandemic marks one of the most uncertain times in many of our lives.  So how can we embrace this moment, feel it, and learn and grow from it? How can we use this time to pause and let our own creativity naturally be unlocked in the process? As not only educators, but a culture, how do we DO vulnerability before we let it DO us?

Embrace the suck. Normalize the discomfort you are facing. And there is a difference between normalizing and numbing. Numbing is not feeling.  Normalizing is not only knowing but also believing that growth and learning are uncomfortable and it’s going to happen. Brené says, “We want you to know that it’s normal and it’s an expectation here. You’re not alone. The most important thing is to stay open and lean into it.”

I’ve had colleagues share with me recently their own struggles, fear, and excitement about what is ahead in the weeks to come. How well have I prepared for what is about to take place with e-learning? What can I really expect from myself and my students? How do I take what I have successfully done in the past and make it meaningful for students in the future? And of course, how do I balance working from home, being a parent, spouse, and you fill in the blank? I have two kids under the age of 5 and this is a reality I think about each day.  But I share this with you because we have to talk about the things that get in the way or the thoughts and feelings we have.

In one of her first books, The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown writes:

I’m not suggesting that we wade out into the swamp and set up camp. I’ve done that and I can tell you the swampland of the soul is an important place to visit, but you would not want to live there. What I am proposing is that we learn how to wade through it.  We need to see that standing on the shore and catastrophizing about what could happen if we talked honestly about our fears is actually more painful than grabbing the hand of a trusted companion and crossing the swamp.

And so, as we cross this “swamp” of uncharted territory I want to first encourage you to allow the disruption to happen (as if we have a choice!) and get curious about why you are feeling and thinking the way you do. Don’t judge yourself during these great and powerful moments of both professional and personal learning.  Let your students guide you in what they need right now and in doing so, remember you are modeling one of the most important things for them—how to handle disruption and the beauty of doing hard things, together.

Having led many innovative efforts I can say with confidence that working through the messy squiggle does prepare you for whatever is next.  In the end, your squiggle will still look the same, but feel more like this.

                                                                                  photo courtesy of Stanford d. School

Hang in there! Slow down. Embrace the unknown with optimism and wait…watch…and design on.

Best-

Nicole Snedden

 Innovation Coordinator

Dare to Lead™ Certified Facilitator

Citations:

Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly. New York, NY: Avery.

Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection. Center City, MN: Hazelden.