Gain perspectives in Education!

Perspectives in Education

One angle of Leadership is gaining perspectives - of vision, directions, strategies, people and impact. That's like standing back and looking into a prism to see, reflect, enjoy the colors and feel the vibrancy of the big picture and while being fascinated by the micro colors in the prism - created by light travelling at different speed. Or it is like viewing a beautiful building from different perspectives to enjoy the architectural aesthetics in its full background. 

Leadership is all about gaining full picture perspective from different angles for strategic decision making and bring  innovation in the organization. Gaining perspectives pumps energy, drive and clarity in a leadership position to take the organization to higher levels without loosing momentum. 

The leaders of the  Learning Sector are seeing unforeseen changes and turbulences and  this is a sector that has been static or very slow to change in the past. 

How can educational leaders  gain better perspectives?

1. Zoom out - from workplace

The big picture leaders step out of the routine operations and scan the organization -the vision and the direction of the movement. This will be a deliberate effort to step back and out without any biases to understand the various angles, through intelligent reports and open conversations with stakeholders As in photography, the white balance in a picture  helps see the true colors in a context - taking a holistic cognizance of the University . The result of this view can be positive or alarming or being lost or can be a mixture of all - from different angles of the University

But the challenge is also to be unbiased and open when the leader is in the thick of action! The leaders in the learning sector are working hard to mitigate the various challenges slamming them and it can be very hard to sit back and look at larger perspective. But micro-management can stifle the leaders time and thought space while curtailing the creativity, experimentation spirit and confidence of the team.  Zooming out will help to set the sail in the right direction  - and taking stock frequently will enable the progress in the VUCA world. 

The big question: When was the last time you zoomed-out and gazed at the picture?

2. Zoom-Around - the learning sector

While looking at an organization and vision, the background the context of the setting gives perspectives to a leader. Understanding the current and future jumps in the learning sector -regional, national and international will weave the background for architecting the university. Influence of the market, competition, government policies, student and parent expectations are dramatically changing and taking cognizance of global changes will keep the University proactive. 

In a well net-worked academic environment learning from each other, benchmarking against the best can lead to creating niche products and services and unique strategies. The open mind set to adopt and adapt excellence has become a prerogative. While imitation may lead to failure because of contextual influences, the adaptation can lead to success. 

The gig question: When did you last zoom-around and what did you to be adapted in your University?

3. Zoom-in - on priority areas

Zoom-out and Zoom-around can reflect the immediate priority areas that needs the attention of the leaders will be brought out. This perspective is essential for the sustenance and growth of the University. 

The Leaders can use the McKinsey's 7S framework to gain perspectives of priority areas in todays context. In an learning sector this can include - the competitive advantage and positioning of the university in a crowded market, structuring of the University in new models, systems to be established in a different learning environment, the shared values, leadership styles in the choppy waters of massive changes, staffing at a time of "great attrition" due to pandemic and innovating new models and ups killing the faculty for emerging knowledge and academic models. 

While the temptation is to be multi-focussed, the better way would be to keep the bottom line safe while zooming-in on a high priority area. 

The big question: From the zoom-in perspective, what are your 3 high priority areas?

4. Zoom beyond - the blue ocean strategy

But how can education leaders create benchmarks like Apple? Giving the stakeholders beyond what they want? As Steve Job said, “A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” How do we offer students, industry, staff, community whats they don't even imagine but will have high value to them when they have it? How we read ideas which are not printed on the pages? 

These extra-ordinary innovative perspectives can emerge from leaders vision and dreams. This can also come from scanning beyond the learning sector. There have been thousands of nature inspired innovations through biomimicry - learning from nature. Whales to dragonflies too geckos have inspired innovations in different industry. Cross-Industry innovations (CII) has yielded very interesting niche products. As leaders of education the blue ocean strategy can be explored from one of the above perspectives. 

The big question: Can you zoom-beyond to give the stakeholders a what they don't even know they need?

Best ideas emerge when perspectives meet and education leaders can use it as a passport for extra-ordinary impact!