Shifting for Impact

Here we speak with Courtney Ackerman, a researcher and writer who focuses on organizational psychology, especially with how it pertains to the areas of wellbeing and healthcare. Here she speaks about cognitive distortions, or faulty patterns of thinking. As you listen to her description of a few of these distortions, consider the impact that someone who operates under one or more of these faulty patterns of thinking might have on a complex organizational change.

Listen to part of our interview with Margaret Zacchei as she describes the work she led to change the culture and climate of her school by focusing on shared leadership, and increasing student and staff engagement. Note how eliciting and using feedback effectively was key to this change effort.

Listen to part of an interview we conducted with mindfulness expert Oksana Esberard where she describes the characteristics a mindful culture would likely exhibit. As she talks, think about the implications of those characteristics on an organization's "why" and its ability to deliver on behalf of that "why."

Listen to part of an interview we conducted with Kimberly Davis, author of Brave Leadership (2018). Note where she discusses the need to have an external focus verses an internal one – a focus on serving some higher purpose outside of yourself – to achieve the impact you want to have. And note, too for why being vulnerable challenges us to our core.

Listen to part of our interview with Rona Wilensky, creator and first principal of New Vista, an alternative high school in Boulder, Colorado and Ivette Visbal, a founding faculty member and currently the school's Dean of Students. Listen for evidence of how these two leaders wanted to change the concept of high school education relative to instruction, student choice, responsibility, and community involvement. Listen, too, for how "healthy" played into their thinking about the school culture.

Listen to part of our interview with Mike Oliver, Principal of Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona where he talks about realizing the importance of creating an environment where people can take risks and think creatively.

Listen to part of our interview with Jonathan Adams, Assistant Principal at the International School in Luxembourg where he describes his work to clearly articulate the "why" behind a literacy initiative and ensure that those implementing the change viewed themselves as valued contributors.