Elevating Voice

How might we use the DIG experience to elevate all voices in our community, particularly those who have not been honored and heard in the past?

Lisa

Ben

Thompson

David

Sitting in the woods and listening to the footsteps of the deers in the distance.

I think about that experience – an experience of deep listening.

What has most surprised me about the DIG experience is that it is, more than anything else, about listening. Deep listening, wholehearted listening.

It feels like, through this process, we are learning to listen in a new and powerful way.

Perhaps our aspiration should be not just to elevate voices of some, but for us all to learn – as Lisa did in the woods behind her house – how to sit more quietly and to listen.

I think the idea of listening deeply is an important one. Sometimes when we use new structures, I'm thinking about talking circles, we assume we have dealt with the issue of power. But, at risk of sounding overly academic, Foucault tells us that power is always already present in all of the ways we might bring people together.

In this case, how do we address issues of power in a DIG so as to elevate voices? Part of it might be getting out of the way but just listening. But this can turn into withdrawal so we must also be on the lookout for this.

I wonder if we have to clear that when we suggest sitting quietly and listening, we are listening to everyone, ourselves included.

I am reminded of the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer who writes: “Science polishes the gift of seeing, indigenous traditions work with gifts of listening and language.” source

Perhaps there is wisdom for us to seek as we learn to listen more deeply to each of us as part of an undivided whole, a whole which extends far beyond ourselves. I am intrigued how NOIIE , which has had such a tremendous impact in BC in raising the quality of learning there, integrates 'indigenous ways of knowing' into their guiding intention:

NOIIE introduces a concept called the Spiral of Inquiry . It is described as listening to learners in order to reflect on our own practice. The idea is that learning is never complete, like the spiral, and it continuously sparks new questions and new opportunities.

As I sit and think about this I find that I am curious about how to create time in my own world to experience the Spiral of Inquiry. Being still and listening to wanderings of my own mind doesn't happen often, unless I can't sleep.

This leads me down the path of permission, permission to take time away from the "busy" work to do the deep work. We explored this idea a while ago, now I wonder how I can combine the Sprial of Inquiry with doing deep work.

I love the concept of 'deep' work, one that feels so different from 'busy' work. The busy work is operational, where our energies are primarily focused on 'control'. Deep work is emergent, focused on 'creating'. One type of work drains our energies, the other replenishes us.

As I reflect back on the guiding intention of this dialogue, I wonder how the DIG experience might elevate not only voices but also spirits by doing 'deep' work – learning that becomes deeply meaningful for everyone involved.

I don't think Lisa or I got into education because we love the busy work. Interestingly, I remember doing an inbox task to prepare for interviews. We had to manage a series of tasks prioritizing them while also getting them all done. That now seems like such a terrible way to know if someone is ready to lead a school.

Nonetheless, I know I get sucked into busy work all the time. What happens when we combine the aspiration of Elevating Voices with a structure to get to Deep Work? Would that create the opportunity to focus on change? I'm thinking here that focusing on busy work and/or engaging in Deep Work that does not have a clearly defined aspiration reinforces the status quo.

I like this trivium! And I need to know more about Courageous Discovery. It feels like a new set of guiding principles coming together. Elevating Voices connects to our core value of All Means All, Deep Work connects to an ethic of excellence, courageous discovery is connected a community of collaboration. I wonder where a culture joy fits in? And a community of care?

Courageous Discovery is the sixth pattern in the Path of Transformation.

It takes a lot of courage to venture off without the security of a known gravitational field. But only be venturing out will there be the potential for profound discovery. As I pondered, I was reminded of the term 'courageous discovery', wondering if that might fit here for the third leg of this trivium.

When we built Oregon City's Portrait of a Graduate, we defined three core character traits then surrounded those in a 3x3 pattern with the other skills and character traits that were important.

You might want to take a similar approach here, knowing that collaboration and care, for instance, are important to be named and included, but by distilling down to three core elements, a trivium, you can easily reference them – live them – strengthening your ability to align efforts for greatest impact.

I hope you are ok that i jump here. Members of the NOIIE have a protocol that when they meet 'you leave your title/position at the door'. The focus is on the students (they use 'learners' which is inclusive of students, teachers, school and system leaders) and with the focus on them the idea is that the first year teacher has just as valid contribution as the principal and superintendent in making a difference for students. Its a nice way to hear all voices i think.

During these last two weeks, I have not had much brain space to think, listen, or learn deeply. Everything has been urgent and scattered. As we are coming out of this recent crisis, which I know isn't over yet, I am reflecting on how engaging in deep work truly prepares you for the more intense moments in life.

I am curious how our brains work in crisis and how we can develop resilience in our brain by spending more time in The Deep Blue. There is a connection between being fully present and engaged in experiences, learning from those experiences, and developing strong resiliency. There is resilience that comes from both the positive and negative material and it would seem to position our being in a better space to navigate crisis or tackle a heavy lift.