EXPLO Elevate scours the world for good ideas, practices, and wisdom to help schools and their communities thrive now and in the future.
Dear Friend,
Virtually all management training and advice stresses the need for managers to develop empathy for those they supervise, a critical component to building team empathy. But what seldom gets discussed is that when looking at what causes a lack of team empathy, 35% is caused by a lack of empathy of employees to their managers. Lack of upward empathy is part of 4 Reasons Why Managers Fail, a recent article in Harvard Business Review. For years, we’ve been examining upward empathy as part of vertical empathy, a term Ross coined and wrote about back in 2022.
Practice Vertical Empathy* by Ross Peters
Our patience is out, our ample indignation, at one time held like a good card hand to our chests, is now face up on the table. We have become our own heat waves of impatience, frustration, and all too often, hyper-certainty (with a healthy dose of righteousness). The glue that can hold communities and organizations together has dried and corroded in the relentless heat of cultural turmoil.
Every day, we witness the cost of these human heat waves. I have been seeking the right terminology for this observation, and so far I have only come up with this thought–we are seeing a broad-based breakdown in empathy, more specifically, what I am calling vertical empathy. Vertical empathy brings together three levels of empathy–emotional, cognitive, and compassionate–in the context of the workplace where there are hierarchical structures and power differentials. Without real vertical empathy, leaders cease to empathize with those that report to them and, just as importantly, the reverse–those that are reporting to someone else cease to empathize with the person or group to whom they report or with leadership in general. We can’t help create a generation of healthy adults if we are unable to model healthy human relationships and functional, productive dialogue. As adults, we must grow up.
Definitely not a scientific term, vertical empathy is my only way to capture a concept that is vital for our schools. A requisite school culture ingredient, vertical empathy is becoming scarcer in schools. With vertical empathy, the stage is set for schools and the students within them to flourish. Without it, relationships between different, yet all vital, groups within the school will drift apart or even worse, consciously separate. Learning suffers, and students pay the price.
Anyone can steer the ship when the sea is calm. — Publilius Syrus
Heroes, Villains, and Victims
Last week I was leading a workshop for new administrators and tapped into the work of Diana Chapman of the Conscious Leadership Group. After I explained the workplace dynamic of Heroes, Villains, and Victims, I had one educator literally cry out loud with an “Aha!” moment. She had seen this dynamic play out in her school, was troubled by it, but could never quite put it into words. Now she could.
Creating a Sustainable, Student Led Science Research Program
Not long before the pandemic, a colleague and I were out at the Nueva School and attended a presentation on their student led science research program. I was so struck by its quality, impact, and student engagement, that I came back and told the Elevate team we needed to learn more to help other schools build out their programs. Sudipti Kumar led the exploration and in addition to her interviews with Nueva, interviewed a number of other science educators including a dive into the program at the Pingry School. She wrote an excellent overview and case study. When I saw what Nueva had accomplished with their science research program, it had me thinking a similar approach could be taken with other subjects. One remarkable aspect of the Nueva program is that the students are teacher-leaders and once the program is up and running, students take on much of the management work. Now that most schools are able to move out of their pandemic-keep-your-head-above-water mode and look to the future, I wanted to bring this piece back around.
AI
Was terrific to see Eric Hudson not too long ago at a board meeting where he led a presentation and Q+A session on AI. Just what was needed at just the right altitude. With AI mutating daily, it’s challenging for boards, leaders, and faculty to figure out how to wrap their arms around it. That’s why I’m interested in the new RAIL program from the Middle States Association. MSA- CESS just named its founding RAIL group comprised of 31 schools from around the world. RAIL is a comprehensive implementation framework for AI in schools and systems leading to AI accreditation. On a somewhat different note, this has me wondering... will more associations begin offering area specific accreditations?
There is a short, useful, and potent guide that I recommend, Mastering the Art of Prompt Engineering by Shelly Palmer, Professor of Advanced Media In Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. School of Public Communication and CEO of the Palmer Group that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. We’ve been lucky enough to have him meet with EXPLO’s machine learning and AI students. I’m finding I’m using AI more and more frequently, though I have to admit I winced a bit while reading Palmer’s piece on building a synthetic employee.
We’re Highly Recommending
The Teen Brain, a new 10-minute film based on the latest research on adolescence and showcasing both teens and doctors. The film explores what's happening in the teenage brain – significant remodeling and development – and illuminates why teens are emotionally brilliant super-learners.
Let us know what you think. If you know of good ideas, practices, or programs, give us a shout and we might feature them in an upcoming issue.
As always, thanks for reading.
Moira
Presenting
EXPLO Elevate Senior Consultant, Tung Trinh, just returned from Chicago where he was co-leading the CSEE Middle School Summit exploring middle school culture, climate, and community.
Senior Consultant, Susan Perry, will be presenting The Hide and Seek of Polarity Leadership at the Center for Creative Leadership/Polarity Partners Learning Community Conference in Greensboro, NC May 1+2
Congratulations!
North Cross School, Westchester Country Day School, and Hilton Head Prep School have each completed strategic planning processes with EXPLO Elevate.
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