The document outlines an education leadership workshop focusing on developing skills for complex times. It discusses adaptive leadership, examples of complex problems in education, and strategies for brainstorming solutions through group discussion. Participants are asked to consider challenges like engaging diverse students, utilizing AI, fostering collaboration, and more. They share quotes and ideas in small groups to address complex issues in teaching and learning. The workshop emphasizes qualities like patience, trust, listening, and inviting change through respectful conversation rather than directives.

1. Education Leadership
for Complex Times
PZ Australia 2023
Cameron Paterson

3. Norms
• Be gentle and
generous
• Cultivate curiosity
• Expect and embrace
a lack of closure
Workshop Outline
• Adaptive leadership
• Churchill fellowship
• Some research

4. What qualities do
education leaders
need in complex
times?

5. 1994 NBA semi-finals
• Bulls vs Knicks
• Game 3
• 102 all, 2 seconds left
What should Phil Jackson do?
• Should he punish Pippen?
• Make him apologise?
• Pretend the whole thing
never happened?

6. “What happened has
hurt us. Now you have
to work this out.”
“A Survival Guide for Leaders” by Ronald Heifetz & Marty Linsky,
Harvard Business Review

7. “A Leader’s Framework for Decision-making” by David
Snowden & Mary Boone, Harvard Business Review

8. Complex puzzles/problems in
teaching and learning
• Engaging students from diverse backgrounds?
• Utilising AI to promote effective learning?
• Building a culture of collaboration?
• Assessing student competencies?
• Designing professional learning?
• Developing an inclusive curriculum?
• Promoting student wellbeing?
• Addressing gaps in student learning?
• Fostering a culture of innovation?
Think of something you can work with…
“A Leader’s Framework for Decision-making” by David
Snowden & Mary Boone, Harvard Business Review

9. Brainstorming Possibilities
• Share a complex puzzle, problem,
question and gather ideas from
colleagues about possible solutions/
responses.
• Time: 3-minute “rounds”
• 1. Presenter briefly identifies the
problem or question and provides a
little context. (1 min)
• 2. Each listening group member
suggests an idea, solution, resource, or
possible way of responding. (2 mins)

10. Choose one quote to
share with a partner.
Explain why you
chose that quote.
Then select one word
that captured your
attention or struck
you as powerful.

11. “Leading complex pedagogical change in schools requires patience for the
slow and messy nature of the work, respectful and trusting relationships
with people, listening with curiosity and authenticity, and respect for
context and history.
It isn’t about applying a formula; it is about engaging in a conversation.
Effective leaders are intellectually curious, make people feel seen and
heard, and invite people into change instead of telling them what they
need to change.”
Churchill Fellowship Report 2019
file:///C:/Users/PatersonC/Downloads/projectReport-
Paterson,Cameron2019%20(3).pdf

12. Source: Professor Viviane Robinson, University of Auckland

14. The Race
• 400-600 miles, non-stop Primal Quest
Adventure Race
• Multi-disciplinary, expert teams
• Unknown terrain, multiple routes
• Challenges: mental and physical
exhaustion, navigational errors, injury
• 75-95 teams each year
• 55% of teams do not finish
• Avg age=37, Avg exp=5.5 yrs
• $250,000 purse

15. Day 1-2
Day 4-5
2004 Race Overview

16. 50%
70% Conditional
Claims
Assertive
Claims
Team
Performance
High
Low
30%
How do claims of knowing vary across teams?

17. ?
? ?
? ?
? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?

20. “Through talking to one
another, educators co-
construct new knowledge
and the ‘cognitive conflicts’
that arise serve as the
‘power driving intellectual
development’.”

21. “Speeding up Team Learning” by Amy
Edmondson et al, Harvard Business Review

25. “Curiosity drives learning; trust transforms
teachers.”

26. “Spend time with people who are the sparklers, the energisers. Spend
time with the plusses; the ‘Yes, And…?’ people.”
- Erik Lindemann, 3rd Grade Teacher at Osborne Elementary, Michigan.

27. One-word whip reflections