The document outlines an Aspiring Principals Program cohort meeting that will provide residents with training and assessments in problem solving using the four frames approach, examining situations from multiple perspectives to recognize different viewpoints, and completing a pre-assessment of their residency site using the four frames paradigm. Residents will also develop a shared understanding of time management strategies to better manage their priorities and support their fellow cohort members. The four frames of leadership will be introduced as a model for analyzing challenges from different angles.

1. Aspiring Principals Program Cohort Meeting Resource Book
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By the end of the session, Residents will have:
a completed assessment of his/her personal orientation to problem-solving.
a shared understanding of the four frames approach to problem-solving so that the
Resident can approach challenges with a well-rounded, multi-lens prospective.
examined situations from different perspectives so that he/she can appropriately
recognize multiple perspectives and assess challenges within the Residency.
a completed pre-assessment of the Residency site using the Four Frames paradigm
so that he/she can continue collecting evidence and developing a theory of action to
drive the development of the Pathway to Action plan.
a shared understanding of each others challenges in time management so that
Residents can offer support and coaching to fellow cohort members with strategies
they can leverage to better manage their time and priorities.
Four
Frames of
Leadership

2. In ancient China, on top of Mount Ping, stood a temple where Hwan, the enlightened one,
dwelled. Of his many disciples, we know only Lao-Li. For more than 20-years, Lao-Li studied
and meditated under the great master. Although Lao-Li was one of the brightest and most
determined disciples, he had yet to reach enlightenment. The wisdom of leadership was not his.!
!
Lao-Li struggled with his lot for days, nights, months, even years. And then one day, the sight of
a falling cherry blossom spoke to his heart. “I can no longer fight my destiny” he reflected. “Like
the cherry blossom, I must gracefully resign myself to my ignorance.” At that moment, after
more than 20-years of study, Lao-Li decided to climb down the mountain and give up his hope
of enlightenment.!
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Lao-Li searched for Hwan to inform him of his decision. He found the master sitting before a
white wall, deep in meditation. Reverently, Lao-Li approached Hwan. “Excuse me enlightened
one,” he said. But, before Loa-Li could continue the master spoke. “Tomorrow I will join you on
your journey down the mountain” he said. And Lao-Li left to pack his belongings.!
!
The next morning, before the descent, the master looked out into the vastness that surrounded
the mountain peak where they stood. “Tell me Lao-Li,” he said, “What is it that you see?”!
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“Master, I see the sun beginning to wake just below the horizon. I see hills and mountains that
go on for miles. In the valley I see an old town and a lake.” Hwan listened to Lao-Li’s response.
He smiled and then took the first steps to start the descent.!
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Hour after hour, as the sun rose and crossed the sky, they walked. As they approached the foot
of the mountain, Hwan again asked Lao-Li to tell him what he saw.!
!
“Great wise one, in the distance I see roosters running round the barns, cows asleep in the
flowering meadows, old people resting and children playing in a brook.” The master stayed
silent and walked to a large tree where he sat at the trunk.!
!
“What did you learn today Loa-Li?”, he asked. Silence was Lao-Li’s response. At last Hwan
continued – “The road to leadership is like the journey down the mountain.” It comes only to
those who realize that what one sees at the top of the mountain is not what one sees at the
bottom. Without this wisdom, we close our minds to all that we cannot view from our position
and as a consequence limit our capacity to grow and improve. But with wisdom there comes an
awakening. We recognize that alone one sees only so much – which, in truth is not much at all.
This is the wisdom that opens our
minds to improvement, knocks down
prejudices and teaches us to respect
what at first we cannot view. Never
forget this last lesson Lao-Li – What
you cannot see can be seen from a
different part of the mountain.”!
!
When Hwan stopped peaking, Lao-Li
looked to the horizon and pondered
not at what he saw, but about what
he could not.
The Wisdom in the Mountain

3. 1. A man appeared after the owner had turned off his store lights.
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2. The robber spoke with a strong accent.
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3. It was summer when this incident occurred.
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4. The man who opened the cash register was the owner.
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5. The man who demanded money scooped up the contents of the cash
register and ran away.
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6. A businessman had just turned off the lights when a man who spoke with
a strong accent appeared in the store.
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7. Money from the cash register was scooped up by someone.
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8. The details of this event were promptly reported to a policeman.
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9. The owner scooped up the contents of the cash register and sped away.
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10. The following events occurred: someone demanded money; a cash
register was opened; its contents were scooped up; and the man dashed
out of the store.
!The story and the true-false statements are adapted by Joan V. Gallos from a segment of William V. Haney's
Uncritical Inference Test, available for classroom use from the International Society for General Semantics, P.O. Box
2469, San Francisco, California 94126

4. Four Frames Note Capture Sheet
Structural
Roots:
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Key Concepts:
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Central Focus:
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Most Important Thing to Consider:
Political
Roots:
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Key Concepts:
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Central Focus:
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Most Important Thing to Consider:
Symbolic
Roots:
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Key Concepts:
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Central Focus:
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Most Important Thing to Consider:
Human Resource
Roots:
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Key Concepts:
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Central Focus:
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Most Important Thing to Consider:

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The Film Tells the Story
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6. !
Four Frames Case Studies
Mr. Clark’s First Staff Meeting
What is the problem
and what is the
situation in which it is
embedded?
Which frames are in
play?
Which frame is more
likely to lead to the
desire change?
How can the concepts,
metaphors and values
be used to reframe the
situation to solve the
problem?
The Prince and the Principal Case Study
What is the problem
and what is the
situation in which it is
embedded?
Which frames are in
play?
Which frame is more
likely to lead to the
desire change?
How can the concepts,
metaphors and values
be used to reframe the
situation to solve the
problem?

7. Why Time Maps?
A time map is a budget of your day, week or month that balances your time between the
various departments of your life. Built around your own natural habits, style and goals, your
Time Map reflects who you are and what is important to you. Time Maps can be used for
work, or for your whole life-anywhere you want to ensure that you carve out time for what’s
important to you. The amount of structure you create within your Time Map will depend
on your personal preferences, and the realities of your job or family life. Use the sample
below to stimulate your own creativity.
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From Julie Morgenstern Enterprises