Is taking play seriously the secret to stellar leadership?

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

In this conversation, Tricia and Joel Birch explore the transformative power of Lego Serious Play as a facilitation method. Joel shares his background in music and comedy, discussing how these experiences inform his approach to facilitating workshops. They get into the importance of play in communication, the dynamics of team interactions, and the unique benefits of virtual facilitation. The discussion highlights the role of a facilitator in creating a safe space for expression and the similarities and differences between K-12 education and corporate environments. Joel emphasizes the need for skilled facilitators to guide participants through the process, ensuring that everyone has a voice and can contribute meaningfully to the conversation. In this conversation, Joel Birch discusses his journey into facilitation, emphasizing the importance of inquiry learning and collaboration in education. He shares insights on engaging parents and caregivers, the role of play in building relationships, and innovative techniques for strategic planning and interviews in schools. The discussion highlights the need for creativity in educational practices and the value of creating low-stakes environments for meaningful conversations.

➡️ Ready to connect with Joel?

https://joelbir.ch/

🖍️ Learn more about Crayola Creativity Week!

https://creativity-week.squarespace.com/

👏🏻 Thank you to our show sponsor

https://www.neulight.io/?utm_source=shiftingschool&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=fallsponsorship&utm_id=1

Take-Aways from this episode:

Collaboration in education can alleviate change fatigue.

Play is essential for learning and relationship building.

Engaging parents in the educational process is crucial.

Facilitation can help capture diverse ideas in a community.

Innovative interview techniques can reveal true candidate potential.

Creating low-stakes environments fosters open communication.

Using physical objects can facilitate deeper conversations.