Listen for the Quiet Voices

The first time I joined a school's administrative team, I was so much younger than the rest of the group that an outsider walking past our meetings could have reasonably surmised it was "bring your son to work day."

Like any young professional battling imposter syndrome, I didn't do much talking at first. I always appreciated, though, when someone asked for my view, and I would try to rise to the occasion and offer something useful in those moments.

A few years ago, during a professional development day at a different school, I was asked to facilitate a small working group in the early stages of a curricular review. One of the teachers assigned to my group asked with affectionate skepticism, "Wait, you're leading this?"

A valid question! Happily, my distinct lack of content knowledge was complemented by a plan: we'll get to the good stuff if I just keep asking questions.

The plan worked. Asking "Can you tell me more about why you see it that way?" and other supportive-but-probing questions moved the group to a deeper conversation quickly.

One teacher was listening intently but not contributing. I didn't want to fully call him out, but I was eager for his participation, so I simply said his name and added, "Your thoughts?"

With that invitation, he began to articulate a viewpoint that shifted the entire group's thinking for the better. As he put forth his perspective, the group honored his skepticism and began thinking harder about what we were creating. All it took was asking him, and he rose to the occasion.

School communities are well-practiced at responding to the loudest voices, usually for good reason! With Red Pen Strategy, I am interested in finding the deep, valuable insights that can be unlocked by asking the quieter voices something as simple as, "Your thoughts?"