Collaborative Culture

A shift in perspective can change our attitudes and our outcomes

Vol. 33 No. 3

About a decade ago, I came across the following passage from Haim Ginott, child psychologist and psychotherapist and a parent educator. “I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized” (Ginott, 1972). This quotation speaks strongly to me because I see its application to every individual. As

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Authors

Susan Scott and Deli Moussavi-Bock

Deli Moussavi-Bock (deli@fierceinc.com) is director of training for Fierce in the Schools.

In each issue of JSD, Susan Scott (susan@fierceinc.com) explores aspects of communication that encourage meaningful collaboration. Scott, author of Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success At Work & In Life, One Conversation at a Time (Penguin, 2002) and Fierce Leadership: A Bold Alternative to the Worst “Best” Practices of Business Today (Broadway Business, 2009), leads Fierce Inc. (www.fierceinc.com), which helps companies around the world transform the conversations that are central to their success. Fierce in the Schools carries this work into schools and higher education. Columns are available at www.learningforward.org. © Copyright, Fierce Inc., 2012.

I’m writing this in the early morning while savoring the effects of a shift in attitude before I finished my coffee. My friend Maggie had forwarded me an email: Happy IVGLDSW Day! Today is International Very Good Looking Damn Smart Woman’s Day. I don’t appreciate most “send-this-to-five-people-you-know” emails, but this one offered perspective and attitude. Example: When life hands you lemons, ask for tequila and salt and call me! This article is about perspective and the results it produces. I began today by looking into the mirror and thinking, “What happened to you?” Now that I’ve shifted to “Good morning, you very good-looking, damn smart woman!” I’m smiling and I have a new perspective about the day ahead.

— Susan Scott

References

Ginott, H. G. (1972). Teacher and child: A book for parents and teachers. New York: Macmillan.

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