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Collaborative Culture

Beliefs, aspirations, and perspectives are as diverse as the colors on a painter’s palette

By Learning Forward
October 2012
Vol. 33 No. 5
Supplies  Paint chips in many colors, at least twice as many chips as there are participants. Paper and pencil. Striped beach ball. Steps Spread out paint chips on a table. Ask participants to choose a color they really like. Ask participants to write “I am” and insert the name of the paint color. Ask them to write three or four lines as if they were speaking as the color. Give them an example, such as, “I am Blazer Red. I am warm. I am passionate. I am never boring.” Or “I am azure. I am cool. I am peaceful. I am deep, like the ocean.” Give them about one minute to do this. Ask for volunteers to read what they wrote. Ask: “Of all the

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Authors

Susan Scott and Angela Brooks-Rallins

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.

Here is a powerful exercise I have done with both kids and adults. At its heart, the activity is about gaining a deep understanding of and appreciation for multiple, competing views of reality. No single person owns the truth about any given topic or thing — each of us owns a piece of the truth. If we welcome and leverage our differences toward common goals, we stand to build buy-in, true collaboration, stronger classrooms, schools, and communities. We stand to make the best possible decisions. I borrowed part of this activity from Barbara Sher, speaker, coach, and best-selling author.

— Susan Scott 

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Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.

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