The water is always deeper than what it reflects (Marty Rubin)

Confucius once said, “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.”

This blog deliberately contains my reflections. Gaining wisdom is a cumulative thing.

Recently I had to complete a PechaKucha (Japanese for 'chit-chat', it's a storytelling format where a presenter shows, in this case, 10 PowerPoint slides for 10 seconds of commentary each). 

Mine and a dozen others' attempts were used to launch a recent meeting of our organisation's Senior Educational Leadership Team meeting.

It was interesting seeing what people focused on. There were pictures of past haircut travesties that got laughs, images of pets and possessions, symbolic images from our past and interests, family shots of grand children, children and spouses, and there were pictures of employment histories.

What I noticed over and over was how much the 10 slides and 10 second commentary, the form and content, revealed about the personality of each participant.

That was, of course, the overt aim of the exercise - to introduce ourselves in this brief but revealing way. But it also worked on other, unintended, levels.

Fascinating!

Everywhere I turn seems like everything I see reflects the love that used to be (The Supremes)

Photo by Erik Eastman on Unsplash

Having just returned from a two day visit to Auckland for a series of meetings with my colleagues (we are called SELT - the Senior Educational Leadership Team), I'd have to say it was one of the most productive and enjoyable two SELT days I've spent for a long long time!

Not informational in format - more consultative, collaborative, and reflective with a solutions focused focus. Jolly hockey sticks!!

One activity was centred on some writing on Emotional Intelligence and subsequent self-reflection.

Here are my reflections on the emotional intelligence task we were asked to complete:

Like Gretchen Peters' work, Thomas Erikson has written a text on emotional intelligence called, very appropriately - Surrounded By Idiots.

When I did my self assessment of his four types - Analytical; Dominant; Stable; Inspiring, I was mainly in the Stable category.

That means I see myself as friendly, a team player, and, erm...stable.

I'm also partly analytical - so cautious, methodical and reflective. That fits with my Libran personality.

My boss did his survey of each of us and shared with me that he had me down for those two categories as well.

There are many of these types of personality tests around that aim to divide us up into bits (you'll find my responses to the Gretchen Peters' quiz if you search this blog).

They are all well and good, but I guess it's what we do with that self-knowledge (and knowledge of others) that really counts though right.

More reflections to follow...