National Workshop For Educators

NATIONAL WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATORS Exploring the leader within

Attended by Ms. Tania Joshi, Vice Principal and Ms. Sangita Varma, PGT Economics.

We had a unique opportunity to attend this leadership work shop at Indore. The question that arose in my mind was 'How can leadership be used as a tool by a teacher?' I was also apprehensive and wondered if leadership can be inculcated or is it inborn?

The workshop held on 22nd and 23rd April, 2013 was conducted by Principal, Rajesh Awasthi at the Choithram Institute of Educational Research and Training, Indore. We were a group of 25 members who came from various schools across the country.

The first session was introductions and familiarisation of members. It was named Breaking the ice. We had amongst us V.P of Vatsalya School, Mansoor, M.P., HOD English, Bhalet Public School, Baroda and Principal of the Shree Shree Ravi Shankar School, Indore.

Next was an interactive session of defining the qualities of a leader. After discussing qualities, we had to perform an activity in which we were divided into groups of four, given a large sheet paper, pens and colours and were asked to draw an ultimate team member by combining all the best traits of a leader into one imaginary person that was to be given a name. Each team was asked to come up and present their piece of work.

This activity reinforced that if one person has the best traits he/she would be a much better leader than just a member of the group. Also can different members contribute to a team? Does working as a team make things much easier? What can you do as team that you cant do yourself?

We were presented with different the leadership theories like Trait theory, Behavioural theory, Managerial Grid, etc by power point presentation.

TEAM BUILDING by Smita Bhargav was the topic of the afternoon session.

We were made to play two games as a team and to understand that groups working together should necessarily have

Commitment to common goal

Mutual accountability

Collaborative climate

Shared leadership

Synergy

We were given a simple task to perform. We were asked to pick up the maximum chairs from one end of the room and convey them to the other. Although simple, what we learnt through this exercise was very vital through the reasons for our failure in conducting the task. We learnt that we lose by not delegating work, by the lack of leadership, lack of practice, lack of attention and seriousness, lack of encouragement, lack of working as a team etc. We just felt that we must do the work and did not pay attention to the instructions given. Group Vs team: factors in team development and steps to building an effective team were also discussed with a case study.

The next day we were shown a movie Ek ruka hua faisala. We were then asked to make an observation of the different people in the different situations. This was followed by a discussion.

We were also shown a ppt on the ' Attitudes of Leadership.

The experience was a very enriching one. We learnt and shared new ideas on leadership and returned to our stations recharged to apply them!

By Ms. Sangita Varma.