The Power of the Class

As I prepare for next week's Adaptive Leadership class I reflect on the culture of the group yesterday. I wonder if people are starting to get comfortable with one another.  Are the groups "gelling"? Is each group starting to forge its own identity?

Yesterday we discussed culture - the rituals, taboos, and symbols that support the values underneath.  Looking back, I wonder how I could help the class see that all these components of culture support something. Rituals are not empty - they exist to ensure that the key aspects of the culture are preserved. Did we miss that amidst a smorgasboard of activities and discussions? Did we all learn as much as we could in the time we were given?

Ah... the worry again. I can't help but worrying after each class, wondering whether I'm giving my all, wondering whether my all is enough.  I reread the last paragraph, however, and notice the word "we." Did "we" learn? Did "we" get there? Did "we" miss something?

Teaching is a team activity. IA course is not built by the professor alone.  Instead, a course is built as the group interacts, vibrates with the new knowledge, responds. A course is taught by the collective power of the class.

Perhaps that's the answer to my worry ... make it a collective worry.  We should all worry about using the class time as productively as possible, learning as much as possible, going as deep as possible. We have 5 weeks - let's make them count, guys.