The Art of Practice

After receiving a great deal of feedback from last week’s post, I’ve decided to take some time to dig into the practice of critical inquiry.? The reality is that there’s an abundance of failure amongst us.? You’d think adults would be more comfortable with not getting it right by now.? This, of course, is why we engage in practice.? We must practice because it helps us improve or maintain our skills in a particular area.

Prac·tice

/?prakt?s/

1. the customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing something:

2. perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly to improve or maintain one's proficiency

In this way, asking a question like “Whose voice is missing?” is a professional practice leading us closer to truth-telling and inclusion.? Hopefully, as we make it a practice to ask critical questions, we will get better at it.? This tends to happen when the first question leads to another and another, bringing us closer to the truth or core issue.

What questions do you think would naturally follow “Whose voice is missing?”

I think many would then ask, “Why are these voices missing?” “How do we know they are missing?” “How is this type of silencing seen in other areas?”?

What is at stake here? Are we able to communicate across our fears?

No discussion about innovation or growth can happen without centering equity of voice.

In my professional practice, I support school leaders in prioritizing this practice because, historically and presently, bias and racial injustice obstruct participation in innovation and growth across all industries.

Underrepresented groups have origins, concerns, voices, and experiences that differ from those of traditionally represented groups. When our organizations prioritize marginalized concerns and conditions, we will see an inclusive shift of culture and ideas.??

As leaders, the more we seek out historical truths without apology, the better we begin to understand the true need for diverse voices and innovation in our classrooms, schools, society, and world.??

Bringing fresh perspectives to any design or system challenges us to ask questions fearlessly.?

When was this school policy created anyway? What was going on in our school community when this program was launched and does it even make sense now? Whose voices are being left out? What perspectives are the loudest and why? We must also put our procedures and policies within the proper socio-political context.

I invite you to roll up your sleeves and dig into this collective work to embrace a new world of leading and liberating.

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