Influencer Strategy

I also had the opportunity to see the six sources of influence in action. In the “All Washed Up” video, I truly connected with the statement that “We often underwhelm overwhelming problems.” In our line of work, we are often facing truly deep problems. We apply so many tactics to combat these problems, but we do not spend the time thinking about the problems from all angles. This line reminded me of the example from Influencer of the five women who worked together to secure a personal loan to build a small business. In our society, we are so quick to put a patch on problems or to simply run with a plan. As these ladies showed, it is so important to think changes through before initiating them. Using multiple sources of influence will allow for a more successful change, as well as a wider window of acceptance.

The “Harnessing Social Pressure” video was equally as compelling! As an Elementary Educator, peer pressure is a common discussion. However, I never considered how much of a positive force it can be for the students in my classroom. When I heard “be the first to behave in new ways”, it automatically made me think about my favorite Gandhi quote- “Be the change you want to see in the world.” What Gandhi’s quote fails to take into consideration is how to help others accept and replicate this change.  That is where Influencer came into play!

I’ve always been a voracious reader, but simply can’t describe my experience reading this book. My brain was literally in overdrive! While I typically read books in a sitting or two, I found myself becoming so overwhelmed that I would read in tiny sessions and spend a chunk of time reflecting. One of my largest takeaways from the book was from the section about “suffering in silence” or making unspoken problems visible. I truly feel that in education, we all know there are many things that are wrong. We are often so scared to verbalize the issues or feel that they are such large issues, they can never be overcome. If there is anything this book teaches us, it is that with the proper use of the six influences, anything is possible. I view our Innovation Plans as a crucial step in breaking the cycle of silence. We know that something in our schools is not working, and it is our chance to make the problem visible.

This week’s assignment has been tremendously helpful in allowing me to visualize what this will look like in my school. Mapping out my influences is providing me with a plan to help ensure that my students are getting the education they deserve. To read more about my Influencer Strategy, please click here.