I have a whole bunch of favorite quotes, and this one is among them:

“We do not make changes for the sake of making them, but we never fail to make a change once it is demonstrated that the new way is better than the old way.”  – Henry Ford

The summation of Ford’s quote should be the motivator for any meaningful change: how do we take the present condition and make it better? How do we go about initiating change knowing confidently that the new way is better than the old way? How do we do this?

I’ve interviewed a lot of candidates for administrative positions over the past many years, and the best answer anyone can give when asked “what do you plan to change?” is this: I’ll take my time, listen, understand the issues and culture, and figure out what needs to be changed before changing anything.

Second level thinking re initiating change: proceed methodically, listen even more, build trust, involve stakeholders and make them feel as though they are part of the change even if they are not.

My good friend Jake McCandless answered this way when asked what he intended to change once named the Superintendent for Lee Public Schools (Mass): “My clothes, every day.” Brilliant!

I’ve seen a lot of great changes during my past 32 in education, but I have also seen many disasters, usually because someone or some group was in a great big hurry. Stop, study, listen, be patient, and only proceed when “knowing confidently that the new way is better.”