Navigating The Hub: The Evolving Landscape
“Prior to the seventeenth century, nature was seen as wild and savage and certainly not welcoming. Mountains in particular were considered eyesores, so much so that some people who crossed the Alps even asked to be blindfolded!” Steven Johnson, Wonderland.
My sister-in-law has just climbed to Basecamp (Mt Everest). She posted her images of her journey daily and we loved every minute of it. She had an idea of what she might see at the top but she didn’t know exactly what she would see. She didn’t know exactly how it might feel when she achieved her goal.
But when she reached Basecamp, she knew she’d arrived.
When we began this Hub journey, we had no idea what exactly it would look like when got to the top. How would we know when we’d reached “the top”? My hunch is that the experience will be a little like my sister-in-laws basecamp experience. And that makes we wonder…
What might be our milestones?
What might be our basecamps?
Various Phases Required for Mt. Everest Expedition
- First Phase — Reaching the Base Camp (5365 m)
- Second Phase — Climb Towards Icefall (5400 to 6100 m)
- The Four Camps towards towards Camp 4: Death Zone (8000 m)
- Final Phase — Final Summit (8848 m) and Descent
As we embark on this journey, we may not have a clear picture of the summit. But we can identify milestones, or basecamps, along the way. These are the moments of significant achievement, the points where we can pause, reflect, and celebrate.
Potential Milestones and Basecamps
While this is yet to be discussed with the team, here are some general ideas:
Phase #1: Shared Expectations: Established stand-up meetings and other protocols that help us know the expectations for the day/week/unit. etc and build team confidence. This clarity not only enhances individual performance but also strengthens the overall team dynamic, ensuring everyone is aligned and aware of their contributions.
Phase #2: Shared Ownership: Clear responsibility protocols for shared spaces, flexible groups, learning experience planning, and student tracking. Everyone is accountable and trusts that spaces, learning and students will not be neglected.
Phase #3: Shared Innovation: A prototyping mindset is embodied by all team members with a tilting towards a ‘Yes, and,’ stance. Prototypes are reflected upon and iterated accordingly. Team members are encouraged to prototype our ideas, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and creativity.
Phase #4: Shared Leadership: Each team member is vital in determining the direction and drive of our work towards our shared vision. By empowering everyone to take on leadership responsibilities, the team can leverage diverse perspectives and skills, ultimately enhancing collaboration and achieving collective goals.
Just like my sister-in-law’s journey to Basecamp, reaching these milestones will be a challenging yet rewarding experience. If nothing else, it’s a chance to savour the moment, appreciate the progress made, and gain the momentum to keep moving forward.
As we continue on this path, unlike the folks in C17th, we’re trying to remember that the journey itself is as important as the destination.
What are your thoughts on this? What milestones would you recommend for our Hub journey? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below.
