This past week, I put the finishing touches on a new book I will be releasing in 2026 with the subtitle, “Moving People Forward, Together, in Contentious Times,” and had to revisit this post from 2018 titled “Convince Me.”
The reason I thought this was a critical perspective to share in the book was that much of the “contentiousness” that I have dealt with in the past has not been from what I have said, but from a lack of willingness to stand back and listen. To embrace the idea that “maybe I am wrong?” is something that helps you find the best solution, and models the willingness to learn you want from others in yourself.
You can never control what others do or think, so “convincing” them to embrace something that they do not see the value in is probably wasted time. But asking questions and being genuinely curious might not move them to where you had hoped in the beginning, but at least take a step forward. Maybe listening might move you in a different and better direction as well.
Hopefully, this post will be helpful in the upcoming year, and I look forward to sharing more thoughts on this topic in my forthcoming book.
Convince Me (2025)
Educators worldwide are embracing new ideas on what school can look like in today’s society and are advocating for growth in themselves first and in others around them. Times have changed, and education is not immune to this; this is true for all organizations and industries.
If you invest money in stocks, would you invest in a company that continually holds on to what has been done in the past or one that consistently recognizes the importance of adapting to changing times?
If you wouldn’t invest your savings into a mindset of holding on to the past, why would we spend the future of our students in the same line of thinking?
Change happens with or without us.
But too often in our efforts to help others move forward in their practice, we create our “elevator pitch” and try to do everything to convince others of why change is crucial. We spend our time trying to convince others of our thinking, but I know that if someone has their mind positioned in a certain way, I can do little to persuade them to think differently.
So instead of you trying to convince them why change is necessary, why not give them a chance to assure you that standing still is crucial? If they are set on it, there must be some reasoning, so let them talk. I have been working on this lately, and it has made a difference in my perspective and thinking.
Listening is helpful to both parties. Maybe you are wrong, and they have valid points. Perhaps you are on the right track, but you can also find some common ground to build on. Or maybe you figure out that neither party will move and that you don’t spend your time spinning your wheels in the same spot. This is not about proving who is right and who is wrong, but about finding areas where we can work together to improve education for all learners.
The next time you feel the need to convince someone of your position, start asking questions and give the person a chance to persuade you of theirs.
If we are committed to learning and growth, it would only benefit our own development.
