1. Our Iceberg is
Melting
Coping with change when the world as
we know it is shifting……or melting
By Brent Galloway
School of Education
Brent__Galloway@Twitter.com

2. Urgent Matters:
Moments that change your
life
MY STORIES
• My first teaching job
• The week before my wedding
• Big strike/Teaching in Australia
• A gift named “Justine”
• Empty Gardens
• Curling is bad for your health (part
1)

3. Let’s Date
(or at least agree to see other people)
My Breakfast Date
with ___________
My Lunch Date
with ___________
Afternoon Tea
with ___________
My Dinner Date
with ___________

4. Urgent Matters:
Moments that change your
life
YOUR STORIES
• What moments in your personal
histories have caused a great deal of
change, challenge or stress?
• What moments in your work histories
have caused a great deal of change,
challenge or stress?
TURN & TALK: Breakfast Date

5. A Unique Cast of Characters
• Fred, the curious and observant
• Alice, a penguin boss, action-oriented
• Louis, the head penguin of the Penguin
Leadership Council
• Buddy (storyteller, man of the people)
• The Professor (intelligent, scientific)
• Sally Ann (a young child/student in the
colony)
• NoNo (the name says it all)

6. The Problem:
Our Iceberg REALLY is melting
• What if……our “iceberg” melted, or even
worse “exploded”? What would happen
to our “penguin” way of life? What would
happen to our children? How would we
survive?
• Step 1: Create a sense of urgency to
deal with the difficult problem and DO
NOT FEAR CHANGE

7. Back to Reality: What if…..?
• …we could no longer use Context Based Learning as
an instructional approach due to budget restraints?
• …our class sizes doubled (once again due to budget
restraints) or our student numbers dropped by 50%
• …your workload was changed….tomorrow?
• …a new Dean was appointed who had a different vision
for the Nursing program?
• …Red Deer was not successful in its bid to host the
Canadian Winter Games resulting in the cancellation of
the Health and Wellness Centre?
• …the Alberta government outlawed and disbanded the
“United Nurses of Alberta” union?
• …the Canadian government adopted a two tier
public/private health care system?
TURN & TALK: Lunch Date
List 3 steps/ideas to deal with this

8. The Answer is ALWAYS in the
room
(and I don’t mean the room at the top)
• Step 2: Carefully select a group of
varying skills/background to guide the
change
• Step 3: Using evidence, collaborate to
create a “sensible” vision for the future

9. Communicate Communicate
Communicate
• Step 4: Communicate the vision so
others will understand and accept it
• How has Red Deer College’s transition to a
new School/leadership model been
communicated to the students, to
staff/faculty, and to the public?
• TURN & TALK: Afternoon Tea Date

10. ENERGY Needed!
• Step 5: Remove obstacles to action. Decide
how you will deal with change and determine
how you will use your energy (positive
ways/negative ways)
• What obstacles are in the way of you doing
your best work? How can you remove these
obstacles?
TURN & TALK: Dinner Date

11. CELEBRATE……and often
• Step 6: Create success quickly and
celebrate (and not with squid & fish)
• What are the “wins” in the work that
you do?

12. TRUE GRIT
• Step 7: Never Give Up until the
change is firmly established (and
check in)
• Remember: Failure often precedes
success, and change is difficult
• A new message: “We’ve ALWAYS
done it that way” is not a solution

13. Yah-buts, Quackers, &
Shoulders
• Step 8: Ensure that the changes will not
be overcome by stubborn, hard-to-die
traditions, but ensure that the past is
honored (as well as the people)
• Alternatives to the above:
– I wonder if…..
– Use “we could” instead of “we should”
– “Tell me what you are thinking?”
– “Focus on the solutions, not the problems”
• Remember: Some sacred cows make
great ground beef

14. …and Remember
• We are Human Beings, not Human Doings
• Think BATNA and the power of CHOICE
• Accept that “Change is the only constant”
• “We are the change we have
been waiting for”…Gandhi
• “Rather than waiting for the
storm to pass, dance in the rain”
• Icebergs will always melt; it is the colony of
penguins that is important. Think TEAMS.
• Celebrate the past, enjoy the present, and
embrace the future…..it is a lot more fun!
WE
R
NOT
THE
I
C
E
B
E
R
G

15. …and now “The Curling Story” part 2

16. Our Iceberg is
Melting
Coping with change when the world as
we know it is shifting……or melting
By Brent Galloway
School of Education
Brent__Galloway@Twitter.com