Embracing Change… Knowing Myself Midwest District American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Leadership Development Conference June 6, 2013

Who Are You?

Typical Response My name is ___________. I am a My name is ___________. I am a ______________ at ______________. ______________ at ______________. Is this “who you are” or “what you are?”

What Do They See?

Do They See The Same Thing?

What If?... What if the four individuals were all at the same eye level and looking at the same object? What if the four individuals were all at the same eye level and looking at the same object? –Would they be looking at the object from the same perspective?

What If?... Would they be looking at the object from the same perspective? Would they be looking at the object from the same perspective? –Yes: same physical perspective (angle) –No: each person’s perception (interpretation) of what (s)he sees is determined by her/his cultural background

What Do You See?

Importance of Knowing Yourself “We are all products of our culture and its history” (Tatum, 2007, p. 51) “We are all products of our culture and its history” (Tatum, 2007, p. 51) We are all products of our culture and its history and our own history that is a result of our culture and its history We are all products of our culture and its history and our own history that is a result of our culture and its history

Importance of Knowing Yourself When we are confronted with a new situation, how we react to that situation comes from our history or who we are When we are confronted with a new situation, how we react to that situation comes from our history or who we are When we are confronted with change, how we respond to change comes from our history and who we are When we are confronted with change, how we respond to change comes from our history and who we are

Importance of Knowing Yourself To strategically approach issues, teachers must begin with exploration of their own beliefs (Breese, 2008) To strategically approach issues, teachers must begin with exploration of their own beliefs (Breese, 2008)

Today, You Will… Develop a cultural self-mapping of yourself Develop a cultural self-mapping of yourself Examine your attitudes toward change Examine your attitudes toward change Reflect on your responses to experiences involving change Reflect on your responses to experiences involving change Critique how your attitudes and cultural self have influenced your responses to change Critique how your attitudes and cultural self have influenced your responses to change Adjust your attitudes to improve your adaptability to change Adjust your attitudes to improve your adaptability to change

Cultural Self-Mapping List on the bones and branches of bones of the fish (handout), things that have made you into the person you are today List on the bones and branches of bones of the fish (handout), things that have made you into the person you are today –Examples: Family, friends, teachers, schools attended, jobs, interests, qualities As needed, add more bones to the branches that already exist; add more branches as needed As needed, add more bones to the branches that already exist; add more branches as needed

Examination of Self Think about your attitudes toward change Think about your attitudes toward change Reflect on your responses to experiences with change Reflect on your responses to experiences with change

Examination of Self Critique how your attitudes toward change have influenced your responses to change Critique how your attitudes toward change have influenced your responses to change How has your cultural self influenced your attitudes and responses? How has your cultural self influenced your attitudes and responses?

Adjusting Attitudes to Improve Adaptability Think of ways to adjust personal attitudes to improve your adaptability to change Think of ways to adjust personal attitudes to improve your adaptability to change –On blank side of card, write a few attitudes write a few attitudes you need to improve you need to improve –Exchange cards; provide ideas provide ideas –Share ideas

Improving Adaptability to Change (Brunkhorst, 2006) Stop and think to avoid misinterpretation Stop and think to avoid misinterpretation –Give yourself time to analyze situations thoroughly Think long-term Think long-term –Consider consequences and benefits of dealing with situations

Improving Adaptability to Change (Brunkhorst, 2006) Prepare for change with continuous learning Prepare for change with continuous learning –Change is constant; skills needed to address change will vary as we go through different stages of our lives Look beneath the surface Look beneath the surface –With every challenging situation comes a new opportunity

Improving Adaptability to Change (Brunkhorst, 2006) Become clear on your values Become clear on your values –Your actions need to stay true to your values

Go a Step Further… Instead of just adapting to change, how can change be turned into success? Instead of just adapting to change, how can change be turned into success? Within your group, brainstorm Within your group, brainstorm how to make change how to make change into success into success

Turning Change Into Success (Burke, 2009) Remain true to yourself Remain true to yourself –Don’t compromise your beliefs Think outside of yourself Think outside of yourself –How will your choices affect others? Dream your dreams Dream your dreams –Reality begins as dreams

Turning Change Into Success (Burke, 2009) Be patient Be patient –Turning change into success is a process Help others Help others –Address change as a team, working together

Closure You must know who you are as a person You must know who you are as a person Who you are determines your attitudes and responses Who you are determines your attitudes and responses You can then proceed to improve your adaptability to change You can then proceed to improve your adaptability to change –Turn change into success

Thank You! Dan Timm Dan Timm Faculty Associate Department of Kinesiology 2000 Observatory Drive University of Wisconsin Madison, Wisconsin