No Super Chickens, Forget the Pecking Order at Work

I loved how Margaret Heffernan began her TED talk describing the pecking order of chickens. I have definitely worked on teams of competing super chickens and I have worked on teams that brought out the best in each other. Super chickens are draining. Competing at work as opposed to working towards a common goal is like back pedaling. You don't get anywhere.

For the past two years, I have been on a team that is good at giving and getting help. We have really connected, and so I agree with Heffernan, what happens between people counts. When you care as much about your coworker's success as your own, it feels good.

Teachers are accustomed to giving help, and do not always let themselves be vulnerable to ask for help. Brene Brown, who studies vulnerability, taught me that real strength lies in being vulnerable. It is our vulnerabilities that will ultimately connect us and help us to grow. Vulnerability is uncomfortable at first. Super chickens don't let themselves be vulnerable. Asking for help can be a challenge.

Productivity is working together, not against your co-workers. This would also be valuable for students. It is important to teach students to ask for help, to be vulnerable and to say, "I don't know yet", "I am still figuring it out", or " I could use some help."

We teach and encourage the growth mindset for our students at the campus I work at. However, we need to facilitate the social connectedness for students to help and get help from each other. This will just back up the growth mindset that it isn't a competition. The end goal is for every one to grow by cheering each other on and seeing the strengths in oneself and others.