"We have an idea that we'd love to present in hope of receiving your blessing to fulfill it." Davidson's professional lab technicians stood before me. They looked embarrassed, somewhat shy. They excel at their job, which usually requires them to work behind the scenes. It was clear that they're not used to leading such an appeal, even if the CEO — me — keeps telling them and the other employees that my door is always open to them.
There are approximately 2,000 lab technicians in the Israeli education system. A relatively small, highly professional group of people without whom science cannot really be studied, for the simple reason that science is an experiential profession. It requires laboratories, equipment, materials and more importantly – professionals who know what to do with all of these in order to create, together with the teacher and the participants, a meaningful educational process in the science classroom. Years ago, when I was teaching in high school, I didn't do anything without the school's professional lab technician by my side. We built experiments, solved problems of content accessibility and experimentation. We were a team. Without her, my lessons would have been philosophical, the kind in which one could "talk about" scientific subjects, but they would lack - the excitement that comes with the practical fulfillment of curiosity; the joy that bursts from discovering through experience; the ability to imagine, plan and see what happens when you actually try your plan; the sense of freedom to fail, try again and the patience learned from the process; all the skills and emotions that are part of "doing." Professional lab Technicians are central to the scientific education process. Davidson's lab tech's are part of this group. Now, they were standing in front of me with a request.
"We lack tools to move forward as a professional community," they said. "A platform that will allow us all, from all over Israel, to continuously share experiences with each other, information about what is happening in various classrooms and laboratories across the country, challenges, lessons learned, solutions we found. Something that will help us become an even more meaningful professional peer group with and for each other."
The beauty of their solution was its simplicity: they proposed setting up and leading a dedicated website for lab tech's in the education system. "We already have ideas about what the site should include," they said. "And we've already checked with Davidson's computer, operations and marketing professionals to see what is needed. All we need now is a small budget to begin, and your blessing."
I asked them to present the idea and its details to Davidson's group of senior managers. "It's a worthy initiative, and if you want to harness an entire community of about two thousand people, let's convince the Davidson executives first that this is what it takes," I told them. "Present the need, the response, the suggested process and the required resources – timeframe, workhours, budget. You'll also have to explain your part in leading your initiative – if you think it's an idea worth investing in, you'll have to show you are willing to take the responsibility to do it. Don't worry," I hastened to say, thinking I saw slight apprehension in their eyes, "We're a sympathetic audience."
They did their homework. A few weeks later, they presented the initiative to management, as requested. Their enthusiasm was contagious. They received the requested resources and the blessing of us all. To date, about two years later, their "LaboraTeam" website is active and serves its target audience and more, with thousands of unique views per month from around the country; recognition and gratitude from leaders in the Ministry of Education; Most importantly, it is the fulfillment of their vision and a source of pride for all of us – so much so, that it is already drawing attention from other countries, who are interested in learning and adapting this unique model.
CEO stands for Chief Executive Officer, a meaning that is undoubtedly important – after all, first and foremost, you need to know how to be an executive manager. Build and lead a vision, a strategy. Manage people, resources, finances. Make sure things happen properly and optimally within a given framework, without losing vision and with your eyes continuously on the strategic ball.
But in my view, it's an acronym with an additional meaning, a meaning that when lost – the other meanings are lost as well: Chief Enabling Officer. One of the main and most important strengths of a CEO, as smart and creative as she may be, is being able to recognize that she is by no means the only one who possesses these capabilities; to know how to identify them in the employees; And then enable them to be expressed by creating the organizational culture where the door is not only open, but you can walk through that door and meet someone who listens; To listen in a meaningful way, presenting pros and cons; grant authority, responsibility and resources without compromising on the requirement of professionalism; allow the freedom to fail, harness the failure and try again; understand that there is no such thing as a "small initiative", but only a worthy initiative; and, of course, recognize and appreciate those who were part of leading and fulfilling it.
Every day of the past years, I thank the professionals of the Davidson Institute, whose spirit of excitement, creativity and commitment have taught me how to be a better enabler.
Comments