The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity

As a school principal, I always look forward to summer for so many reasons, but one of the biggest is the TIME and opportunities to reflect. John Dewey said, “We do not learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience.” How do I reflect as a wife, mom of 2 boys, daughter, and as a principal of a large middle school in a progressive school district? I do this by reading and writing and pondering after I read. During the school year, I may get through one or two educational books…if I’m lucky! I most definitely have the desire, but the energy and other priorities usually take precedence. This summer, I have read 3 nonfiction books about education and one young adult fictional book. Of all of these books, George Couros’s The Innovator’s Mindset has been my absolute favorite. I want the entire world of educators to go read it! This is an excerpt from the final pages of this amazing book, but don’t fret, this is not a spoiler alert. “We have always celebrated our top academic students and touted them as being successful, but sometimes they walk out of school only being great at the game of school and not much else. We can be so much more as educators, a fact that Erica Goldson shared in her very powerful high school valedictorian speech in 2010: I am graduating. I should look at this as a positive experience, especially being at the top of my class. However, in retrospect, I cannot say that I am any more intelligent then my peers. I can attest that I am only the best at doing what I am told and working the system. Yet, here I stand, and I am supposed to be proud that I have completed this period of indoctrination. I will leave in the fall to go on to the next phase expected of me, in order to receive a paper document that certifies that I am capable of work. But I contest that I am a human being, a thinker, an adventurer – not a worker. A worker is someone who is trapped within repetition, a slave of the system set up before him. But now, I have successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what I was told to the extreme. While others sat in class and doodled to later become great artists, I sat in class to take notes and become a great test taker. While others would come to class without their homework done because they were reading about an interest of theirs, I never missed an assignment. While others were creating music and writing lyrics, I decided to do extra credit, even though I never needed it. So, I wonder, why did I even want this position? Sure, I earned it, but what will come of it? When I leave educational institutionalism, will I be successful or forever lost? I have no clue about what I want to do with my life; I have no interests because I saw every subject of study as work, and I excelled at every subject just for the purpose of excelling, not learning. And quite frankly, now I’m scared. We are more than robotic bookshelves, conditioned to blurt out facts we were taught in school. We are all very special. Every human on this planet is so special, so aren’t we all deserving of something better, of using our minds for innovation rather than memorization, for creativity rather than stagnation? We are not here to get a degree, to then get a job, so we can consume industry-approved placation after placation. There is more, and more still.” I share this with you to not only capture your attention, as it did for me majorly, but to make you really think. How can we get out of this cycle of crazy that our educational system is currently STUCK in due to accountability gone wild? Please don’t ever misunderstand me on this, I believe accountability is important. But our current testing system is absolutely ridiculous for children. ABSOLUTELY. My purpose is to share with you a book that can truly change your mindset about how to create innovative mindsets in today’s education systems. I’ve beat my head against the wall so many times about how to do this when we have such standardized measures and practices that occur because of current accountability systems. I’ve always wondered how you do what’s right for individual children in a personalized world with standardized measures. How do you allow students the opportunity to really learn? Not just recite and “do tests” as the incredibly insightful Erica Goldson shares. This book will teach you how to think differently. Couros himself states, “If we only teach students the curriculum, we have failed them.” But he goes on to say, “I believe you’ll find that small change may be enough to get things moving in a new and better direction.” This book is structured into 3 parts: Innovation in Education; Laying the Groundwork; and Unleashing Talent. Without going into too much detail, I want you to know that there is some philosophy, as that’s important. BUT there are so many concrete and relevant ideas and suggestions! This is why I love the book so much, as to have these “real” ideas is a rarity. I felt like my educator toolbox expanded after reading this, and that was a wonderful feeling. I cannot wait to initiate these mindset changes beginning August 17th (when staff returns to school)! Couros says that the book is “not meant to give answers but to provoke questions.” Yes, it makes you think and ask, but it also gives so many ideas. If you’re an educator, please read it. And, I sincerely hope all of my sons’ educators read this book. My boys, Liam and Luke, are my inspiration every day to be a better person and better educator, so I want them to have classrooms where their teachers don’t teach them how to take a test. I want their teachers to help develop their passions and grow in their learning and challenge them to think and create, and create, and create. This book will help you do this.

The Innovator's Mindset: Empower, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity by George Couros is by far one of the best educational reads to inspire, motivate, and empower educators. Couros speaks to his audience in a voice that is relatable, empathetic, and practical. I was searching for a book to utilize for a book discussion with the new teachers in the Mentor Program I lead in my school district, and when I came upon this read, I looked no further. Couros immediately captured my attention as he passionately and seamlessly takes the idea of "innovation" and makes it accessible and meaningful to all leaders and teachers! He talks about how innovation does not have to be a complex idea, but can be a movement toward making intentional shifts that will transform an educators' current instructional practices; he encourages educators to reimagine their curriculum, instruction, and assessments while keeping the learner at the center of all decision making. Furthermore, the 8 Characteristics of The Innovator's Mindset should be the cornerstone of how all educators approach leadership, teaching and learning in an educational organization! Couros values the idea of leading with empathy, developing relationships, connecting, networking, and building trust; with relationships at the core of what we do, the important work of risk-taking, creating, problem-solving will propel learners into self-discovery, develop their social, emotional, and academic capacity, while using their imagination and creativity in dynamic, energetic, and rewarding ways! I cannot tell you how much positive feedback the book has received from the educators I work with. They have been extremely excited and motivated to immediately implement the many practical ideas George Couros suggests; one being Identity Day-where educators and people in the educational organization get the opportunity to share their passions and interests with the school community; an extremely empowering learning experience where student voice and choice is the heart of the activity! My advice....RUN to get this book because your lens on education, innovation, creativity, and learning will be impacted in the most inspiring, thought provoking ways!

If you are looking for a book that will give you all the answers, this is not the one. If you are looking for a book that will INSPIRE you and set you on fire to EMPOWER your students, yourself, and your school - THIS is IT! The first time I heard George Couros speak I laughed, cried, and walked away a changed educator and parent! This book is no different. He touches the heart with many stories both personal and from educational leaders around the world that make you want to get up and take action right then! It is so well written that anyone who reads it can connect with these personal stories. There are two great things that set this book apart from other education books. First, there are the discussion questions at the end of the each chapter that really allow you to reflect. They also take the work out of organizing your school-wide book study! Second, there are a ton of resources provided in the book and on his site that encourage people to continue to learn and share their learning after the book is finished. How awesome is that? How many times have we read a great book that we didn't want to end? Now it doesn't have to! If there is ONE book that you MUST read over the holidays that will make a difference in your life and the lives of your students, it is The Innovator's Mindset. It WILL change you! George Couros has that way of bringing out the awesome in everyone by asking those tough questions in a positive way that make you really stop, think, and TAKE ACTION! Once you read it, you will find this is one of those rare books you tab in many places and reread. You will want to buy a copy for every person you know!

The first time I saw The Innovator’s Mindset, I was honestly a bit afraid. “Innovator” sounded brash, I wasn’t ready for that. But after a year of steps toward creating a more student-centered learning environment, I was ready to jump in and I’m so glad I did. Teachers are constantly inundated with the newest thing, so it gave me hope when Couros revealed “different for the sake of different can be a waste of time and may even leave us worse off than where we started.” He calls us to instead of thinking “outside of the box,…become innovative inside the box.” Not viewing everything we’ve done in past negatively, just that we should consistently be evaluating how we might improve. It’s “a balance between drawing on experience while maintaining a willingness to try something new.” This book tied together so many thoughts and trends I currently follow in education: student voice, choice, technology integration, growth mindset, reflection, and “we’re all learners.” While directly speaking to administrators throughout the book, I still found numerous examples and resources that I can incorporate as a classroom teacher. More than anything, this book left me feeling inspired that the learning environment I long for is possible. “Sometimes, people are afraid to share what they want because they don’t know that getting it is even a possibility.” Thanks for opening up those possibilities!

I recently finished reading the book The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros and am eager to continue the conversation of the book's contents with anyone. Over the past few years, I have read all of George's blog posts because his thoughts on education resonate with my educational philosophy, so to say I connected with the book would be an understatement. We are in an exciting time in education with so many opportunities for ourselves and our students, so George starts by defining innovation "...as a way of thinking that creates something new and better." His positive and straight-forward approach throughout the book encourages his readers to embrace change. He strategically provides opportunities to look at our selves/school/district in the "mirror" through questions posed in the book while opening the door to considering something better because we should never be done innovating, growing, and learning. This book is a must read if you are... 1. an educator or school leader. 2. truly focused on "What is best for each learner?" 3. open to new ideas to ponder, discuss, and develop. 4. ready to challenge the status quo. 5. interested in creating new and better educational opportunities for your students. 6. open to considering well-developed ideas to make school a more innovative place for students. The words in The Innovator's Mindset are not just words in a book, but rather a thoughtful culmination of George's own journey towards an Innovator's Mindset. As a connected educator himself, George connects the dots of current education thought and synthesizes the information in a way that encourages all educators to move forward. Spending some quality time with this book is the perfect place to start. The Innovator's Mindset is another outstanding book from Dave Burgess Publishing. I have read most of the books in the Dave Burgess publishing series and found each one to be though-provoking as each author underscores better educational opportunities for students. These books are outstanding for book study discussions which can lead to positive changes in your classroom/school/district.

The Innovator’s Mindset Inspired by George Couros Written by Lindsey Kaiser and Devyn Bromley My mind cannot erase the fear of failure It consumes me, looms over me My instinct is to run away As the thought of failure shames me, pains me And stifles my creativity But each and every single day My mind is challenged Even though I want to fade away I hear a voice inside these walls That gives me the power to spread my wings These words are not just any words These words are selected carefully, strategically, methodically They empower me, inspire me, motivate me These words inside these walls are not just any words They are words from my teacher, my believer, my “you can do it!” motivator, my challenger My teacher. These words allow me to bridge the gap They allow me to face my dark, dark fear of failure But, they are not always words, they’re actions I will not give up on myself Even though my mind is in a drought My teacher helps water the plants in my mind But, I know I must hold up my end of the stick Practice, Practice, Practice My teacher gives me a voice A voice to agree or disagree A voice to support my reasoning, my thinking My teacher knows what I’m passionate about Believes that abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed And that our minds can grow This is where I want to learn. When I face a challenge, Teachers create better opportunities for me to think Collaborate And, synergize Yes, I understand that state mandates have educators overwhelmed With testing Testing, And more testing And, let’s not forget school's tight budget. Teachers look inside this box of innovation, collaborate And, use their resources to give students the BEST education. I understand that teaching is not always glamorous. The pressure is high, But the feeling of equipping students with a powerful mind, An engaging mind, An innovative mind, A mind that appreciates diversity and equity Is priceless. Let me end with this: They say that “We need to move beyond the idea that an education is something that is provided for us, and move toward the idea that an education is something that WE create for ourselves.” I now know how to use the fear of failure to propel me in the right direction I’m ok with not always feeling ok Because it is here where I know I do the most learning. It is because of teachers that kids are able to conquer the fear of failure, and Together embrace the act of reflecting and learning So, Thank you, From the bottom of my heart, Thank you.

Having formed a sizable committee from all walks of our educational community to craft a plan to become a “District of Innovation,” district leaders and I decided to launch our series of “colloquies” with a book study. Considering the title, The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity, and the fact the author, George Couros, was scheduled to be the keynote speaker for our summer technology and curriculum conference, Lone Star TIA ([...]), it made perfect sense. Although I’d already ordered a digital copy upon its release, I had yet read the text knowing I was saving it for my upcoming, month-long medical leave of absence. After hearing Couros speak at the Texas Computer Education Association ([...]) conference in Austin a few years ago, I’ve been a huge fan. With a combo of insight and humor, his engaging style of presenting hooked me; and I attended all of the sessions he offered as well as a few other events in which he spoke. Hearing him talk of his experiences as principal and as a district leader, I hold his leadership style in the highest regard. To know I could gain insight into his thinking in far greater depth, I couldn’t wait to dive into the pages. And he didn’t disappoint. After reading What Matters Now: How to Win in a World of Relentless Change, Ferocious Competition, and Unstoppable Innovation (http://www.amazon.com/What-Matters-Now-Competition-Unstoppable/dp/1118120825) by author and London Business School professor Gary Hamel a few years ago, so much of what Couros writes is of the same ilk, only applied specifically to education rather than to business. Hamel pens, “To be an innovator you have to challenge the beliefs that everyone else takes for granted—the long-held assumptions that blind industry incumbents to new ways of doing business.” Couros captures this thinking throughout. “Without innovation, organizations—including educational facilities—cease to exist.” His words reflect a note highlighted in my copy of What Matters Now, “Truth is, every organization is successful until it’s not. There’s a simple, but oft-neglected lesson here: to sustain success, you have to be willing to abandon things that are no longer successful.” The parallels to the two texts are astounding with each author emphasizing the role of innovation to the continued relevance in business (in the case of Hamel) and education (from the lens of Couros). “Change is an opportunity to do something amazing,” writes Couros who also quotes author John Maxwell, “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” Throughout, his tales of his own experiences and those of others, Couros provides insight and guidance on fostering a “growth mindset” towards innovation, which he defines as “a way of thinking that creates something new and better,” all while debunking the idea “innovation is synonymous with technology.” Melding the two concepts of innovation and Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, he describes the “innovator’s mindset” as the “belief that abilities, intelligence, and talents are developed so that they can lead to the creation of new and better ideas.” Of the numerous lines I’ve highlighted, one stood out above the rest. “Innovate inside the box.” While acknowledging “schools are not overloaded with funding,” he writes, “Innovating in our schools requires a different type of thinking, one that doesn’t focus on ideas that are “outside the box,” but those that allow us to be innovative despite budgetary constraints. In other words, we need to learn to innovate ‘inside the box.’” Whoa! Stop. Reread. #profound So often, educators give up or give in to what is in our “circle of concern” rather than build upon what is in our “circle of influence” ([...]) as noted by author Stephen Covey in his bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Couros does not allow readers off the hook to surrender to this age-old excuse despite its glaring reality. When reaching out to committee members in my initial contact, I wrote, “I’ve no idea where the ‘District of Innovation’ process will take us, but one of the highlights I’ve underscored in the Couros book reads, “Innovation starts not by providing answers, but by asking questions. #InnovatorsMindset” Because there truly is no predetermined course of action, this quote solidly reflects my view going into the process. From his “critical questions for the innovative educator” to the “eight characteristics of the innovator’s mindset” to the “characteristics of the innovative leader” to the “eight things to look for in today’s classroom” to “eight things to look for in today’s professional learning” (I’m sensing a pattern here.), Couros scaffolds a system of support for educators willing to embrace change and innovation. From his stories about Carly Rae Jepsen ([...]) and analogies citing Blazing Saddles and Talladega Nights, this page turner kept me going; and I finished it over the three-day Memorial Day weekend. (Now what am I going to do with the next 27 days?) In his book, Hamel writes, “Within any organization, it’s usually the malcontents and rebels who are the first to sense the impending demise of a long-cherished business model, and the first to see the value in wacky, new ideas. The best leaders are the ones who get the most options on the table before making a decision.” With The Innovator's Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity, Couros does just that; and for this fact, I am beyond grateful to have read this book. And finally, although I am certain my heritage is German and not Greek and the fact he is Canadian and I American, I’m more than convinced we are “brothers from another mother.” From the same stylized spiked haircut to the similarities in presentation styles to our insistence to remain connected to the classroom (as I continue to teach students across our district (as in the 50+ sessions on the “growth mindset” with kindergartners to ninth graders this school year) to his ridiculously simple idea of talking his laptop to classrooms for hours at a time doing administrative work there rather than the office, I think it’s true.

Everyone has an innate desire to make a difference in the world and leave a lasting legacy. Innovator’s Mindset: Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity is a book that empowers teachers, administrators, coaches, parents, and anyone who cares about a quality education to make a difference-- now! George Couros creatively crafts a story that will touch your heart, inspire the greatness within you to make innovative changes for our kids, and cause you to take pause and reflect. Quotable quotes, research, resources, anecdotes, and actual how-to’s fill every page. He’ll push your thinking, and all the while you’ll know that YOU too can make a significant impact on the lives of kids. There is a leader within whether you have a title or not and George will tap into your strength and model for you how to lead the way for meaningful change in your classroom, school, or learning community. His message resonates, and he’ll meet you wherever you are in your journey and inspire you to take the next step. You won’t be able to sit! If this book doesn’t ignite the fire within, nothing will! George Couros is a master writer, communicator, and leader. His passion and love for learning are clearly evident in his inaugural book. If you love and care about kids, you’ll love reading this book! There are tantalizing tidbits for EVERY learner. Couros says it so well, "Change is an opportunity to do something amazing." YOU can make a difference! Follow his lead. Leaders and teachers, this is your "go-to" book of the year and a MUST READ! I can’t wait to read it a second time so that I can savor all of the deliciousness within its pages all over again! Dave and Shelley Burgess have done it AGAIN! It's a treasure to share with all of my colleagues!

Simply put, this book is a must read! Here is the short of it: -#InnovatorsMindset is told in a narrative the draws readers into the learning story. -This book is great for Central Admin, Principals, Teachers and Parents - everyone can be a learner! -This will open the reader up to new perspectives, new ways of thinking and most importantly, new ways of learning. -Not only a passionate narrative, but George lays out a solid foundation and plan to improve school culture and the learning environments in our buildings. -The ideas in this book are transformational! And the long of it: I have read many a resource on supporting learners, assessment, leadership, 21C teaching and learning and innovation. Many of these books, while having some valid points, lack the personal touch and narrative. These two points are extremely important when it comes motivating staff to take action and bring about a change in learning for students. The Innovator's Mindset by George Couros (@gcouros), has BOTH of these and easily engaged our staff. The personal narrative the George winds throughout the book entices readers along in their learning journey throughout all of the chapters. This narrative causes readers to reflect on their practices and asks them if they are bringing out the best in our students. Further to this, the narrative also encourages staff to create a safe culture and to focus on building relationships where all people feel safe as they challenge their current practices and educational philosophies. Our staff have been reading this book as we re-examine our school's vision and we craft our new direction and it meshes perfectly with what we are doing. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter assist staff to deepen their understanding and broaden the possibilities of innovative learning opportunities. The resource links that George provides are current, relevant and engaging and are highly suitable for professional learning opportunities. They really help to illustrate the points that George makes and they resonate with staff. Initially we purchased copies of this book for just our school leadership team. Our staff were so engaged and passionate about the book, we purchased copies for everyone in our school. We are also undertaking the revision of teaching and learning for our entire school board; and we purchased copies of The Innovators Mindset for everyone on the committee. George's book is a must have for any organization looking to help people move out of their comfort zone in order to build innovative learning environments for students.

Fast shipment, very stimulating book especially if you're looking to make changes on your school site! Very inspirational. I definitely recommend.

This book should be read bye every teacher in the world and understand the mindset to teach in the classroom. With a lot of examples, George Couros give us some ideas to develop our own tools so we can innovate in classroom and not only engage with content but empower the students to move on learning. Great book! Thanks

I once said about a principal that while I read to make me think about alternatives, she reads to find "the answer". I hope she reads this book! And while no book provides all the answers, this provides some great questions, ideas and discussions. If you're an educational leader, you definitely should read it. If you're not, reading this may make you want to become one.

I bought the book to return over and over and get new Ideas for implementation. I will recommend it to all people that have any touchpoint with children.