<div dir="ltr"><b style="font-weight:normal" id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-d5da672f-ed1d-0921-821a-93053c6afdb5"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Jessica, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It seems to me that although necessary and accepted, rational systems much of the time seem to be looked at negatively.  I believe this comes from the subordinates feeling a loss of control and freedoms as well as completing tasks that may be less than favorable.  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">    </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As I read your answer pertaining to rational and natural systems, I began to realize that most, if not all, rational systems are attacked ‘naturally’ by natural systems.  I believe this comes from our human ‘nature’ of wanting the thing that we do to have meaning and purpose.  The following paragraph from your answer shows an example of this.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">“In contrast, while the rational system in place compels teachers to adhere to a common set of standards defined at the state or national level, the natural system in place gives teachers the freedom to construct their own learning targets to connect to the standards. These learning targets allow for teacher autonomy in terms of connections between topics and the order of skills taught. Similarly, in the manner of a natural system, teachers have the freedom to choose independently what content they use to deliver the concepts of the course. For example, two teachers of the same course might choose entirely different stories to teach the same concepts. As such, teachers feel that they are in control, that their voices are being heard, and that their administrators value and trust their content expertise. The natural system displayed is people-oriented, and it allows the teachers to feel respected and confident, which will increase efficiency and productivity.”</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">   </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Although state standards, end-of-course exams, graduation rates, etc are legislative expectations required by our officials, we (as building principals) will need to understand the need for the natural system and support our staff in their journey to find what works for them and in turn works for the not so pretty rational systems.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">  </span></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">To further explain my point, we can look at a fairly straightforward rational system like custodial work within our buildings.  The job is to clean the building.  The custodians are given specific tools and specific jobs.  But, here comes the natural system attacking.  Does the custodian tell herself,  “My purpose here is to clean, but I will also set an example to many influential young adults about what it looks like not to just do a job, but to do a job right.” ?  </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Most people intuitively want to have a self-fulfilling purpose for completing tasks.  And if they can figure that purpose out, they will do a better job because they feel good about doing it. A good leader does this for her/his subordinates...helps them discover their self-fulfilling purpose.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-indent:36pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(34,34,34);background-color:rgb(255,255,255);font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">In closing, when goals and tasks are established as needed to be completed, the system likely starts as a rational system, but is naturally transformed into a natural system as much as possible while all along being influenced upon by outside entities which drive it in a direction preferred by its stakeholders.  Hmm, that seems a bit connected and intersecting.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span class="gmail-Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre">  </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Thank you for your highly influential answer!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tony</span></p></b><br class="gmail-Apple-interchange-newline"><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><em><font color="#3333ff" face="comic sans ms,sans-serif">Happiness is a proper balance of preparation and recreation.</font></em></div>
</div>