In the midst of a turbulent few years, I read an article from The Cult of Pedagogy called ‘Find Your Marigold: The One Essential Rule for New Teachers.†In the article, the concept of companion planting is introduced, where strategically placing certain plants or flower next to each other improves growth for both. With a lens of an educator, the metaphor was clear – finding marigolds within the workplace would lend itself to positive outcomes. Colleagues and I joked that we didn’t want any of that ‘walnut’ energy that the article mentioned, the ‘toxic’ substance that would inhibit progress because their perspective was typically quite negative. When it comes to workplace drama, I tend to take on the mentality of shutting my door, focusing on the joy within my own fourth grade classroom, and keeping above the fray.
This mentality works fairly well when you are a fourth grade teacher. It doesn’t work so well when you begin to think about roles outside of the classroom. It doesn’t work so well when you’ve applied for a Masters in Education Leadership. It doesn’t work so well when you’ve led meetings only to feel disconcerted that even though your slides look great, real change hasn’t manifested.
Now, about the walnuts. I was speaking with a colleague about how, as a leader, that walnut energy might feel a bit unnatural to work with in the context of decision making. She reframed my thinking, asking me to consider the idea that a walnut is actually a ‘canary in a minefield’ (I know, I know, more metaphors?!). A canary is highly sensitive to their surroundings, and can be truthful indicators of danger within one’s path. Rather than writing off the walnuts as negative, this colleague said, use them as your opposing viewpoint, your devil’s advocate, so that you can make the most informed decision possible. While marigolds might be your ‘yes’ people, wouldn’t you want others in your corner who see things from a different point of view?
I’ve thought about this a lot as I begin to think about the next phase of my career. Adam Grant once said, “Preferring corrections to compliments is a sign of skill.†So in allowing the canaries to have a seat at the table, the more it may benefit me as a leader moving forward.
