Source: http://christianastronomy.org/images/bruno1.jpg

The concept of heretic immediately brings up the Inquisition in my mind. Heretic and inquisition are linked…is that a good thing? I’m not sure but it means that heresy isn’t desirable, yet some apparently do see heretical paths as ones to follow or emulate.

Angela Maiers (LeaderTalk) shares about Seth Godin‘s book, Tribes. I haven’t read the book but I enjoyed reading Angela’s take on it, quoted below in these bullet points:

• Heretics are engaged, passionate, and powerful leaders who have a tribe that they support and in turn supports them back.
• Heretics lead by challenging the status quo, reaching out to others, and putting important ideas on the line in both public and private ways.
• Heretics seek out an innovation and then, in the face of huge amounts of resistance, lead their tribe to push the innovation out.
• Heretics have faith; they believe in the work, what they do, and in the strength of their tribe.
• Heretics work because they want to, not have to. They risk, challenge, and push the edge of their profession because they believe in the change. Like anyone, they appreciate the paycheck, but they work by passion not the clock.
• Heretics are not merely managers they are leaders who make change happen.

Are we sure we want to be heretical leaders? I’d like to think those that advocate the use of technology in schools already are. Consider that heretical leaders–a.k.a. technology advocates in schools today–already challenge the status quo, seeking to share with others the gospel of technology. They face huge amounts of resistance as they push the innovation out, but they continue in spite of the pushback. Why? They want to make change happen, no matter the consequences.

Free, open source software–and its adoption–requires this kind of heretical leadership, a leadership that is not afraid to help organizations and the people in them embrace new technologies. Ach, out of time…will have to follow up later.

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