Conversations about mandated change are far easier than having conversations and leading non-mandated change.  It is familiar to attribute the problems associated with change (loss, resistance, reallocation of resources, relocations, etc)  to the source of the mandate, be it a legislature or a regulatory agency or a board. It is where the leader begins alone, this territory where he or she raises questions and initiates change that is not mandated.  'Let sleeping dogs lie' is a short term, safe mantra to follow, but it fails to provide leadership, it discourages forward thinking, and it constrains an environment in which asking questions is an acceptable behavior.  As an example here, we raise the question of homework.  Read more...