Week 7: Foster Equity by Balancing Inquiry and Advocacy
This week, I needed to focus on balancing inquiry and advocacy when I was driven by my emotions and unchecked assumptions after a teacher-student conflict. Balancing inquiry and advocacy is a critical approach for any leader who wants to foster equity and bring about positive, lasting change. Trust me when I say, that striking this balance isn’t always easy, especially in environments where emotions and assumptions can influence outcomes. True leadership calls for an authentic presence, grounded in both empathy and clarity, that supports open and equitable communication.
A significant part of my leadership role involves managing systems that enhance each child’s learning experience. But to do this well, it’s equally essential to focus on the growth of the individuals who bring these systems to life. This perspective led me to think about what an organization truly is. Senge argued that an organization is “[…] a collection of individuals and the policies, procedures, systems, and structures they explicitly and implicitly agree to operate within. […] It is through these social constructions that we either perpetuate or reduce and eliminate educational inequities.”
To drive change, leaders must focus on the people that create the organization. Peter Senge introduced the concept of “balancing inquiry and advocacy” in The Fifth Discipline: The Art and Practice of the Learning Organization. This approach invites leaders to express their own thoughts while encouraging others to share theirs openly, creating a space where ideas can be reflected upon and understood. Inquiry shows curiosity and respect for others’ perspectives, while advocacy allows us to communicate our own. Finding this balance fosters mutual respect, enhances collaboration, and strengthens professional relationships; thus (one would argue) works in tandem with other organizational factors to reduce educational inequalities.
Why It Matters for Leadership
Balancing inquiry and advocacy is central to active listening—a cornerstone of effective leadership. This approach encourages listening with the intent to learn, not just to respond. It also helps teams and the individuals who lead them to avoid making assumptions by prompting them to stay grounded in evidence rather than personal biases or preconceived notions. This shift in perspective is powerful, allowing for meaningful interactions and more thoughtful, inclusive decision-making.
By adopting this balance, we “offer transparency and [demonstrate] humility about our own thinking, [promote] curiosity into others’ thinking, and improve conflict resolution,” ultimately enhancing our professional relationships — which in turn supports the work we do with students. A change in the way leaders think and interact can have a ripple effect across our educational institutions, creating a culture where all students experience respect and belonging.
How I Applied This Balance
To better integrate inquiry and advocacy, this week I incorporated specific protocols into my leadership approach. These protocols (thank me later) became essential tools in both planned and spontaneous conversations, enabling me to navigate challenging discussions, make equity-centered decisions, and effectively resolve conflicts among stakeholders.
To Do’s and To Say! - Reference Week 6’s blog [Internal Link] to fully understand the Ladder of Inference. Additional Protocols
Incorporating these protocols was invaluable, especially when using the questions that prompt cross-cultural awareness and equity consciousness (Senge, 2012). My commitment to equity often means that I feel strongly when others don’t immediately recognize the effects of their practices on students who are historically marginalized. However, my role as a leader is to facilitate growth; balancing inquiry and advocacy provides me with the language and developing mindset to achieve that.
Lesson #7
Foster Equity by Balancing Inquiry and Advocacy. Fostering equity through balanced inquiry and advocacy enriches our interactions and builds stronger, more inclusive environments. By intentionally focusing on this balance, we can each contribute to a culture where all perspectives are valued, helping to create an equitable and supportive learning environment for everyone.
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