The Carpe Vitam project was a journey in a number of senses. It was a physical journey around different places and different countries. It was an intellectual journey of constant challenge to inert ideas and habits of thinking. It was an emotional journey both in respect of having to move from our comfort zone and in respect of the social bonds that were formed through new relationships across national boundaries. In our final conference in Athens, we looked back on the Carpe Vitam journey and described it as a journey in four acts. Deirdre Crowley from the USA (East) team captured the conversations for us in graphic form.

ACT I Storming

Storming is a process which typifies the early stages of a new initiative. The process of laying the ground work is helped at this stage by brainstorming, encouraging the open expression of ideas and experiences.

ACT II Norming

Any group of people who come together find it difficult to collaborate until they can establish some common ground. This means finding norms and values held in common.

ACT III Performing

Once people are comfortable with one another, and discover their common values they are freer to perform at a higher level, and can be more open to challenge and new ideas.

ACT IV Reforming

The ultimate purpose of a project such as Leadership for Learning is to reframe thinking and to reform practice. We know that reforming is not by policy dictat. It takes time and relies on working through the other three stages.