Big Wins, Small Steps

How to Lead For and With Creativity
Ronald Beghetto - Arizona State University
Big Wins, Small Steps
April 2016 | 160 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781506343044
Available from January 0001
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ISBN: 9781483385464
Available from January 0001

Description

Don’t sink your school’s creativity—encourage it to set sail!

Do today’s schools stifle creativity? Some think so. Whether or not that assessment is fair, educational leaders need to innovate, implement creative leadership and cultivate possibility thinking.

This book is the definitive resource for making creativity a schoolwide core value. Introducing the groundbreaking Small Steps Approach to Instructional Leadership (SAIL) framework, Ronald A. Beghetto shows how big wins come from small, completely doable steps, and all creativity needs is a little nudge from you, the instructional leader. Content includes:

  • “Creative leader checklists” summarizing actionable points in each chapter.
  • The keys to removing the most difficult creative barriers
  • How to sit with uncertainty instead of letting it derail innovation efforts
  • When to “flow like water”, and when to “stand like a mountain” as you re-focus your school towards creativity 

Implementing these principles will produce positive effects that resonate in every aspect of your school. 

Watch this video from Ron Beghetto on "Responding to Uncertainty."

Check out the PCR Interview for Big Wins, Small Steps.


"Ron Beghetto's engaging work on creativity has profound implications for schools, and for the staff and students within them." 
Larry Rosenstock, CEO
High Tech High


“Creativity has become the holy-grail in education. Beghetto presents an authoritative, accessible, and unpretentious pathway toward creative leadership. Insightful, practical, and based on solid research, not popular myth.”
Yong Zhao, Author of World Class Learners

"Creativity is needed to negotiate a complex world. Big Wins, Small Steps invites educators to teach creativity by first practicing deliberate creativity one small step at a time."
Beth Miller, Executive Director
Creative Education Foundation

Contents

Preface

Preface

Chapter 1. Respond Creatively: A Small-Steps Approach

  • Rethinking Creative Leadership
  • Responding to Uncertainty
  • Introducing the SAIL Framework

Chapter 2. Sit With Uncertainty

  • The Creative Potential of Uncertainty
  • Sit With Uncertainty: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 3. Engage in Possibility Thinking

  • Possibility Thinking: A Different Way of Reasoning
  • Engage in Possibility Thinking: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 4. Prune Possibilities

  • The Power of Pruning Possibilities
  • Creativity and Criticism
  • Prune Possibilities: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 5. Take Measured Action

  • The Power of Small Data
  • The Progress Principle
  • Take Measured Action: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 6. Reclaiming Your Creativity as an Instructional Leader

  • A Dozen Action Items for Instructional Leaders
  • Creativity Resources

Appendix A: Creative Leader Checklists

Appendix A: Creative Leader Checklists

Appendix B: Ground Rules

Appendix B: Ground Rules

Appendix C: Heuristics for Possibility Thinking

Appendix C: Heuristics for Possibility Thinking

Appendix D: Action Items for Instructional Leaders

Appendix D: Action Items for Instructional Leaders

Description

Don’t sink your school’s creativity—encourage it to set sail!

Do today’s schools stifle creativity? Some think so. Whether or not that assessment is fair, educational leaders need to innovate, implement creative leadership and cultivate possibility thinking.

This book is the definitive resource for making creativity a schoolwide core value. Introducing the groundbreaking Small Steps Approach to Instructional Leadership (SAIL) framework, Ronald A. Beghetto shows how big wins come from small, completely doable steps, and all creativity needs is a little nudge from you, the instructional leader. Content includes:

  • “Creative leader checklists” summarizing actionable points in each chapter.
  • The keys to removing the most difficult creative barriers
  • How to sit with uncertainty instead of letting it derail innovation efforts
  • When to “flow like water”, and when to “stand like a mountain” as you re-focus your school towards creativity 

Implementing these principles will produce positive effects that resonate in every aspect of your school. 

Watch this video from Ron Beghetto on "Responding to Uncertainty."

Check out the PCR Interview for Big Wins, Small Steps.


"Ron Beghetto's engaging work on creativity has profound implications for schools, and for the staff and students within them." 
Larry Rosenstock, CEO
High Tech High


“Creativity has become the holy-grail in education. Beghetto presents an authoritative, accessible, and unpretentious pathway toward creative leadership. Insightful, practical, and based on solid research, not popular myth.”
Yong Zhao, Author of World Class Learners

"Creativity is needed to negotiate a complex world. Big Wins, Small Steps invites educators to teach creativity by first practicing deliberate creativity one small step at a time."
Beth Miller, Executive Director
Creative Education Foundation

Contents

Preface

Preface

Chapter 1. Respond Creatively: A Small-Steps Approach

  • Rethinking Creative Leadership
  • Responding to Uncertainty
  • Introducing the SAIL Framework

Chapter 2. Sit With Uncertainty

  • The Creative Potential of Uncertainty
  • Sit With Uncertainty: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 3. Engage in Possibility Thinking

  • Possibility Thinking: A Different Way of Reasoning
  • Engage in Possibility Thinking: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 4. Prune Possibilities

  • The Power of Pruning Possibilities
  • Creativity and Criticism
  • Prune Possibilities: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 5. Take Measured Action

  • The Power of Small Data
  • The Progress Principle
  • Take Measured Action: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice

Chapter 6. Reclaiming Your Creativity as an Instructional Leader

  • A Dozen Action Items for Instructional Leaders
  • Creativity Resources

Appendix A: Creative Leader Checklists

Appendix A: Creative Leader Checklists

Appendix B: Ground Rules

Appendix B: Ground Rules

Appendix C: Heuristics for Possibility Thinking

Appendix C: Heuristics for Possibility Thinking

Appendix D: Action Items for Instructional Leaders

Appendix D: Action Items for Instructional Leaders

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Big Wins, Small Steps

How to Lead For and With Creativity


April 2016 | 160 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Paperback 01/02/2026 9781483385464 $37.95
Lifetime 01/02/2026 9781506343044 $35.00

Don’t sink your school’s creativity—encourage it to set sail!

Do today’s schools stifle creativity? Some think so. Whether or not that assessment is fair, educational leaders need to innovate, implement creative leadership and cultivate possibility thinking.

This book is the definitive resource for making creativity a schoolwide core value. Introducing the groundbreaking Small Steps Approach to Instructional Leadership (SAIL) framework, Ronald A. Beghetto shows how big wins come from small, completely doable steps, and all creativity needs is a little nudge from you, the instructional leader. Content includes:

  • “Creative leader checklists” summarizing actionable points in each chapter.
  • The keys to removing the most difficult creative barriers
  • How to sit with uncertainty instead of letting it derail innovation efforts
  • When to “flow like water”, and when to “stand like a mountain” as you re-focus your school towards creativity 

Implementing these principles will produce positive effects that resonate in every aspect of your school. 

Watch this video from Ron Beghetto on "Responding to Uncertainty."

Check out the PCR Interview for Big Wins, Small Steps.


"Ron Beghetto's engaging work on creativity has profound implications for schools, and for the staff and students within them." 
Larry Rosenstock, CEO
High Tech High


“Creativity has become the holy-grail in education. Beghetto presents an authoritative, accessible, and unpretentious pathway toward creative leadership. Insightful, practical, and based on solid research, not popular myth.”
Yong Zhao, Author of World Class Learners

"Creativity is needed to negotiate a complex world. Big Wins, Small Steps invites educators to teach creativity by first practicing deliberate creativity one small step at a time."
Beth Miller, Executive Director
Creative Education Foundation


Table Of Contents:

  • Preface
  • Chapter 1. Respond Creatively: A Small-Steps Approach
  • Rethinking Creative Leadership
  • Responding to Uncertainty
  • Introducing the SAIL Framework
  • Chapter 2. Sit With Uncertainty
  • The Creative Potential of Uncertainty
  • Sit With Uncertainty: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice
  • Chapter 3. Engage in Possibility Thinking
  • Possibility Thinking: A Different Way of Reasoning
  • Engage in Possibility Thinking: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice
  • Chapter 4. Prune Possibilities
  • The Power of Pruning Possibilities
  • Creativity and Criticism
  • Prune Possibilities: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice
  • Chapter 5. Take Measured Action
  • The Power of Small Data
  • The Progress Principle
  • Take Measured Action: Principles of Practice
  • Putting the Principles in Practice
  • Chapter 6. Reclaiming Your Creativity as an Instructional Leader
  • A Dozen Action Items for Instructional Leaders
  • Creativity Resources
  • Appendix A: Creative Leader Checklists
  • Appendix B: Ground Rules
  • Appendix C: Heuristics for Possibility Thinking
  • Appendix D: Action Items for Instructional Leaders

Recent Product Reviews:

"In a world in which change comes at alarmingly faster rates each year (or so it would seem), it is refreshing to have a source that encourages us to take small steps within the context of our current efforts in instructional leadership which will lead to greater gains. This book is a great companion for any educational leader who wishes to model creative leadership within their building."
Rich Hall, Director of Elementary Education, Henrico County Public Schools
"Big Wins, Small Steps gives Principals, Teachers, & Instructional Leaders a framework to reference when looking out how to increase the creative spirit in our schools, and what steps we can do to support our students."
Kristopher Kwiatek, Principal, Kadena Middle School
"I suggest that all school leaders consider this book as Ron Beghetto's engaging work on creativity has profound implications for schools, and for the staff and students within them."
Larry Rosenstock, CEO, High Tech High
"At a time when creativity has become the holy-grail in education, Beghetto presents an authoritative, accessible, and unpretentious pathway toward creative leadership and leadership for creativity. Insightful, practical, and based on solid research, not popular myth.”
Yong Zhao, Author, World Class Learners
"Creativity is a process. It is an intrinsic skill -- the key skill needed to negotiate a complex world. Big Wins, Small Steps invites educators to teach creativity by first practicing deliberate creativity. This practical guide will cultivate your creativity one small step at a time."
Beth Miller, Executive Director, Creative Education Foundation

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