100 Posts in 100 Days
Near the end of yesterday’s post on codependence, I wrote:
Clarity and communication come up strongly in several previous posts: yesterday’s post “Independence”, my earlier post “Decisions, Decisions” and a post I wrote back in March 2019 “Empowerment: Moving Beyond Delegation and Establishing Great Teams” are just a few examples.
As I look back on those posts, I can read and access my own tips, tools, and strategies. I can also think of other tools I have used to help plan and help communicate. William Bridges’ 4 Ps (Purpose, Picture, Plan, Part) and the KASAB (Knowledge, Attitudes, Skills, Aspirations, Behaviors) often shared by Learning Forward and author Joellen Killion come to mind immediately.
I know about the importance of clear communication and expectations. I appreciate it being on the receiving end of them. I frequently advocate and tout their value. I’ve used all of the tools I’ve shared in my various blog posts and will continue to do so.
But this work is easier said than done. As I write and publish these blogs, I’m taking note of how easy it all reads while also hearing voices of current colleagues in my head asking questions about work we are implementing. How wonderful it would be to pick one of the tools, share the ideas with any group of students, teachers, or parents, and then watch the plan be flawlessly executed.
That’s where the tools have a limit. They are limited If they are only used to plan, or to plan and communicate, but are never fully “lived” and executed. Those voices of current colleagues in my head that are asking questions are often asking questions about the execution of the plan. Their questions seek clarity and calibration, probe for rationale and reasoning, and frequently prompt new ideas and iterations. Which inherently means the plan is going to change. And when it does, we must have the skills to manage the change.
Three things I recommend for executing the plan and managing the change are to:
- Have a model for change in your school,
- Cultivate a schoolwide culture of growth mindset, and
- Get specific about your own role and behavioral changes.
Come back for posts 75, 76 and 77 to read about my three recommendations.