If we just work A-B, using simple plans (MVP), then the hardest part is not making things better, it is making sure that we are addressing the root problem!
In yesterday’s episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast, the incomparable Dr. Jacque Jacobs and my good friend and colleague Dr. Kevin O’Gorman walk us through the nuts and bolts of an excellent problem indentation process! Today’s intention: Pause. When faced with a challenge, ask yourself, “Why is this happening?” Cheers! Frederick
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Colleagues,
MVP: Focusing one challenge at a time is hard, but it is the only way to make substantial progress! In less than five weeks Pam and I are heading to England to hike the Pennine Way. We will be gone for five or six weeks. Leaving my business for that long requires a lot of planning, especially as we are working to launch an AP mentoring program in the fall. We are also planning a guided adventure to help APs support their early career teachers with very specific steps, tools, and strategies. And, we need to have all the daily emails and podcasts ready to go. I keep jumping from one thing to another, and almost daily find myself being ineffective because I am trying to focus on several major projects at one time. Even as I manage my limited time, it is my limited attention that is hurting me. Focusing on just one challenge is so hard, but it is the only way to make substantial progress! Today’s intention: Be aware of how many projects are you trying to focus on at one time. Cheers! Frederick I used what I learned to build a better pair of gates, which were nicer and more effective.
The simple gates did not work, but the investment was minimal. An advantage of an MVP is when it does not work, we gain critical information at a low cost. Today’s intention: Look at some of the initiatives, or elements of them, that have not worked. Was there an MVP that minimized the investment of resources, time, and attention? Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
MVP: Take a small action to make a small improvement. It matters! There are many big and complex problems we need to solve, but the process will be slow and require great effort. In contrast, there are small quality-of-life improvements we can make that are simple and yield immediate results. We looked at three this week:
Today’s intention: What is one small thing you could do or change that might yield a small improvement next week? Cheers! Frederick Colleagues,
MVP: Be glad that we can be with others and let them know it. It is so easy to get caught in the grind and to forget the amazing opportunities we have each day. Recently I interviewed Natalia Mejia, North Carolina’s 2023 Beginning Teacher of the Year. Early in our conversation she shared how she greets her students, meeting them at the door and exclaiming, “I am so glad you are here!” Close your eyes. Imagine coming into work each day and people stopping, looking into your eyes, smiling, and saying “I am so glad you are here!” What would that do for you? The amazing thing is that we could all do that, each day! The tragedy is that we are too busy. No time to bask in the beauty of human connection, I need to go check my email. Today’s intention: Just once today, welcome someone into your orbit with a big heartfelt exclamation – I am so glad you are here today! Cheers! Frederick |
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