Strong educational leaders are an incredible group of people – they are the ones who not only care most about the people in their school community, they are also the ones who inspire and support members of the community to solve problems, set and achieve goals, and create an optimal learning environment. Leading in that capacity takes fortitude and resilience. In any given year, attending to the needs of the students, staff, and families within the learning community can leave you feeling drained emotionally and physically… and even lonely. This year, in the midst of a pandemic, the needs of those in your school community are even higher, and may be causing you to worry, research, and problem-solve more than you ever have before.
As the end of the calendar year and holiday break draws near, this is the perfect time to reflect and celebrate your many accomplishments so far this school year. If you embrace a growth mindset, but perhaps have a touch of perfectionism in you, you might find it easier to identify what needs to happen next, rather than all of the many tasks you have successfully completed up to this point. While identifying next steps and setting clear goals is critical to ongoing success, so is pausing to reflect and celebrate. So block out 20 minutes on your calendar, have something to write your reflections down on and with, grab a snack or beverage, and bask in the glory of all that you have done so far this year! Here are three structures that will help guide you through identifying your accomplishments so far this year.
- Stroll down memory lane – In a neighborhood, there are many different houses that vary in stature, shape, and color. Some stand out more than others, some look alike, and some draw you to them, making you linger. To reflect on your many accomplishments in this school year up to this point, imagine that you are walking in a neighborhood, on a street called Memory Lane. Each house is an accomplishment for you to identify – one thing that you completed so far this school year. Some of the accomplishments will be grandiose and others will seem small, but it is important that you pause and identify as many of your accomplishments as possible. Taking time to reflect on the big and the small accomplishments will feed your soul and reinforce your desire to support students, staff, and families in your learning community.
- Impacting Others – Accomplishing tasks feels good, but what feels even better is seeing (or hearing) the positive outcome it had on others. Think about an accomplishment you have achieved this school year and who it benefited. Then, reflect on what those individuals might think, feel, say or do because of your accomplishment. For example: to help support teachers and students at the start of each day, you set a goal for yourself to attend morning/advisory meetings (in person or virtually), or be at the door as staff and students arrive at school to greet them as they enter the building (if face-to-face). Thinking about that accomplishment, consider what you heard or saw students and staff do in response to this accomplishment (smile, greet you back, feel a stronger connection to you, come to you with questions, ask you questions about your life, etc.), as well as what they might have been thinking or feeling (gratitude, security, appreciation for your attention, happy). Considering the positive impact of our actions and accomplishments on others pushes us to fight for continued improvement. When we feel connected to others and see how big of an impact we’re making, we are able to persevere when facing challenges in reaching our accomplishments.
- Word Web – If you like to doodle, bullet journal, or make connections, creating a word web might be a reflection style that works best for you. If you own an expanded set of flair pens, crack them out along with a plain piece of white paper (or a journal) and you’ll be ready to start. In the middle of the paper, write down a word that will help you reflect on all of the accomplishments you’ve achieved so far this school year. Words like success, accomplishments, feats, achievements, wins, progress, or another of your choice help start the reflection process, encouraging you to think of both big and small accomplishments. Let your creativity shine as you work through this thought exercise, creating a web of words and phrases that highlight all that you have achieved this year. Once the web is created, look to see the connections between various achievements and celebrate all that you have accomplished so far this year. Identifying connections between accomplishments helps to recognize patterns and learn the magic formula for our own and our school’s success.
In a school year where you have been asked to give more of yourself, your time, your energy, and your care to others, it is critical that you carve out some time to reflect and celebrate on your many accomplishments. Looking for more improvement is important, however the path for increased growth and success truly lies in the reflection on what we have done up to this point. Reflection leads to renewed energy and purpose, and propels us to continue recognizing problems that can be resolved, removing obstacles, and creating a unified vision, as well as the steps in making it a reality.
Want to extend this type of reflection by leading your staff in a celebration of their accomplishments? Check out our Celebrating Successes Faculty Meeting Plan – including all of the PowerPoint slides, handouts, and clear directions you need to implement each piece.
Written by Sarah Fillion & Dana Januszka for Positive School Solutions 2020
