‘Most people fail not because of lack of desire, but because of a lack of commitment.’
Vince Lombardi
Recently, my wife began the F45 8-week fitness challenge (she was not alone), and made a commitment to exercise like a maniac, follow a strict diet and abstain from alcohol. Over the holidays, the social butterfly that is my wife, told everyone who would listen what she was committing to, and so began the fun at our house. Over the first few weeks, she cooked separately, woke early to exercise, avoided alcohol and suffered severe bouts of ‘hangryness,’ a scary combination of angry and hungry. Oh, what a joy she was!
Despite the initial challenges that everyone in the house faced, she conquered the challenge and settled in to the routine with minimal fuss. After the eight weeks, she looked great (I could not tell the difference), but I always think that. The reason I share this story is because of the powerful step my wife took before the fitness challenge. She told people (lots of them) who would hold her accountable and keep her committed to the goal (like the pig) rather than just involved (like the chicken), and she made a ‘Commitment to Action.’ This was a powerful motivator to keep her on track, because the very public declaration she made attracted both accountability and support that she might not have expected.
In a number of schools that I have the privilege of working with at Real Schools, it is around this time of the year that I check in with them to see how the restorative/relational goals that they have set are going.
The ‘Commitment to Action’ that they made was based on evidence and made early in the year. It was documented and shared among their various team members, so everyone had a role to play in ensuring that this goal was SMART (specific, measurable, agreed, realistic and timely). These schools are successful because not only does the team operate consistently, they have set up structures in the school that ensure that when goals are set, there is a process to check the progress of these goals and make timely adjustments as required. In addition, if they achieve or surpass these goals through their focused, dedicated and committed work, they celebrate these achievements as a staff and with their students. As a team at Real Schools we also celebrate this stuff big time.
Now is a great opportunity before report writing season is in full swing to reflect on the semester and the goals that you may have set. Some questions for you to consider:
- Did you achieve what you set out to or are you heading in the right direction?
- How do you know?
- What changes or adjustments do you need to make next semester to build on the success you have had?
- Who is going to support you to be successful?
If a few of your goals got lost in the general busyness of school this term, take a leaf out of my wife’s playbook and tell your colleagues what ambitious targets you have set for you and your students. You’ll be surprised how much support will come your way.
Inspired by my wife, and with the Push Up Challenge just around the corner, I have signed up with my son to take on this challenge. 3000 odd push ups to raise funds for men’s health. Man boobs? Yes. Commitment to Action? Well, I just told all of you!
What can you commit to that will be more achievable if you tell your tribe?
