The most common mistakes leaders make crafting a vision
Danny Bauer ??????
I help Former Educator Founders Build Legendary Businesses ????♂??? Friend to Ruckus Makers ?????? 3x Best Selling Author ?? TOP 0.5% Podcast Host???
It’s very easy to make mistakes when crafting your school vision.
And it’s not your fault.
That’s because you’ve only been shown the wrong way …
Or at best … the mediocre way of doing things.
But since you are a Ruckus Maker, I know you want to do something REMARKABLE.
Which is exactly why I created the Remarkable Vision Formula.
Today I want to talk about common mistakes though. That's because if you are aware of them, you won’t make them.
Or if you’ve made this mistake in the past, you’ll stop.
So here are 8 of the most common vision mistakes I’ve seen working with 100s of school leaders just like you.
Mistake #1 – You include everyone too early in the process
Yesterday I wrote about this as well. If you missed it, here’s why including everyone at first is a bad idea …
Since that was review material, let’s keep things moving …
Mistake #2 – But don’t do it all yourself
Yes, it is a mistake to include your people too early in the process.
And it’s also a mistake to be a maverick, and never include them in the process at all.?
After you draft your Remarkable Vision, bring it to your leadership team, then departments or grade levels, then the entire staff, and then the community.
Along the way collect feedback to improve your draft and represent the new vision until you hear these words …
“You got it.”
Mistake #3 – Playing it safe
Safe is not inspiring.
And that’s tragic because your people want to be inspired.
Be edgy.?
Make a bet on yourself, but most importantly bet on your students and staff.
They will rise to your expectations.
Mistake #4 – One sentence that fits on your favorite coffee mug
Play-It-Safe-Principals create a vision statement which they print on their favorite coffee mug or tee shirt.
It’s easily forgettable, unoriginal, and uninspiring. The trifecta for suck.
Ruckus Makers create a Remarkable Vision – a multi page document they are proud to show off …
Would never fit on a poster, mug, or shirt …
And actually guides the work of the school!
Mistake #5 – A statement, not a story.
This builds on Mistake #4.?
A vision statement is forgettable, unoriginal, and uninspiring …
But a Remarkable Vision is like a “vision story” for your community.
Stories entertain, motivate, and inspire.
People LISTEN when you say “Let me tell you a story …”
Communities are proud to tell their story and what makes them special.
Vision work is difficult work.
Easier when shared through story.
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Mistake #6 – Littered with jargon
Avoid these words and phrases:
It’s unoriginal and cliche.
99% of schools will have a vision statement that combines some version of the words in this list.?
Do you want to be like every other average school?
Or do you want to do what the TOP 1% do?
Mistake #7 – Too student centered
Students are at the core of everything school related.
And they should be.
My point here is that if you forget about your students your staff will feel like they don’t matter.
Your staff cares about only two things:
If you forget your staff they will revolt.?
But if your staff is seen and heard …
If they feel VALUED …
They’ll do anything you want them to for kids.
My friend Fran McGreevy used to tell his staff that he was so honored to be the principal because he felt that he “walked among gods and goddesses.”
He wasn’t being weird or overly spiritual. He was showing a high regard for his staff – who sure worked hard for kids.
Mistake #8 – Unrealistic and out-of-touch
If 10% of your 8th grade graduates read at grade level last year, expecting that 100% of 8th grade graduates will read at grade level this year is unrealistic.
Phrases like “every kid, every day” or “all means all” works for politicians and consultants because it sounds good.?
And if that kind of change was possible, you would see a whole lot more of it.
But you don’t see it because it’s wildly unrealistic.
I’m a leadership coach so I pride myself on telling you the truth. Even if it hurts.
Don’t get me wrong, the work is urgent and YES our students deserve better.
So make continuous improvement. Build upon that. Your staff will not only ADORE you for the breath of fresh air …
The hard work and progress needed will be sustainable.
I’m on a personal hot button issue, so let me say just a bit more about Mistake #8 …
If you are an “all means all” kinda principal …
And your staff does the hard work and teaches more effectively …
Meaning, 25% of? your next wave of 8th grade grads now read at grade level.
How do you think they’re going to feel when they fall short of 100%?
But how should they feel after making 150% progress?
Like garbage??
Heck no! They should be proud of those gains!
Ready to create your “Remarkable Vision”?
I’m hosting a 2-day virtual event (October 7-8) that will help you immediately create your very own Remarkable Vision for their school.