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5 Stages of Change
When we look at the 4 Disciplines of Execution laid out below, we our looking back to our 6 sources of influence and how we are going to implement our change, (WIG). In other words we are planning our execution for change, not just planning strategies or what we wish to happen of we just show people the facts. The Influencer strategy and 4dX strategies work hand in hand on helping us to focus our change!
Stage 1: Getting Clear
We lay the groundwork for execution of our 4dX strategy. We make final preparations, adopting language, score cards, who is responsible for each piece, rewards, and meeting times. Review examples, helpful websites, scripts, and what we want each student’s ePortfolio to include, (not what it should look like). Time to ramp it up and execute!
Stage 2: Launch
This is the moment we have been planning for. Time to launch. We immerse ourselves in the WIG. It is an intensive time of controlling the whirlwind to achieve our goals. Use early adopters and models of behavior to encourage resisters. Keep up the sense of urgency and excitement as we near the tipping point.
Stage 3: Adoption
At this point we should be at or over the tipping point of change. If not, review our strategies, provide help to those lagging behind. Keep in mind that “people are not stupid or lazy, they are busy.”, (McChesney, 2012). Provide help, assistance and coaching to those that need it.
Stage 4: Optimization
Are we winning? If not, lets adjust! Our lead measures should be influencing our lag measure. If not, look at the lag measures, are they correct? Make adjustments as required. Streamline the process for the 16.5% that resist everything. Evaluate the scoreboard regularly. We should be at the point of stepping back and beginning to look at the next set of goals in our plan for ePortfolios.
Stage 5: Habits
As these tasks become part of our routine, in other words, ‘habits’, we know that we are ready for the next phase in our innovation plan. When something is a habit, it is like muscle memory. We can perform tasks without needing to think of every step in the process. We should see our initial goals for implementation and capitalize on success for the next stage, leading change and innovation in our districts. Nothing persuades others as much as success. We will have early adopters from other departments looking for guidance on change in their classrooms.
4 Disciplines of Execution
- Focus: Our Wildly Important Goal, (WIG), is the implementation of ePortfolios in CTE classes. To get started we are focusing on 2 goal areas. A. Teacher ePortfolios B. Student ePortfolios. Each area complements the other. As teachers we need to lead our classes by example with our own work.
- Execution of Lead Measures. The lead measures will change each quarter. At first it will be the set up and creation of the framework for ePortfolios. Lead measures will be creation, framework and personalization. By the end of the first quarter they will be blogging and posting of written work. 3rd quarter the leads will be project based learning and assignments for core classes.
3. Keeping a Score Card. We will be Tracking LAG measures and lead measures in easy to see and understand score cards using pie graphs. For the first quarter we will be tracking ePortfolio creation vs completion. 2nd quarter we will be tracking ePortfolios updated and percentage of assignments and blogging in the portfolio.
4. Create a Cadence of Accountability. Meetings will occur during monthly professional development or, if we remain on a shortened Friday schedule next year, bi-weekly on Fridays. We will update each other on our progress, goals for the following weeks, and update the score card,
References:
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals. New York, NY: Free Press.