In our daily lives, we connect with and chat with family, friends, co-workers, peers, a barista, etc. regularly. Ask them how they are doing and chances are you’ll here “Great, but busy” or some variation. Busy. We’re all busy. Work, grad school, choir practice, appointments, packing lunches, cooking dinner, and so on. In all of our lives, the whirlwind is ever present and intense. And not just one whirlwind, but specific whirlwinds in specific places. We have work whirlwinds and personal life whirlwinds. Ever try to juggle multiple projects, initiatives, tasks, etc. at once while simultaneously introducing new programs and goals? The key to success is to focus on one new idea at a time. There are more good ideas out there than can be implemented. Sometimes, we have to say no to good ideas, because executing something well means intense focus. The more the focus splits, the less intense it becomes, until eventually it’s completely ineffective. So, let’s change the world, one idea at a time.
In my innovation plan, I want to work with the IPET CTE students to create blended learning experiences for their mentor campuses. But why? Is that the goal? Is that where I stop? Ultimately, I want my innovation plan to spur changes in the pilot teachers' classrooms. When the IPET students are gone, does the blended learning stick around? In order for this change to become significant and real, my ideas have to be shared and “I” becomes “we” as a group of influencers come together to form a team! The instructional technology team, instructional coaches/specialists, content coordinators and the pilot teachers all have to join forces and work in unison to achieve a shared wildly important goal.
4DX and Influencer: BFF’s on a tandem bicycle
Is one model superior to the other or do the 4DX and Influencer model work in tandem? The 4DX focus on strategy to move an organization and the Influencer focus on impacting behavior and ultimately heart are a combination that I intend to bring to my organization. The influencer desired result is my deeply personal WIG. However, now that I am looking at the bigger organization instead of my little idea silo, team input is required to be sure the WIG is something everyone is ready to run with. The WIG is the target at all costs, even amongst the whirlwind. The WIG must be a challenge everyone is ready to accept and believes they can conquer!
With lots of thought and reflection, I realized that vital behaviors lead to lead measures. It’s not a perfect copy and paste alignment, but the influencer model definitely sparked the lead measures. The vital behaviors lay the groundwork to take the next steps with 4DX. With the influencer model, we evaluated behaviors that can lead to change and then leverage those behaviors into systematic change by installing 4DX.
In both models, measurement is a key piece to be able to evaluate progress. It’s easy to say “things seem to be working” but data is necessary to truly understand if there is forward movement toward change. I read a post on social media recently that basically said data should be a flashlight and not a hammer. Measurements shine the light on what is happening and that helps us to steer our next moves. Measurements are not meant for “gotcha” moments, but instead are designed to be shared so that everyone knows where the team is headed and if everyone is supporting the movement. With accountability also comes the skill of sharing fine tuned abilities and asking for help. If a flashlight shows that Teacher A is struggling in practice, Teacher B might be able to share some tips and strategies that have helped them be successful and in turn, begin to change the scoreboard for Teacher A.
Want a little more information on 4DX?
How about the Influencer Model?
References
Franklin Covey. (2016, Dec. 29). The 4 disciplines of execution in a nutshell. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/aEJDliThj7g
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change: 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education
McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution. New York, NY: Free Press
VitalSmarts. (2017, July 24). Influencer training: The Menlo story. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/BSqKRv8ZwFM
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