Move with Inspired Action

Change is hard. Change can be so hard, in fact, that we do everything in our purview to remain static, cycling, swirling--unmoved.

I think that often we don't even realize we are standing still. We make our lists, we make our plans, we have our conversations. We talk about "doing the thing" so much that we actually believe we are doing the thing.

But we aren't. The momentum energy of planning mixed with the frenetic energy of doubt keeps us stuck. Sometimes the fear of failure will anchor a team more than their desire to succeed.

Lately I am asking myself, "What role does inspiration play in our improvement?" I write and teach and talk a lot about systems, and while yes--structure and order and systems are critical--I'm not sure that collective efficacy can happen without our a common belief that we can.

I recently came upon the phrase "inspired action" when I was walking and listening to a podcast. When we believe that change is possible--we take inspired action. This action is different. This type of action is motivated by a belief in what is possible. In what we can imagine. In what we want to see. In how we want to live.

Inspired action happens every day in our schools and classrooms. There are pockets of teachers and staff who truly believe that they make a difference and that their actions impact student learning. Inspired action happens in entire buildings and districts when even larger groups of people choose to believe in their collective abilities to positively impact their students. And inspired action occurs when these same teams of educators believe that their students positively impact them.

Inspired action comes from within--and in truly impactful moments in time, it comes from a collective heart of the team. So, as a coach and consultant, I realize that I cannot create this belief in you or your team. I cannot create your inspired action, nor should I. It's my role to create my own inspired action--and bring my best to you. Because I believe in you--and I believe in your collective power.

Uninspired action is forced. Uncomfortable. Controlling. It's a going-through-the-motions to appease someone else...and it doesn't work.

This is an interesting balance when we talk about teams. Because often teams need more structure than they have--and certain structures will benefit them in the long run. And, sometimes the structures feel forced, controlling and uncomfortable. Some teams will breathe through the changes in structure to emerge more cohesive, confident, and inspired. Some will not.

Inspired action looks like a team who believes in their students. They see the potential, and they also work with reality. They look at results--and they have their students look at results, too. These teams know that success is possible, but only through honest conversations and inspired action.

And there is a certain level of confidence that is required for belief. When I'm not confident in something, I don't believe in it. I consider it, question it, mull it over in my mind...but I don't embrace it.

Inspired action requires confident belief of the team. I'm not saying this is easy to come by or easy to create. I can spot it when I see it, and usually we can all see it in the data. Confidence creates confidence, and success creates more success.

So how do we create inspired action in ourselves and in our teams? How do we create inspired action in our classrooms with our students?

To be honest, I don't know that I'm sure. I feel it has to do with trust. And I feel it has to do with connection. And I feel, when it comes down to it, it has to do with love.