Don't Let Setbacks Set You Back

Sometimes, in the process of moving forward, there are setbacks. Disappointment is not really all that motivating, despite what people might say. It can feel more like a weight pulling you down. So, how do you re-group and get back on track?

As a leader, we have to set the tone, so we can't focus on the disappointment. We have to stay focused on what is working and the results that we are getting. When there is so much riding on the results of state assessments, it can be difficult to see the many things that contribute to overall growth, but purposefully calling out the things that are going well can help to redirect your focus away from feeling down and energize that positive thinking again.

Don't let a set back stop you from moving forward. Find a way to refine your focus and clarify your vision. Take inspiration from others who have been knocked down and gotten back up to experience great success. 

A major aspect of being a turnaround leader is looking for the early wins. Sometimes those early wins are not the things that you can see in state assessment scores - but they will make the space for that powerful academic achievement to happen. Without the significant changes that we experienced in culture and climate, we would not be able to make any academic gains. Without the shifts in belief that we have worked so hard to establish, we would not be able to build a culture of goal-setting and data analysis. Without the relentless commitment of our staff to the vision of our turnaround plan, we would not be able to see the kind of effective collaboration, data analysis, and instructional planning that we are seeing with our teams. And so, we won't focus on the disappointments of the day, but on the day when our students will achieve on level with others across the state and the country and we will know that the hard work, tears, sleepless nights, and deep commitment have all been worth it.