- Remind everyone that our mission and values have not changed, but we can apply them in new contexts and new ways. We can discover together new routines and practices that remain consistent with who we are and what we value.
- Focus on where we are going and what we are committed to accomplishing, rather than looking back and relying on what used to be.
- Build new systems that reflect and support today’s work and challenges. The sooner everyone becomes accustomed to what the current situation demands, the sooner everyone will feel more comfortable and “normal.”
- Look for new practices and processes developed in the new context that can be carried forward, if and when we return to life that looks and feels more like a year ago than what we are experiencing today.
- Of course, forgive yourself for occasionally longing for the “old days.” But refuse to become preoccupied and paralyzed by what was.
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In Your Corner, Leadership and Change Management
Finding and Living in the New Normal
At some point in our lives, most of us relocated from one community to another, even if just temporarily, such as going off to college. At first everything seemed strange. Routines we used to take for granted no longer fit. Places we used to go are no longer available. We were often surrounded by new people who may not be exactly like those we left behind. In short, life felt like anything but normal.
Yet, before long we developed new routines. We found stores to buy what we needed, medical professionals to rely on, and other resources to bring stability to life. Even the people who once seemed so new became friends and coworkers. We adjusted to the “new normal.”
Our institutions, staff, students, and other stakeholders are experiencing something similar right now. In retrospect, life may have been hectic and stress-filled, but it was familiar and mostly predictable. Much of what we face now is new, unfamiliar, and uncertain.
Of course, we do not know if what we are experiencing will be temporary or become our more long-term new normal. Yet, how we think about what we are going through will make a significant difference in how and whether we adjust and how successful we will be in the coming months and beyond.
If our perspective is that we just need to hold on for a while and everything will return to normal, we are less likely to build strong, sustainable systems and acquire skills and habits that will ensure success in the current context. We risk becoming focused on just getting through rather than committing to success now.
The truth is that we cannot and will not ever go back to exactly how things were before the pandemic. We have confronted new challenges, crafted new solutions, and discovered problems and issues that existed previously, but were not recognized and addressed. We are different and so are members of our staff, our learners, our families and even our communities.
Rather than continuously “looking over our shoulders,” wishing for what was, we have a special opportunity to engage, embrace, and press forward in today’s reality. There is much to gain by treating what we are experiencing as the new normal: It is the new normal.
Stakeholders who are looking to us for insight, encouragement, priorities, and vision need us to help them embrace this new normal too. Instead of becoming stuck in what was, and may never be the same again, we need to help them thrive where they are. Here are some places to start:
In Your Corner, Teacher Learning
Six Questions to Get Beyond “How Are You Doing?”
We know that this is a time when we need to frequently check in with our staff to see what they are experiencing and how they are feeling. We also want to encourage and support them as they work their way through a very difficult set of professional challenges.
It is often not enough to simply ask, “How are you doing?” First, staff may not know if we are using the question as a casual greeting without an expectation that they really tell us what they are going through, or if we really are trying to understand what they are experiencing. Second, staff members may be reluctant to unload their concerns without a more specific inquiry, fearing that they will be perceived as whining and complaining. Third and as a result, we are not likely to gain consistent, useful information to inform our leadership. Fourth, without more specific guidance, what we hear is likely to be predominately negative even though there may be a lot of positive and insightful information that we need to hear.
Rather than defaulting to this habitual question, we can shift our inquiries to focus on elements and aspects of teachers’ experiences that reflect what they are going through, inform us, and are shareable and useful to others. In its place, here are six questions we can ask to learn how teachers are processing their experience. The answers we hear may also offer important insights, reinforcement, and humor to colleagues.
What hilarious or heart-warming situations have you encountered this fall? This question invites teachers to reflect on and appreciate the wonder of learners and learning and the delight they can bring to our lives, even under difficult circumstances.
What is one thing that has worked really well for you in the past two weeks? We can become trapped in negativity by focusing only on problems and challenges, when we are also experiencing important new learning and successes. The answer to this question can also offer insights and hope to colleagues who may be struggling with similar issues.
If you were to give one piece of advice or wisdom to your colleagues about the current situation, what would it be? This question invites teachers to think about what they have experienced, what they have overcome, what they have learned, and how others might find that information useful.
Who has gone above and beyond to help you since the year started? Here we give teachers an opportunity for a “shout out” to someone who has made a positive difference for them or their students as the new school year began. While we need to attend to problems, we also need to recognize those who have been key problem solvers.
What is your greatest hope for your students in the coming weeks? This question invites teachers to share their goals and reveal their thoughts about what they and their students are experiencing. We may hear about challenges and barriers to overcome, or we may hear about the path a teacher has constructed to ensure student success in the days ahead.
Who has given you the best advice this fall and what was it? This question speaks to what teachers have learned and who has supported them in their learning. The answers we hear can give us important insight about who is offering significant, informal leadership and making a meaningful difference for their colleagues.
Be ready to hear surprising and important responses from your staff. They will also give you a lot to think about and share.
Climate and Culture, In Your Corner
In Your Corner, Relationships and Connections
In Your Corner, Leadership and Change Management
Communication, In Your Corner, Planning
Share Your Tips & Stories
Share your story and the tips you have for getting through this challenging time. It can remind a fellow school leader of something they forgot, or your example can make a difficult task much easier and allow them to get more done in less time. We may publish your comments.
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