If you had asked me at the beginning of the summer what I thought it would be like, it would have been the exact opposite of what actually transpired. However, I do feel as though that is a common trend in my life. My friends often ask me if I’ll ever slow down, and my response is typically a sarcastic response akin to, “I thrive in chaos.” I think that the 4 Disciplines of Execution model (4DX) provides me with a chance to actually make that response valid.
In the Executive Overview video, it was stated that “The enemy of the great is the good”. I really connected with this quote, as it allowed me to reflect on so many of the programs and initiatives I’ve participated in over the years. How many of these programs, if using the 4DX model, would have moved up a level? I also really like the explanation of how to write a strong W.I.G.- “x to y by when”. This helped me to really think about my outcomes when drafting my own plan this week.
Another part of the video/book that I really enjoyed was the phrase “cadence of accountability”. In my district, we have about 4 meetings (as a school) per month. We have time in our schedules weekly to meet as grade levels. Yet, this phrase made me think deeply about what we are actually doing during those meetings. I can’t recall when the last time we sat down really examined our progress in meeting our goals. I think it would be amazing to have such a focus during a meeting. It would really allow for crucial “just-in-time” planning to ensure that our goal is on track for success. As the Jim Rohn quote said, “We all experience the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” I would much rather my organization experience the pain of discipline.
As I worked on my assignment this week, I really enjoyed spending time looking at the difference between lead and lag measures. They reminded me of the K’nex figurines I’ve been taking apart in preparation for the arrival of my new students in the coming weeks. The lag measure is the ultimate goal or the figure the students are constructing. The lead measures are all the smaller, interconnected shapes or figures students build and later join together to create the final product. It is much easier to identify and fix mistakes in the smaller builds than inside the finished product. That is why spending time reviewing the smaller measures, even once a week, enables a large-scale success.
Below is the plan for installing the 4DX model in my own district. While I’m sure that it will change with the team’s input in a few weeks, I think it is important to have a plan.
References
Covey, S., McChesney, C., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution: Achieving your wildly important goals. Great Britain: Simon and Schuster.
FranklinCovey. (2012, April 19). Executive overview of the 4 disciplines of execution. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/the4DX.
Caleigh Heenan 