Many educators share they want to grow, learn and get better. As the learning experiences must rapidly change to meet the needs of students, this is a critical element of educators in successful schools. However, the question remains “how does someone grow or learn the right way that will lead to sustained excellence”? I was inspired by a podcast by John Maxwell and wanted to share his insights with you and add my perspectives as well.
The podcast shared how it is critical that we are focused on being Growth Conscious and not Goal Focused. Yes, it is still important to have goals but being Growth Conscious allows for consistent growth over time. Here is a quick overview of why educators should be growth conscious:
| Goal Focused | Growth Focused | |
| Focus on | Destination | The Journey |
| Motivate | People | Mature and Shape People |
| Goals are… | Seasonal | Lifelong |
| When goal is reached we…. | Stop growing because we reached the end | We change the focus and continue to challenge ourselves |
Here is what I learned by listening to the podcast from my perspective:
- It is important to focus on the process and being reflective upon our work. We do not learn from experiences but rather we learn from reflecting upon the experience. John Maxwell shared that in many instances leaders “overestimate the event and underestimate the process”. This resonated with me as, just like student learning, the importance is the process and how we overcame obstacles and innovate to be successful.
- Growth is not automatic so learners must set aside time intentionally for this purpose. Too often, administrators or other ed. Leaders will get a job and think they have “arrived”. They stop learning and reflecting. As a result, they stop growing their skillset – both within their position and their profession. Leaders must take time to reflect, connect with others and innovate on “what do I need to get better at and what resources will get me there”.
- Growth is what separates those who are successful and those who are not. It takes time to grow and in many cases is not directly observable on a day-to-day basis. However, learners recognize the importance of growing and as they do they become more evaluative of their skills that allows for accelerated growth.
- Learners who are growth conscious develop an awareness of what they need to grow. This includes identifying what people to connect with, listening to podcasts, books to read and events that stimulate growth.
- Leaders grow daily. Leaders who are growth conscious set aside time daily for reflective practices and time for growth. They recognize that they only grow through challenges and take those situations as opportunity to grow.
I am curious how you grow as a learner and what this looks like in your role as a leader. Reach out to me with comments at leadlearnerperspectives@gmail.com
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