The beginning of the school year often brings positive energy for a new beginning to the educational journey. Developing a strong start to the school year, a new job, or a leadership position requires a certain level of systematic strategy. It’s important to develop a foundation on which the rest of the process will unfold. Here are five ways to create the foundation for a strong start:
- Establish the Standard: Creating a strong start requires developing a shared set of standards for everyone to follow during the process. Because everyone must live to these standards, it’s critical to develop them as a group in order to create ownership over them. Great team cultures often develop a set of standards, share what they look like in action, and then agree to living those out. What is your process for developing shared standards?
- Build Positive Relationships: In order to develop a really strong start, it’s critical to immediately develop positive relationships with people. Relationships act as the foundation for everything else that happens moving forward. Learn about people, ask questions, show your human side, and create a strong bond. These relationships help when the year becomes challenging. How quickly and efficiently do you establish positive relationships?
- Evaluate the Dynamic: Whenever leaders encounter a new group of people to lead, it’s important to evaluate the dynamic of the people in the room. Some groups have a high-energy dynamic and others bring very little energy at all. The dynamic of the group drives the strategy for working with them. Great leaders can evaluate the group and then help them reach their larger goals based on what they need. How well do you evaluate and understand the group dynamic?
- Communicate Clearly: The beginning to any year or project requires very clear communication around anything that impacts people directly. Great leaders communicate the why, the what, and the how. Showing the group why they’re doing something helps support them with purpose. It’s also important to show them what they’re doing so they can plan for the future. The how revolves around the strategy that will help the team reach its goals. How clearly do you communicate the why, what, and how?
- Develop Shared Belief: The final aspects of creating an early start is developing a shared belief for everyone in the group. The belief can revolve around all being in it together, a larger vision for the future, or the promise of success. Reminding people of this shared belief helps sustain what’s required to reach the end goal. How consistently do you establish a shared belief?
The foundation for a strong start requires taking strategic action to help everyone understand the larger vision for success. Great leaders establish a standard that aligns with a shared belief for the future. Although many leaders skip steps in laying the foundation, in order to create a sustainable impact, then you can’t skip steps. Lay the foundation for long-term success early in the process.
How effectively do you develop the foundation for a strong start?