Using your GPS to manage your school

See my other posts about creating a GPS for your school.

Once you've followed my instructions for creating a GPS, then you need to follow it.  Here are some things that I've found helpful while hiking.

• Don't overuse the GPS.  Enjoy the hike.  

You don't need to look at the GPS all of the time.  You don't need to have it on all the time.  If things are OK.  Power it down.  Enjoy the scenery.  Take a few photographs.  Relax. 

In the same way, boards should use their monitoring mechanism for the strategic plan on a regular basis, but not try to monitor progress all of the time.  Some goals are longer term goals and do not need to be constantly monitored.  

• Use the GPS for essential course corrections

You don't have to change everything because of being off a little.  If you're taking fifteen minutes too long on a five hour hike, you probably don't need to start running or walking faster unless you need to be some place immediately after the hike.  On the other hand, if you have to finish by a certain time, then certainly hike faster, stop to take pictures less often. 

In the same way, if the school has some minor deficiencies compared to the strategic plan, don't over react.  AND agree with other board members or leaders on what the minor and major issues are.  I've seen boards spend a lot of board meeting time on minor issues.  The board chair needs to regulate this and be strong enough to NOT let that happen. 

• Use the GPS objectively

I can't imagine being on a hike and looking at my GPS that tells me I'm off course and then ignoring it.  In the same way do not rationalize differences between the strategic plan and the direction the school is going.  I've seen schools ignore warning signs because they don't want to believe they are real.  If a major goal of the plan is off track, then either do more investigating or find ways to get it back on track.  Resources are limited.  Denial is not a good way to manage an organization.  I'm not sure where he got it, but a friend of mine likes to say, "Hope is not a strategy."  Don't just hope things will get better.  Take actions that will make them better.

So, there you have it.  The end of my GPS analogy.  I hope that your school stays on course and gets home safely.