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In my view: Mike Stevenson, Thinktastic - A time to rediscover simple ambition
By Mike Stevenson, Thinktastic
Does your school speak with a collective ambition? Does it shout about its values? What characteristics do you want students to develop?
Each of us is driven by a future in which we see ourselves as better and happier. The New Economic Foundation lists five ways to well-being: be active, connect, take notice, keep learning, and give.
In essence this is what we all individually strive for. Wise organisations like Google and Innocent smoothies developed winning cultures based on these principles. By involving staff and customers in creating ideas to inspire, it develops shared values that recognises, stimulates, stretches and rewards all involved.
"A PC on every desk and in every home." Microsoft's founding vision. Audacious? Yes! But who is laughing now? Google's vision: "To organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful." Both these companies were founded with a clear purpose and supportive internal culture to drive their ambitious visions.
As businesses adopt attitudes that provoke great achievement and success, rather than 'managing expectations', surely this is the evolving attitude that should be adopted within schools? Imagine if a 10-year-old Chris Hoy's dream of becoming an Olympic gold medal cyclist had been shattered, rather than supported.
We know enthusiastic teachers inspire enthusiastic learners. Cynicism is corrosive and unconstructive. Abandoning unhelpful attitudes is a challenge, but it can be done.
How can we inspire staff and pupils to develop a clear and simple vision? Involve the whole school in defining a unique personality and clear role in raising and meeting personal and community aspirations. A great school encourages staff and pupils to keep learning and developing. By using their own language to create their vision of the future it resonates with them and provides a confident voice for all involved.
In economic uncertainty, it is time to take stock and become self-reliant is a way no Government directive can dictate. Let's rise above the knee-jerk response of saying, 'no,' and instead look for opportunities, rediscovering that gold nugget of human resourcefulness.
Let's go forward and rediscover simple values and the power of great ambition when it is implemented in our schools to make them great. As the Buddest saying, that resonates strongly with me says, "The wise understand the complexity, but only the wisest find the simplicity."