The Cardinal Way
Sharing the Stories of Southport High School
Leading and Learning: WHAT DO YOU CONTRIBUTE?
Four types of people exist in any organization -- the cynics, the compliant, the committed, and the compelled. Each of these people produces a different level of energy. Let's think about each of those people.
The Cynics
As Jon Gordon puts it, the cynics are energy vampires. They not only produce negative energy for themselves, but they also spread that negative energy to other people. They look to pull people to their negative way of thinking because it is easier to blame, complain, or defend our behaviors than it is to push into an area of discomfort and find ways to solve severe problems.
The Compliant
The compliant come in each day and check the boxes. They do just enough to get by and operate mostly on auto-pilot. The compliant are more focused on managing others' perception of them than they are in doing the work that is needed. While they do not produce negative energy like the cynics, the compliant are very susceptible to the cynics way of thinking. Cynics attack the most accessible people to pull to their side; those people are the compliant. Cynics love company, and the compliant are the easiest ones to be swayed to their negative way of thinking.
The Committed
The committed do their job, and they do it well. They take responsibility for the work and do it in alignment with expectations. They logically believe in the work that they do and do their best to try to accomplish set goals. But, the committed tend to keep their good work to themselves. While they are not “me” focused like the cynics, their good work does not push their colleagues to be better. The committed perform at their talent level, but often struggle to push past their comfort zone.
The Compelled
These are the energy givers. They believe to their core in the work they are trying to accomplish. While the committed tend to work from the head, the compelled work from the heart. They are willing to lean into discomfort to move past their current abilities and build new ones. People naturally want to be around the compelled because the compelled make others better.
So in looking at these four types of people, we move from those who produce negative energy to those who produce positive energy. As we think about what we contribute, ask yourself, do you bring negative, neutral, or positive energy to the situation? Wherever you feel like you fall on this continuum, you must realize your school or classroom will never surpass the level of energy that you bring each day.
More about these four types of people and the energy they bring -or take- from an organization will come through as we work through February. Wherever you are starting, do everything you can in the weeks to come to move up the continuum. The energy you bring matters more than anything else you do.
What it takes to #BeACardinal:
- our School Counselors for spending at day at the middle school and hosting our 8th grade parent night this week.
- our EL teachers, Interpreters, and Instructional Coaches for all their work with giving WIDA tests this week.
Grateful Friday Challenge
Week 23 Grateful Friday Challenge
Another Friday... another week in the books. We are sitting here on the second Friday in February -- which also happens to be the Friday between Groundhog’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Next week we will think about spreading some love this week let’s focus on Phil!
Remember that movie? What a laugh! Poor Phil - stuck in the same day, over and over. But as the days go on, Phil decides to spend his time trying to make a difference in the outcome of his day and the day of many others with whom he comes into contact.
He lives, and he learns. He tries, and he tries again. He makes mistakes; he fixes them; he runs into people from all over the community; he learns all about Punxsutawney. More importantly, he learns about himself.
Sometimes, during this time of year, we might feel like we are living in our own personal Groundhog Day movie. We might start feeling the drain of the winter months and wishing for spring, and warmth, to hurry up and get here. But, think about all the lessons we would miss, for ourselves and our students if we approach every day as if it’s the same as the one before.
We have the opportunity to come in every day and make a difference. We live with a schedule and pattern, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t break the mold and learn, grow, and make a difference daily.
Today, your #SHSGFC is to see the wonder in the routine - look at people differently, see new ways to solve an old problem. Begin to form a relationship with someone you don’t connect with easily. Have a conversation about a severe issue with colleagues, and instead of thinking it can’t be fixed - approach it with the attitude of what can we do to fix it? Take a minute to search for a new way to present the information you are talking about next week. Recognize that every day, even ones that seem to be on automatic pilot during this time of year, is a great day to be a part of someone’s chance at bettering their life.
And as you can see in this year’s remake of the Groundhog’s Day Super Bowl commercial, every day is a new day to try something new and make new connections -- even when in the same place with the same people!
With banners flying as we go! #FlyAsONE
Be a Cardinal; Change lives; Put a mission into motion!
180 Days of Learning -- #CardsLearn
Chris Sponsler
Cathee Cullison
8th Grade Parent Night
Andrew Frey
Joe Leonard
Educational Humor
Southport High School
Email: bknight@perryschools.org
Website: http://perryschools.org/sh/
Location: 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: 317-789-4800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SHSCardinals/
Twitter: @SHS_Cardinals