At our first administrative meeting in August, 2010, our Superintendent shared a video entitled “Seeing Red Cars.” That video helped me rethink what I focus on and helped me to maintain a positive focus in my work.
Here's the metaphor: You buy your dream car and it happens to be red. Suddenly you see red cars everywhere you look. Why? Because you're focusing on red cars. And as workplace dynamics and change expert Laura Goodrich points out, you get more of whatever you focus on. The problem in life is we unconsciously focus more on what we fear and are trying to avoid than on what we want to have happen. Her positive-outcomes mindset helps you deflect thoughts of what you don't want and get more of everything you do - for yourself and your organization.
A positive focus can’t be truer during our current trying economic times. A change in focus was important for our district as we had just reduced our budget by $18 million, closed 4 elementary buildings, redistricted our elementary and middle school boundaries and reconfigured our learning environments. With the number of changes that were occurring, our district thought that this video should be shared with building staff to help to lead the change in our organization and be seen as a reminder of what our important work is, the education of the pupils of our district, not about the change that had already occurred. The importance of student achievement is our focus.
The energy from this video has been seen throughout the buildings that I have visited. Many of the staff have embraced the changes that have occurred within the last year and are truly focusing their energy where it needs to be. As an administrative team we have discussed all of the “issues” arising from all the change, but in practice in the buildings, the real work is being done and the students are thriving.
Three steps in the video to aid in a positive focus include:
- Make a commitment to focus on what you want, say what you want and stay positive.
- Monitor yourself by being aware, catching yourself in the moment and celebrating success.
- Practice by being persistent, writing down what you want to focus on and to picture it.
If we focus on what we want to happen, it will help to relieve some of the stress that we have in our jobs. We need to understand that we cannot fix the outside influences which extend to community members, the legislature, the governor or negative people whatever their role. We can however, direct our personal and professional energies on what we want to happen. It has never been more evident that change is coming (or shall I say here!!!), but if we keep our positive focus we can do what is best for ourselves and for our districts.
Seeing Red Cars – Laura Goodrich, corporate trainer, coach, consultant and speaker
www.seeingredcars.com/