What is your definition of success? In today’s data driven world, professional learning networks (teams) work to reach pre-arranged goals. Many educators believe success is defined by achieving these pre-arranged goals. Hitting target goals, such as; raising literacy scores by 2% or increasing the graduation rate by 1%, is how some educators define their success. I have some concerns with this concept.
First, let me explain my definition of success. Success is knowing you and your team did the very best possible. A team is successful when its best effort is delivered, no matter the final result.
Pre-determined goals should be treated as road signs that guide our best efforts instead of benchmarks that judge our performance. Student outputs whether they surpass pre-determined goals, or not, are really just by-products of the more important goal; the formation and evolution of an effective team that works to their highest potential to improve student learning.
I believe a team that does not achieve their “pre-determined student output” can still feel success. There are so many uncontrollable factors in the greyness of education. How can we be responsible for achieving goals when so many factors are out of our control? This belief is not an excuse to not try. On the contrary, I believe teams are formed so positive work can be accomplished that improves student learning thus creating a learning culture for everyone within a school district.
I believe a team should not be deemed unsuccessful if they fall short of their intended goal(s). When a team collaborates with the intent to learn and improve student learning and they do so to the best of their abilities they have achieved great success.
Success is measured by the quality of the journey not by final destination.
How do you define success in your professional life?
