Rules to Live By

One of my biggest complaints about systems and people is lack of consistency. I often think this happens because decisions are made based on emotion opposed to a common ground. I hate the word rule, because it will implies it should work for everyone and every scenario, but our reflection this week allowed us to reflect on some rules to live by. I came up with several I try to live by and I will share a couple that I hope I am able to pass on to my children.

1. This one has developed over time and is probably the hardest - make every decision based on what is the right thing to do, not on what is the easy thing to do.

2. Everyone has something important to them to say. It may not be priority to you but it is to them so listen.

3. Be sure you can always look into the mirror and be proud of what is looking back at you - a person of integrity.

4. Keep a smile on your face

5. Always be a parent first - they have enough friends.

Some are much easier to follow all the time - others not so much. I feel like these live rules need to be somewhere visible, like my personal mission, to remind me more often.

I am thinking these rules are somewhat fluid but not completely. I think they reflect my inner core values, but I know as I grow both professionally and as a parent I learn more and may add or change some things.

ta ta for now.

Krista

The things we like to do

When asked to look at and rank the things we like to do, how often we do them, and what gets in the way it was a real eye opener. Not only do we not do enough of the things we like in our personal time, usually because of work, I found that in work related tasks we don't get around to doing the real leadership and growth activities because of administrivia. Balance is the key word in both venues, and just how to find that balance is vital to longevity and happiness both at home and at work.

I am a person who runs by a schedule. What do the kids have, what time will supper need to be made etc., so I am thinking that my tool to fit the enjoyable things at work and at home is the plain out schedule them it. My VP at work said he found it necessary to put things in the calendar to hold himself to it or else there will always be something that comes up to take you away from it. I am going to try that method at home for now, and later at work and try to let anything (unless it is an emergency) interfere with that schedule.

I guess in a round about way this relates back to planning as well and being sure that what we set out to accomplish is important enough from the beginning to enough people, that nothing will come up that seems more of priority throughout the year and get in the way of attainment.

Curious to hear what Larry has to say.

krista

School Planning

Well I feel somewhat embarrassed after looking at the MB school planning document. I feel that I have been planning well and that our school has accomplished many things over the past few years, but there are some steps from the document that I am not sure have been done well. I think sometimes there are directives from both the provincial and local bodies that have driven our plan and other years there has been a specific need in the school that has directed where we were headed. Data and its collection and use is a real struggle for me. What to collect, how to collect it, and then what to do with it is something I could use a course on. I also think restructuring the school planning committee to encompass more staff would help as then there are several people to assist in areas as opposed to being to sole person engaging in collecting, compiling etc.

This leads into this weeks reflective activity, time and where does it go. I am so going to do this activity again when I am back at work, because a day disappears and often it feels that nothing has been accomplished but a lot has been done that is important. So far at home it feels the same, but looking back at the chart it is amazing how much you really do in a day. I guess the reality is that sometimes the things we doing isn't exactly what we had set out to do that day. Too often throughout a day things come our way that we have no control over but have to be addressed. This then pushes other things off and then we don't feel like we have enough time. I liked a suggestion about emails from our course the other night, the three d's (delegate, deal with it or delete). Going to try this as well.

Until next time....