The Four Disciplines of Execution

 

As we begin to understand the best way to execute our Innovation Plan: Blended Learning: Personalizing the Future of Education. We must strategically implement The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) by McChesney, et al., which provides a roadmap with a step-by-step proven strategy that can help execute our innovation plan.

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The 4DX strategy includes: 

1. Focusing on the wildly important goal.

2. Acting on the lead measures.

3. Keeping a compelling scoreboard.

4. Creating a cadence of accountability.

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DISCIPLINE 1: Focus on the Wildly Important Goal

It is common knowledge that the more things we try to do at the same time, the less we actually get to accomplish. This is especially true when the whirlwind of our daily grind robs us of the focus we need in order to execute organizational change. By channeling our focus into one goal, our wildly important goal (WIG), we get to put top-notch effort forward.

 

Our WIG

By May 2023, K-5 reading and dyslexia teachers at Victor Fields Elementary School will have implemented a blended learning instructional model with personalized and targeted instruction that will lead to higher engagement and student achievement in order to create self-directed, lifelong learners.

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DISCIPLINE 2: Act on Lead Measures

According to McChesney, et al., (2012), lag measures track the measurements of our wildly important goal. They include measures such as revenue, profit, customer satisfaction, etc. On the other hand, lead measures measure new behaviors that will drive success. This includes the daily and weekly predictive behaviors that can be influenced by our team. Although the lag measures are ultimately the most important things we are trying to accomplish, we must use lead measures as key leverage points for achieving our goal  (McChesney, et al., 2012).

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Lag Measure:

Due to the pandemic and our outdated traditional instructional model currently in place, an outstanding number of students are disengaged in the learning and have fallen far below grade level.  Our LAG Measure will target student growth and achievement. 

 

We will increase student growth and achievement for all K-5 reading and dyslexia students from their current instructional level to at grade level or above by May 2023. 

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Lead Measures: 

Our lead measures will include daily and weekly prescriptive behaviors that our team can influence. They will be the key leverage points for achieving our LAG Measure and WIG. 

 

• Reading and Dyslexia teachers will implement a blended learning instructional model by incorporating self-paced adaptive programs, collaborative group work, and targeted teacher-led small group instruction at least three times a week.

• Teachers will collaboratively analyze data from self-paced, adaptive programs weekly in order to create small group lessons based on students' specific needs.

• The Blended Learning Implementation Team will monitor student engagement by checking adaptive program usage and growth reports every Thursday in order to incorporate into the scoreboard. 

• Students will fill out a Google Form weekly where they can rate their engagement, and collaboration, and reflect on what is working and what needs adjustments. 

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DISCIPLINE 3: Keep a Compelling Scoreboard

A couple of years ago our administrators decided that they wanted us to step out of our comfort zones and try new and engaging instructional strategies created by Lead4Ward, a Texas-based educational support service provider. It was not until they created a competition with a scoreboard that the engagement skyrocketed in this initiative. Teachers were not only learning new instructional techniques but were also implementing highly engaging strategies that otherwise they might not have tried.  According to McChesney, et al., (2012), the highest level of performance always comes from people who are emotionally engaged and the highest level of engagement comes from knowing the score. 

Our goal is to increase engagement and showcase continued progress and growth by creating a compelling scoreboard that is simple, can easily be seen, shows the lead and lag measures, and can easily be understood.  

 

Examples:

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DISCIPLINE 4: Create a Cadence of Accountability

Unless we consistently hold each other accountable, our goal will naturally disintegrate in the whirlwind (McChesney, et al., 2012). In order to create a cadence of accountability and avoid the disintegration of our wildly important goal, we will have weekly regular WIG meetings to share feedback, reflections, usage reports, and growth and progress reports. During these quick and direct meetings, we will not only share commitments, successes, and failures, but we will also review the scoreboard and discuss any movements of our lead and lag measures. We will use the data collected to plan ahead and clear the path to make new commitments as needed. 

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5 Stages of Change

Even with a well-established roadmap for executing our Innovation Plan as 4DX has provided, initiating change is hard, especially when people are asked to step out of their comfort zones. We must be prepared to face the challenges and the resistance that comes with changing human behavior in order to be successful. By going through the 5 Stages of Change as communicated in The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) written by McChesney, et al., we can make certain that change occurs within our organization and that the change will be long-lasting. 

 

Stage 1: Getting Clear

Commit to a new level of performance and work as a team.

• Focus on the WIG: 100% usage of blended learning model in reading and dyslexia classrooms by May 2023.

• Identify lead measures: (implementing blended learning instructional model at least 3 times per week, usage of adaptive digital program, reflection, collaboration, feedback, growth)

• Create our scoreboard to track lead and lag measures. (updated weekly; display in reading classrooms, dyslexia classrooms, and PLC room)

• Plan and hold regular weekly WIG sessions. (Thursdays during the scheduled conference time)

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Stage 2: Launch

Fight the whirlwind, quick team huddle…READY? SET. GO!!!

• As leaders, we will be hyper-focused with high energy.

• We will faithfully and diligently implement the 4DX process.

• We will identify the model teachers who will be the most engaged and our top performers, the resistors who will visibly fight the change and push back, and those that might struggle and need extra guidance.

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Stage 3: Adoption

Expect resistance to fade and enthusiasm to increase!

• Focus on consistently adhering to the process, then the results. (Growth > Mastery)

• During weekly WIG sessions, make commitments and keep each other accountable.

• Update the scoreboard weekly. 

• Make changes and adjustments collaboratively as needed.

• Provide additional training, support, and guidance for potential model teachers.

• Be respectful but direct and straightforward with resistors when addressing any issues.

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Stage 4: Optimization

The team is shifting to a 4DX mindset. Expect more engagement 

as results are making a difference.

• Be open-minded and encourage team ideas for moving lead measures forward.

• Celebrate successes (digital award badges, shout-outs)

• Encourage and celebrate team players who inspire and lift each other up.

• Recognize struggling teachers as their performance grows and they begin to become successful. (special shout outs) 

 

Stage 5: Habits

A culture of excellent execution has been created! 

Goal accomplished!

• Celebrate the accomplishment of the WIG. (Grand gesture!)

• Create a new WIG and identify lead measures immediately.

• Help the team become high performers by moving the middle. 

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The 4 Disciplines of Executing and the Influencer Model

Although The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) and the Influencer Model are structured differently, they complement each other very well. Both models have a result or goal in mind that they strive to accomplish. The Influencer Model has the Desired Results and 4DX has the Wildly Important Goal. Similarly, they also have prescriptive behaviors (Vital Behaviors and Lead Measures) that will lead to accomplishing those results or goals. They also both measure results, motivate or influence change, and hold people accountable in one way or another.

By using both processes we can ensure not only to influence the emotion behind the change but also to execute change with specific proven steps despite the whirlwind of our hectic daily lives. We will use both processes to create lasting behavior change among teachers and staff in order to reach higher levels of engagement and student achievement within our organization.

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References:

Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: the new science of leading change.

      New York: McGraw-Hill Education.

 

McChesney, C., Covey, S., & Huling, J. (2012). The 4 disciplines of execution: achieving your wildly important goals. New

     York, NY: Free Press.

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