7 Reasons Why Documentation Is Still A Good Leadership Tool
by William Parker • • 0 Comments
This week I have spent a lot of time with to-do lists as well as pulling together with my team members to coordinate important end-of-school-year activities.
If you are leading a school, organization, or a team, you know the challenges of staying on track with the your seemingly endless list of to-do’s. You also know the importance of everyone being on the same page in reaching goals.
If you are leading a school, organization, or a team, you know the challenges of staying on track with the your seemingly endless list of to-do’s. You also know the importance of everyone being on the same page in reaching goals.
Whether it is end-of-the year procedures or mapping out enrollment, documentation is a simple tool that plays a strategic role in reaching goals.
Like the homing pigeon, it may sometimes seem an outdated tool, but here are 7 reminders of why documentation is still important for school leaders:
1. Maintaining a Clear Train-of-Thought
Because your decisions often involve a myriad of moving parts, note-taking helps you check your train of thought.
Because your decisions often involve a myriad of moving parts, note-taking helps you check your train of thought.
For instance, in a conversation on how to organize schedule pick-ups, I will purposely keep dates written in front of me or jot down the names of those who will be responsible for communicating with others.
The same works when I am questioning students in conflict.
As the number of moving pieces increases, creating visual cues for yourself through notes will help you stay focused on the most important points.
2. Summarizing Conclusions
If you are meeting with a team where delegation is an important follow-up, then writing those ideas down can keep a meeting on task and provide a way for everyone to know what policy or procedure changes may result from the conversation.
If you are meeting with a team where delegation is an important follow-up, then writing those ideas down can keep a meeting on task and provide a way for everyone to know what policy or procedure changes may result from the conversation.
When I recently met with our secretaries, counselors, and assistant principals to discuss our last ten contract days before they break for the summer, we listed over 20 immediate to-do’s.
Each of us left with an understanding of the big picture, and I followed up afterwards with a email reminder noting which person who would manage each task.
3. Visualizing Main Points, Pros, Cons, and Action Plans
As a decision-maker, it helps to “see” the ideas you are discussing. Whether that is in the form of a list, or simply forcing yourself to put7 Reasons Why Documentation Is Still A Good Leadership Tool | Connected Principals:
As a decision-maker, it helps to “see” the ideas you are discussing. Whether that is in the form of a list, or simply forcing yourself to put7 Reasons Why Documentation Is Still A Good Leadership Tool | Connected Principals: