1. Know Your
WHY.
We all know WHAT we do. We teach, counsel, register, consult, lead,
and the list goes on. We know HOW we
do it. We offer unconditional positive
regard, advocate for equity, and problem-solve. But WHY do we do it?
In Simon
Sinek's book, "Start with Why," it is not just WHAT we do or HOW we do
it that matters. It is WHY we do it that defines us and inspires
others. Our WHY is our belief. Sinek points out that Apple has clearly
defined their WHY, "to challenge
the status quo and to empower the individual" (Sinek, 2009,p. 431). Their WHY
defines them and inspires others to love their products and trust the company.
What is your
WHY?
Does your WHY inspire others'
trust? Dig deep, go beyond, "I want
to help kids." What life
experiences led you to this profession?
What key moments as a school counselor have had the greatest impact on
you? Re-discover your WHY.
2. Customer
service.
Recently, I
was having difficulty transferring data from my old iPad to my new iPad. I prepared myself for the hassles that
calling a customer service line usually entails. I was even prepared to spend money for a
"warranty plan" that would allow me to obtain assistance from a
technical specialist. What happened was
completely different. The Apple customer
service representative was friendly, spent over an hour with me on the phone,
and wanted to make sure that my customer service experience was positive. Apple
has excellent customer service. People trust them.
Someone once told me, "We are
all in the business of customer service." As school counselors, our customers
are parents, teachers, students, our administration, the school custodians, the
cafeteria staff, and anyone else who crosses our path. How would people describe your customer
service?
3. Diversify your delivery.
When I was
in elementary school about 20 years ago, I remember using a chunky Mac computer
with large floppy disks. Apple made computers.
Well, they did. Now they make tablets, phones, watches, and
more. They have maintained their WHY, but diversified their delivery. 1 Apple's website says, "The people here at
Apple don't just create products - they create the kind of wonder that's
revolutionized entire industries" (Apple Inc., 2015).
Just like
Apple, diversify your delivery. How can you cover the guidance essential standards
for 21st century learners? Plan a guest
speaker panel to engage students about college and career options. Involve
students in a Kindness Scavenger Hunt where they actively create a positive
school culture. Use Twitter, blogging, or other technology to get students
talking about challenging topics in a familiar (and cool!) medium. Your WHY
stays the same, but diversify your delivery.
References
1 Sinek, Simon (2009). Start with why:
How great leaders inspire everyone to take action. Penguin Group: New York.
