What Your Walkthroughs Really Signal

What Your Walkthrough Really Signals

Your team reads your walkthrough before you say a word.

Do you enter with a clipboard and a serious face? Do you say hello to everyone? Do you only show up when something's wrong? Do you leave without saying anything? Each of those sends a message, and it's rarely the one you intended.

The presence of a leader communicates volumes. Team members notice how often you visit, when you visit, and what you do while you're there. If you only appear during a problem or a monitoring visit, walkthroughs start to feel like inspections, and people perform for you instead of showing you what's real. No, they don’t realize that you can tell it’s a performance…

When you're present on ordinary days, the story changes. Your presence becomes a sign of support. If you have the reputation of being an inspector, the good news is that you don’t have to stay that way. You can actually make a few shifts that will help you to become less intimidating and more relatable/approachable:

·Visit with no agenda. Stop by at least once a week just to connect. Sit at a table, notice the children – be a part of the environment.

·Lead with what's working. Name one specific thing you saw before you discuss anything else.

·Close the loop. If you took notes, share them. If you were pleased, give a thumbs up. The silence after a walkthrough easily fills with worry when feedback isn’t immediate.

If you aren’t sure if you need to work on this, look at last month's calendar. How many times were you in classrooms or on site for a reason other than a problem? If the number is low, block two short visits this week and make them about connection.

Your team learns what your presence means from what you do most often. Not from what you say. Practice your supportive side so you can build the muscle that staff need.

Based on what your walkthroughs currently signal, identify the change you will put in motion and when you will start.