top of page
Recycled Paper

The 4 Disciplines of Execution

Recycled Paper

Upon realizing that an inspiring story and a commendable mission alone do not guarantee success, I understood the significance of a structured and transparent methodology for goal-setting. This methodology is crucial for aligning a company and driving it toward improved performance, transforming grand visions into tangible realities. The 4 Disciplines of Execution emerge as the ultimate guide, providing a reliable framework for steadfast commitment to an organization's ambitious goals and plans.

​

Commitments often face abandonment when new projects and goals become less pressing compared to the daily tasks of individual employees. Franklin Covey's 4 Execution Disciplines methodology terms this challenge the "whirlwind." Fulfilling commitments involves allocating only a small portion of each employee's time to new tasks while holding them accountable for completing these assignments.

​

Change follows a pattern, and a leader can benefit from a framework we call the Change Model. Because change is a human effort, the most effective change leaders prioritize the needs of their people over strict adherence to a process. As a Lead Teacher, I focus on teaching how to turn the uncertainty of change into opportunity and develop my students' ability to move through current and future changes more effectively.

​

My mission as a teacher is to embrace change while fostering a strong classroom culture, and I've successfully established the following principles:

​

  • Structure and Clarity: Ensuring team goals, roles, and execution plans are clear.

  • Psychological Safety: Creating an environment where risks are welcome without insecurity or embarrassment.

  • Meaning of Work: Aligning tasks with their significance for each team member.

  • Dependability: Cultivating trust and reliability within the team.

  • Impact of Work: Instilling a belief that our collective efforts matter fundamentally.

​

I focus on developing exceptional learners, instilling habits of effectiveness, and building an inclusive and high-trust culture. By providing a common execution framework linked to "tremendously" essential goals, I aim to influence and ensure that change becomes integral. This approach helps us appreciate how we live, work, and achieve "great purposes" individually and collectively.

​

In my Innovation Proposal, I suggest implementing blended learning in the Spanish classroom for 6th graders. This approach benefits everyone involved, as 6th-grade children could choose to evolve by learning Spanish early, strengthening their communication skills, and adding credits required for a degree.

With this plan, I aim to see students take ownership of their development and begin to see improvements in their learning and willingness to change.

​

For this type of change to succeed, I propose a plan to help educate teachers on the benefits of blended learning and how to use it in their classrooms. I offer a professional development course for teachers in the summer and then during the first phase of implementation.

Recycled Paper

The 4 Disciplines of Execution By McChesney, Covey, Huling: The framework focuses on how you can execute the plan to move your team forward.

​

​

​

​​

  • The initiative targets a specific need: fulfilling the sixth-grade students' desire to attend electives such as Spanish 1.

  • The project aims to open up and enhance the learning experience to facilitate the educational growth of the community at Krimmel Intermediate.

​

​

​

​

  • Lead measures include the engagement levels of students, the successful implementation of blended learning, and the accumulation of credits by students.

  • Monitoring the success of the COVA approach (Choice, Ownership, Voice, Authenticity) will be a crucial measure.

​

​

​

​

  • Teachers will track progress and success through metrics such as student engagement data, feedback on the online Spanish course, and the number of students accumulating credits.

​

​

​

​

  • Regular discussions and updates will assess the project's progress, address challenges, and ensure alignment with the set goals. Collaborative efforts with stakeholders, teachers, and administrators can create a supportive accountability structure.

 

​

Discipline 1:

Focus on the Wildly Important:

Discipline 2:

Act on the Lead Measures:

Discipline 3:

Keep a Compelling Scoreboard:

Discipline 4:

Create a Cadence of Accountability:

Recycled Paper

​Furthermore, it is crucial to acknowledge the natural synergy between the Influence Model and the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX). While 4DX provides a robust framework for setting and achieving key organizational goals, the Influence Model identifies and addresses critical factors influencing individual and group behavior.

​

In the context of change implementation, the Influence Model emphasizes identifying and directing factors influencing behavior, such as motivation, ability, and connection to the proposed change. Doing so effectively complements the 4 Disciplines of Execution, which provide the necessary structure and discipline for strategically executing those changes at the organizational level.

​

Explicitly addressing the interconnection between the Influence Model and 4DX allows us to leverage the combination of people-centric and organizational strategies, creating a comprehensive and practical approach to implement our innovation plan successfully.

Recycled Paper

References

Doerr, J. (2019). Summary of Measure What Matters: How Google, Bono, and the Gates Foundation Rock the World with OKRs.

​

Duckworth’s, A. (2016). Summary of Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.

​

Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfiel, D., McMillan, R., Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change (2nd ed.).

​

McChesney, C., Covey, S., Huling, J. with Walker, B., & Thele, S. (2021). The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals (2nd ed.). Simon & Schuster, NY Ltd.

bottom of page