How are you motivating your campus this week?

There's a difference between motivation and a positive organizational climate. We could discuss scores of studies on these topics in the last four years. Instead of reviewing those, let's discuss how you will motivate your campus this week. As a school leader, you can be strategic about motivation and climate.

Motivation is the drive for excellence. It is the motive, the why. Why do you try? Why do you go the extra mile? It's different for different people. It varies at different times.

Organizational climate comes in several forms at a school: student climate, instructional climate, and work climate. Together, they make "the" climate. Why does this matter?

It matters because the climate can either increase motivation or it can suppress it. Your actions, or lack of actions, can set the tone of the workplace. That tone (read, climate) is the context for the amount of motivated work that takes place.

Enough theory. Let's look at some strategic ways to increase motivation and work climate.

Build Motivation this Week

All leaders agree, they have a role to motivate. Here are three easy ways to motivate your teams this week.

1. Handwriting. 

Start this week writing 5 cards of appreciation. Find something valuable in someone on your campus. It's as easy as a simple thank you card using your own handwriting. On the way home from work, at the stop light, write a card. Put it in their mail the next day. It's investment in your people that shows you value them.

2. Sticky Notes. 

Leave the formal walk-thru form in the office this week. Visit10 classes a day this week for only 60 seconds each. Be amazed at the work of your campus. Leave without a word, just a sticky note placed on the door highlighting a teaching strength you noticed.

3. Ask and Tell. 

Talk to your teachers. Ask what they are learning. What are you trying out? What's working for you? Do you mind if I share this with the campus? Then tell. In your weekly campus memo highlight the professional learning and successes of your teachers, no matter how small.

Build Your Work Climate this Week

By following these three tips, you will continue shaping your campus climate. You are taking steps as an instructional leader who demonstrates how much you value your people.

In the long run, the work climate you create among your teams will do more for increasing motivation than any donuts or jeans days. 

Will your actions this week very clearly say how valuable your teams are? Will people really hear how much you appreciate their good work?

People who are valued will work harder. People who are recognized will try new things.

How will your actions build the work climate on your campus? How will your inaction detract from the work climate? There is no status quo in climate. It moves one direction or the other. What steps will you take to build a climate that motivates educational success?

Read more about the impact of a healthy school climate here: Improvement, Innovation, and Toxicity.