Improving Team Performance
Date postedMarch 11, 2025
Want to get the most from your PLCs, BLTs, and any other team you lead? Focus on these two key action-items. (adapted from Forbes article, “The High Cost Of Low Performance And What Leaders Can Do About It”)
- Build a culture of trust and inclusivity. Strong school leadership fosters trust, collaboration, and innovation. Creating psychological safety allows teachers and staff to share ideas and challenge assumptions without fear. Leaders who model these behaviors set a standard that fosters inclusion and constructive debate, essential for solving complex problems in tech-driven work.
- Design incremental wins with structured action plans. What can you accomplish in 30 days? What are the steps that will move you toward that goal? Do you need to build stronger connections to families? What does that look like, sound like, and feel like? Maybe each grade level team commits to contacting 2 families/day for the next 30 days to offer positive feedback about their student/s and to preview what’s up next in a specific class. Maybe you add a question to gather feedback about the families’ experience with the school this year. (e.g. How do you feel about your child’s school experience this year? What is something you want us to think about as we plan for your student’s success next year?).
Implementing a series of 30-day action plans focused on key areas—such as strengthening teacher collaboration, improving instructional practices, or enhancing family engagement—creates momentum and measurable progress. By setting clear, achievable goals and regularly assessing impact, principals can build a culture of continuous improvement.
SAMPLE Action Plan Structure
(generated by inputting above content with a prompt to ChatGPT)
30-Day Action Plan: Strengthening Parent Engagement Through Positive Phone Calls
- Goal
- Build stronger school-home connections by committing to regular, personalized communication with families.
- Example: Ensure every family receives a positive, proactive call from school staff, fostering trust and collaboration.
- Current State
- Parents often hear from the school only when there is a concern or issue.
- Families appreciate more direct communication but may not always feel included in school discussions.
- Action Steps (Week-by-Week Plan)
| Week | Action Steps | Responsible Parties | Resources Needed |
| Week 1 | Introduce the 30-day phone call commitment to staff and provide guidance on making effective calls | Principal, Leadership Team | Call scripts, tracking sheet |
| Week 1-4 | Each staff member commits to calling 1-2 families per day, sharing student successes, previewing upcoming learning topics, and gathering feedback. | Teachers, Support Staff, Administrators | Phone call templates, sample questions |
| Week 2 | Conduct a brief staff check-in to share insights and refine the approach | Principal, teachers | Staff meeting time |
| Week 4 | Gather reflections from staff and analyze parent feedback to inform future engagement efforts | Principal, Leadership Team | Survey responses, staff reflections |
4. Success Indicators
- Every family receives at least one positive phone call during the 30 days.
- Increased parent satisfaction and trust in school communication.
- Teachers and staff report stronger relationships with families.
5. Follow-Up Plan
- Consider making positive phone calls a regular practice (e.g., weekly or monthly).
- Use insights from parent feedback to guide school improvement efforts.
- Explore additional ways to strengthen two-way communication, such as family forums or listening sessions.