The Energy Bus By Jon Gordon S My
The Energy Bus By Jon Gordon S
My Background S Many years as a teacher and coach S MS principal S HS assistant principal S Director of student services S Superintendent of schools- Anamosa, IA S Consultant and state coordinator of SAMs in Iowa Dedicate session to Chris Kircher
Who’s Here? S Principals? S SAMS? S Central office administrators? S Higher Education? S Others? S Why does this topic interest you?
Bus as the Topic S School buses– direct connection to each of our schools S How many of you rode a school bus as a child? As an adult in a school district? S Funny stories of buses- my experience S Noises/energy in a bus– focus of this breakout
Positive Energy- Where it’s at! S Positive people and positive teams produce positive results, and the essential ingredient is positive energy. S How do me accomplish and maintain that in each of our schools during difficult times ( budget issues, increased accountability, more mental health issues, issues of safety, etc. ) S SAM teams– The Right Work!
Context of the book S Flat tire- forced to take the bus (not happy about the situation) S Negativity was getting in the way of a lot of things S Driver of the bus– “this is no ordinary bus, this is MY bus and you’re going to enjoy the ride” S Everything happens for a reason- even flat tires. You can choose to look at those events as a curse or a gift
Everyone has Challenges S Bus driver– “everyone who gets on this bus has problems and challenges in their life” S 10 rules for the “ride of your life” S Rule #1: You’re the driver of your bus! S Take the wheel and change direction if need be
Rule #2 S Desire, vision, and focus move your bus in the right direction– clear and compelling vision (People want to jump on our bus) S Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want (complaining, build on the strengths of others) S On the bus– “we’re winners, not whiners” S E+P= O (Events +Perception= Outcome)
Rule #3 S Fuel your ride with positive energy S Positive energy is necessary to take you where you want to S S go Every day we have the choice between positive energy and negative energy (Story of the two dogs inside)- p. 49 One good shot (golf)- instead of focusing on all that went wrong Feed the positive dog & that is the one that will grow
Rule #4 S Invite people on your bus and share the vision for the road ahead- clear and compelling vision! S “I am not bound to win, I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to the light that I have”– Abraham Lincoln
Rule #5 S Don’t wasted your energy on those who don’t get on your bus S Don’t try to make them get on S You can’t drive anyone else’s bus S The goal is not to better than anyone else but to be better than you were yesterday
Rule #6 S Post a sign that says “No energy vampires allowed on your bus” S Your positive energy and vision must be greater than anyone and everyone’s negativity S Your certainty must be greater than everyone’s doubt. S Positive energy is like muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets.
Partner Discussion S Who are the energy vampires in your setting? S How do you handle them? S How do you change the energy?
Rule #7 S Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride. S CEO (Chief Energy Officer) S A life touches a life that touches a life S Schools and their effect on others every single day- sometimes we forget about our influence S Develop other CEOs S People are always buying you and “your energy”
Rule #8 S Love your passengers- make time for them, listen to them, recognize them, serve then, bring out the best in them S Focus on bringing out the best in each person S Help them discover the value (the gold) inside themselves S When you bring out the best in others you can’t help bringing the best in yourself
Rule #9 S Drive with purpose S What is your larger and greater purpose? S Schools– various “jobs”- food service, custodians, etc. Each has a link to a greater purpose (my experience with job shadows) S When we drive with purpose, we don’t get bored or tired and our engines don’t burn out.
Rule #10 S Have fun and enjoy the ride S “The goal in life is live young, have fun, and arrive at your final destination as late as possible, with a smile on your face”. S As Paul & Willow said this morning, “Keep your Day”
So, Where do We Go From Here? S Think of what our schools would be like if we all operated using the 10 rules of the Energy Bus S Angry parents, community members S Kids not learning as fast as we want them to S Administrators leading with vision, purpose, and as CEOs CHIEF ENERGY OFFICERS
Quotes S “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves”-- Sir James Barry S “We are never really happy until we try to brighten the lives of others” –Helen Keller S “As I grow older I pay less attention to what people say. I just watch what they do”-- Thomas Jefferson S “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much”-- Helen Keller
Summary of 10 Rules S You’re the driver of your bus S Desire, vision, and focus move your bus in the right direction S Fuel your ride with positive energy S Invite people on your bus and share your vision for the road ahead. S Don’t waste your energy on those who don’t get on your bus S Post a sign that says NO ENERGY VAMPIRES ALLOWED on your bus S Enthusiasm attracts more passengers and energizes them during the ride S Love your passengers S Drive with purpose S Have fun and enjoy the Ride
Thank you S Go forth as the driver of YOUR BUS!! S Don’t ever forget who is the driver of the bus
- Slides: 21