Trending December 2023 # 14 Effective Tips To Focus Your Mind While At Work # Suggested January 2024 # Top 21 Popular

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Are you not able to focus your mind on things? Does your mind hover around things? Is your manager speaking out about important meeting discussions, and is your mind drifting elsewhere? Don’t worry. Around 2000 was taken and studied by Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert, sampled over time for their work behavior. Around 47 percent of folk had shown this behavior of non-focusing on the task assigned. Here are ways that can help you concentrate better at work.

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So what happens in an unstable and wandering mind?

Did you know that an empty mind is a devil’s place? Meditation has provided a good means to overcome mind wandering. Researchers have studied various modes of our brain and have come to the point of how meditation can help one stick to one thoughts and prevent hovering minds and thoughts. People practice focused attention meditation to overcome this issue and how it is becoming a serious issue for employees at work.

There are Cognitive shifts in our brains during meditation. At first, your mind might get derailed in regular instances, just like in Alice in Wonderland, but slowly you will focus on every breath of yours by sticking to your breath each day. Gradually, you will steer your attention back to the last where you left off. Some other researchers say that in regular practice, you do not hover around thoughts –thoughts slowly get less sticky now. A default mode of the brain distracts our minds when we are not doing anything and starts drifting with various ideas, engaging in activities we are not engaging in. It keeps bargaining during our meditation and concentrating minds.

Here are 8 steps to cope with such a hovering mind:

Practice Yoga, gymnastics, or something you love doing.

Keep track of what you are doing, and bring your mind back to the task where you left off.

Do one task at a time.

Read books for hours to set your mind in one place for hours.

Align your thoughts with the task you have undertaken to be done.

Concentrate on your breath. Breathe in and out regularly.

Try to stick to one thought. If your mind hovers, try to build control over it and bring it back each time.

Write one document at a time.

Defects of A Hovering Mind

More errors at work: There are more errors at work as the brain finds it difficult to do one task and often takes up multitasking at work, resulting in mistakes and poor quality of work resulting in rework and cost to the company.

Delay in task undertaken: A lot of time will be wasted doing one task, and tasks undertaken will be delayed.

Lack of thoughtfulness: As you cannot concentrate, you will not be able to stick to your thoughts, and you will keep hovering about here and there.

Lack of sleep: Sleeplessness again results from lack of concentration, which results in dark circles, weight put up, laziness, and many other side defects. So concentrate on your thoughts and avoid this sleeplessness.

Wastage of time and energy: A lot of time is wasted returning to where you stopped. Your brain keeps hovering, and you all forget where you were. This weakens the time and energy of the worker, employee, and the company.

Benefits of Building Focus your mind:

Getting into the practical implications of practicing yoga or meditation and concentrating on your breath, breathe in and breathe out exercises to focus your mind and also trains various aspects of our attention. It has shown remarkable improvement in students’ test scores and employees’ work-related performances.

While in a gym, you build your muscles. In yoga, you build upon your thoughts and concentration power. In research, it has been proved that meditation has a different level of brain activity. Neuroplasticity is a science of change in brain activity due to continued meditation practice, and different brain activity has been observed in such humans.

There is a complete deactivation of the wandering mind, i.e., the medial prefrontal cortex of the mind, by meditation. This allows them to concentrate better and for longer hours on their work.

They develop a better capacity to disengage. According to research, there is a greater connection between the distraction zone and attention-concentrating brain zones, so they connect to the work they undertake without distractions.

Tips To Focus your mind More and Work More

Write Down Tasks

Make a to-do list to keep you updated on all the tasks you must complete on time. Write down all tasks and make sure you constantly develop this habit. This will help you keep track of work completed and work left to be done. Make a list. This will help you keep your thoughts and brain together in one place.

Put Up Pictures

Put up all pictures to motivate you and your team to track down all the yet-to-do lists of work aligned for work. This will help you focus if you can concentrate all your zeal and enthusiasm on one array of thought processes.

Shut Down Distractions

All the distractions like Facebook and social media accounts waste much of our time. Do not log on to social media while at work. Listen to music. It helps to concentrate better. This can be a good way to remove distractions out there.

Drink Water

Drinking lots of water helps to concentrate. Many times walking helps to focus. Eating a healthy breakfast also helps to concentrate better at work. A hungry stomach will never allow you to concentrate at work. So it’s important to keep up a heavy breakfast taken start for any work so that you can concentrate without distractions at work.

Eat Well

Many times we skip breakfast and meals. A hungry stomach and mind can never concentrate at work. So you must eat well and stick to a daily healthy routine to work out if possible as it will help you keep fit and healthy and concentrate well at work. Also, drink lots of water. Walk regularly to concentrate at work.

A Do Not Disturb Board

Deal with All Emails At One Go

Handling emails pinging each second and disturbing, you will be very disturbing. All you need is to set a timer to download every 1-hour interval so you do not have to stop in the middle of something and avoid any distractions each time.

Do Not Take Up Phone Calls

Try to keep all calls aside. Tell your colleagues that you are at the office and need to concentrate on the task you take up. This will help you avoid distractions in the middle of something and start it again.

Identify the Negative Thoughts

Beware of negative thoughts. You might not even realize what your thoughts are. Even if you can’t change negative thoughts, at least you can be aware of these emotions and think whether you are justified. Positive thinking courses can help you learn more positive techniques to focus your mind and use in everyday situations.

Work on Your Stress Level

Work on your stress level by practicing YOGA activities, Aerobics, and other related stress-relieving activities to help you feel refreshed and motivated to work another Monday with a fresh mind. You might not even realize that you are thinking negatively. Start to be aware of your actions, deeds, and words. Think about what would happen if you felt more positive. Even if you can’t change every negative emotion, you can try to remove every aspect of your job life. Remember that negative work can harm work and the working environment. Thus, it’s very important to be positive at work.

When people’s minds are hovering around, they are less happy, according to the research scientist Gilbert. This is due to the inclination to negative thoughts and overstress. Mindful meditation is a treatment for depression, sexual dysfunction, etc. A hovering mind and a wandering mind are not bad or a curse. It’s great that you are so creative. You can think out of the blue. You are imaginative and creative. This thought process has created many writers, poets who can imagine things out of the blue. So keep meditating and learning more about your brain activities and focus your mind much better on one thought and one work at a time.

Take Regular 5-10 Minutes of Work

Fitness routine

Stay fit, hit a gym, and get the vision to live a life, and you will feel filled with unbelievable zeal and enthusiasm to work harder each day and concentrate on all important tasks in the lot.

Prioritize tasks

Do the important tasks then the less important ones –like this, keep repeating, and this will never let you get distracted or unmotivated and feel you are engaged as a happy employee.

Set Your Monthly Target

If you set the target that you want to be the next best employee of the month, then you will have a clearly defined mission and vision, you will never get distracted, and you can concentrate better and target your pre-set goals and tasks.

Remember your goals and targets, and remember that if you get distracted this way, you will not be able to go a long way –you might not even reach halfway around. Thus keep the focus on your mind and desires and see how you will be targeted at work, and you will never get distracted at work. Practice being patient. It’s being patient which counts .

Believe in yourself, and over time you can do it . You have your goals to achieve in line –then why get distracted –you’ll get delayed by downright behaviors and spelling mistakes –, which will only lead to rework and time wastage. You cannot afford to do this if you want a promotion next month or if you want to be successful in your career . Follow this positive thought process and see that you will never get distracted . You will have control over your mind and thoughts and be positive. Wake up early morning, take a walk, and enjoy life. A happy person is not a distracted person.

So keep focusing your mind, practice yoga, and meditate on your thoughts. Remember, everything is in your control, and you are the one who can make a change in your ideas and activities.

You're reading 14 Effective Tips To Focus Your Mind While At Work

Effective Marketing Tips That Would Work

What Is LinkedIn Marketing?

First, define your goals. Once you’ve established your end goals, write a LinkedIn marketing plan. Define your objectives, such as brand awareness, consideration, and conversion. Include metrics to measure your success, and develop an editorial calendar based on these goals. Second, identify the topics you’d like to discuss.

Tips To Catch Your Partner While Cheating

If you’re a married guy, either newly married or not, you could be the victim of cheating spouse or a cheating partner. If you’re one of them, you can catch a cheater here.

14 Signs/symbols signify that our partner doing cheating or not

Do you’ve guts to believe your best half is cheating you? Do not jump at the conclusion. Start looking for all these red-flag signs first.

Here is the list of signs you must focus on this- Sign 1

Excess use of mobile phones

Nowadays, a big problem is your mobile phone. Unusual and excessive phone usage is the number one indicator your partner is cheating on you.

When he or she leaves a space whenever a phone rings and not willing to share with whom they are talking it may be a sign.

Pay extra attention should what they carry their device around all the time, as they may be ensuring that you don’t see anything you shouldn’t.

Sign 2

Hiding the things

Also read: The Top 10 Digital Process Automation (DPA) Tools

Sign 3

Extra take care

Your partner is extra possessive, It doesn’t mean you should be suspicious if your partner brings you flowers, or your girlfriend cooks yummy dinner. But if your best half behaves nicer than normal and it might also be an indication.

Sign 4

Sexual Demand

Its totally depends on your partner’s mood. In fact, cheating makes individuals feel more sexual generally so that they might want to have more but its not good relationship familiarity than usual. So, be careful and active.

Sign 5

Do planning

In case your partner blushes off while doing future plans as marriage, having kids or move to a different town, it may also be an indication he or she reconsidered the relationship. Take time and observe all the things.

Sign 6

Increase Irritation level

They get annoyed when you try to face the issue, because of their suspicious behaviour and do their best to reassure you. For cheaters, it is common to shift the duty and get irritated by your own questions.

Whenever you’re too controlling or conscious, they try to come close and blaming you for all.

Sign 7

Use extra money

They spend more money than usual, its a big symbol, It often includes dishes, beverages, gifts, hotels, and other cash expenditures.

If your best half do more than before, it might be a warning sign that money is going someplace.

Sign 8

They are more worried about their appearance.

When people are sure about their relationships, somehow they may put fewer efforts in their appearance.

Also read: 14 Best Webinar Software Tools in 2023 (Ultimate Guide for Free)

Sign 9

If they stay at work by late night

Working lots of overtime might also be an indication that your partner cheats on you. The best way to test it would be to provide to bring dinner with her or his office and see the response or arrive without any notice.

Sign 10

Or they depart early for work

If your partner is leaving early for work, it might be an indication that they have planned a meeting with their fan for breakfast or at the office.

Sign 11

They take business trips independently

If your very best half take business trips independently, it is also an indication that your partner has something to hide.

Sign 12

They’re picking fights

When people are cheating, it’s a common thing for them to become argumentative and critical.

Sign 13

Don’t be judgemental

And they say It is your creativity. The affair generally happens after six months or more from its beginning. That is when your spouse starts making mistakes and show numerous signs you want to be attentive to.

Also read: 11 best ways to Improve Personal Development and Self-Growth and its Benefit on our Life

Sign 14

They act too close to your best buddy.

As frequently occurs, people cheat with people they are closest to. Friends have a lot of things in common because they spend mos to the time together.

So, it is quite common to find out your spouse has an affair with your best buddy. Once your partner is meet to your buddy, everything starts with innocent flirting.

They have several things in common, and both think they’re great for each other. However, in fact, it will ruin a friendship along with two unions.

Final Thought

If it happens, it means that something in a relationship isn’t right. For many people, it’s common to look for a happier connection somewhere else rather than enhancing their own connection.

In relationships, you don’t need to be over-suspicious because it may harm your bonds. You know your partner better than anyone, so use sense that something is happening then give warning sign But make sure you are sure regarding of that.

Can You Work While Lying Down?

Have you ever called someone lazy or inactive for simply working lying down, or have you been shamed yourself?

Here is something you should know. Although working while lying is frowned upon, there is nothing wrong with it.

It has been proven that working while perfectly lying down promotes a perfect body posture.

Working while lying down instead of sitting or standing reduces significant strain on the spine by naturally straightening your back and relaxing muscles. Assume face up, prone, lateral, or inclined position to make work more productive.

However, not everyone is up for a lying work position as it requires a comfortable place to rest, tools to support a laptop or computer, and a bit of practice.

Read on to learn how to improve your body position by adopting a new lying down technique.

Can You Work While Lying Down?

When we think about lying down, we naturally assume a person is resting or sleeping, which gives an impression of inactivity.

Therefore, assuming this working position may seem ridiculous at first.

However, there is no truth to it.

A recent finding has claimed that the pressure on the spine is at a minimum when lying down.

Besides resting, the sleep position is commonly used for yoga or Pilate, among the most focused activities. Hence, you can work effectively in a sleep position too.

And, it does not have to be only one lying position. Choose what works best for you; supine, lying on the stomach, or sideways.

However, do not abuse this position as it will likely induce sleep.

The sleep position is most healthy in the first 30-40 minutes. After which, your metabolism slows down to give way to sleep.

When assuming a lying position, ensure to take frequent breaks in between.

Lying Down vs. Sitting

Did you know sitting for a prolonged period affects bones, muscles, and metabolism, causing weight gain and injuries?

Although people assume that sitting is the natural position for work, it may put your body at significant risk, including wrong body postures.

A wrong sitting posture puts tension and stress on the neck and shoulder; a prolonged sitting posture prevents regular blood circulation in the lower body.

Major issues that may appear later include digestion problems, back pain, spinal dysfunction, and joint degeneration.

A Harvard Health study concluded that prolonged sitting can increase the risk of improper lung function, breathing shortness, and poor cognitive function.

On the other hand, the lying position encourages a more natural body posture to increase blood flow.

Here are a few traits of working lying down vs. sitting.

Lying downSitting

1. It promotes muscle and spine relaxation, stress relief, and a slower heartbeat.1. An upright sitting position promotes fluent breathing and improved digestion.

2. Transitioning to a lying position for 5-10 minutes after prolonged sitting posture helps with blood circulation.2. You can reach for items and access nearby sections easily while being seated.

3. A prolonged lying position may affect your health by reducing physical activities requiring frequent exercises.3. A prolonged sitting position may affect your health by reducing physical activities requiring frequent exercises.

4. Longer hours of inactivity may lead to dormancy or a tendency to doze off.4. A wrong sitting posture puts the body at risk, such as chronic back pain, stiff shoulders, neck, arched back, etc.

A 2023 study revealed that those who sat a lot and had less physical activity were at the highest risk of mortality from all causes.

Ideal Positions for Using Laptop/Computer While Lying Down 1. Facing Upwards (Supine)

Face up, or prone position, is when a person lies down facing upwards, also known as a neutral position.

In fact, it puts 8x less pressure than sitting and relaxes the muscle, relieves stress, and promotes a slower heart rate for focus.

The neutral position promotes muscle and back relaxation that prevents wrong body posture.

Many workers also assume this position to beat stress by slowing the heart rate and breathing.

However, working on a laptop may seem impossible in this position unless you have a desk or tools for support.

A Super Gorone Desk is an adjustable desk that supports any position, including supine.

Read on to learn whether your Office chair should recline.

2. Face Down (Prone)

Facedown or prone position is when your body is facing downwards.

Opposed to the supine position, many people assume this position to work, study, and even write.

The prone position promotes blood return to the right heart chamber and reduces the constriction of blood vessels in the lungs, encouraging improved blood circulation.

However, the prone position is lying on the face entirely but taking support of your wrist to lift your upper body.

Otherwise, lying on a raised bed, usually found at the dentist, may also help.

Grafeiophobia furniture is perfectly designed for workers who want to work facing down.

Read on to discover some effective tips to work from the couch and work from the floor ergonomically.

3. Sideways (Lateral)

The sideways or lateral position is usually assumed for resting, sleeping, or surgical procedures.

However, you can also use this position to work, such as writing, reading, or using a laptop.

It may also be helpful if your body does not respond well to either supine or prone positions.

Many workers assume this position to increase comfort, prevent pressure injury, and reduce deep vein thrombosis.

4. The 45° Bent Incline

Lying inclined or 45° Bent is a commonly assumed position for reading or working while seated on the bed or couch.

Although much similar to a supine position, the lower body remains flat while the upper body arches forwards when inclined about 45°.

You can easily access your laptop screen and keyboard when seated in this position.

However, do not forget to put soft material like a pillow or cushion behind to support your back comfortably.

You can assume multiple fairly obtuse positions to resist the temptation to lift your head to get a better look at the screen.

When sitting inclined, especially on the bed or cushion, introduce more pillows strategically to keep your body more natural.

Read on to learn if you should work from home sitting on the Bean Bag.

How to Ergonomically Work Lying Down?

You should assume an ideal posture to offset the wrong body posture risks.

Here are a few things to remember.

Keep your spine, including your neck, straight. Lying supine naturally achieves a straight neck posture.

Do not scrunch your shoulders, and keep your elbows beside your torso.

Do not overstretch or bend your arm wide at the elbow to reach the mouse.

Keep your wrists straight to your body, and avoid bending them when typing.

Invest in an ergonomic workstation that facilitates working in a unique position.

Take frequent breaks every two hours and work sitting or standing.

Note: Setting up a fully ergonomic workstation may cost anywhere from $2,500 to $16,000.

Best Ergonomic Products for Working Lying Down

Here are a few recommendations to raise ergonomics at different positions.

ProductSpecification

Quickly collapses and stands to assume different lying positions.

Raise height from 9.4” to 12.6’; the angle from 0 to 36 degrees.

Full Motion Laptop DeskAdjustable laptop desk made for inclining laptop and designed to comfort your elbow when seated sideways.

INGREM Ergonomic WorkstationA zero-gravity office chair that adjusts at supine, inclined, and seated positions with customizable features.

Titlts 360-degrees.

NESTL Lazy PillowA lazying pillow perfect for sitting upright on bed or floor or when using a laptop

Read our article about working comfortably from bed with a laptop.

The Bottom Line

Lying in a working position may be adequate to promote a healthy body posture.

It may take a while to get the hang of it as most workers are not used to working completely lying down.

If it may seem complicated, switch between lying and seated positions until you find a permanent work posture.

Read on to discover helpful tips on how to work from home ergonomically without the desk.

How To Build Business While Speaking At Conferences

Any conference or trade show that’s worth its weight will restrict speakers from promoting their business or product. They also don’t have quotas or speaker requirements, besides being the best and brightest in your niche/field or industry. That’s why Affiliate Summit, Pubcon, and others do so well.

You get lots of content from people who actually do the work, and not a lot of self promotion. So, if speakers at these shows cannot self promote on stage, how do they build business with their presentations?

If you are considering becoming a regular speaker at events in your industry, there are a lot of factors you need to consider, including which shows to speak at, what you are an expert in, what is promotional versus non promotional, and what to do if you are on a panel or giving a solo presentation.

Below are some tips I’ve learned over the years to first determine if the conference or event is a good fit for you, and then build business from your presentation.

What You Need to Know to Build Business With Public Speaking

Below is a list of what you should consider before you speak. It will help you to avoid certain issues, know what goals to set up for yourself from the session, and help you put together your presentation.

Evaluating a Show

When looking at trade shows accepting speaker proposals, think about who the attendees are and what your goals by reaching out to them. If you are speaking to a panel of peers, chances are you won’t get clients, but you can still grow your company through backlinks.

To set up goals for the presentation, ask questions like:

Do you want backlinks and a PR list?

Do you want clients and new business?

Do you want new partners and followers to build your personal or company’s reputation?

Other times, attendees may quote you or share slides on social media, which can help build your following. Look through the attendees and try to figure out if your session can attract the right people to help boost your business, even if the boost comes at a later date.

Are You an Expert or Equal to Your Panelists?

This shouldn’t terrify you. If it does, don’t speak. People pay a ton of money to go to high-quality conferences. That is why someone in the audience will likely call you out if you end up not being an expert. The people on who give solid and actionable items are going to stand out and build business once a session is over, because they have proven they know their stuff.

The people who give fluff, repeat what other panelists say, or don’t know any of the subject matter will stand out – and not in a good way. The trick is to not speak unless it is a topic you are an expert.

There are always people in an audience who will disagree with you. Some will challenge you and some will remain quiet, but may give feedback to the show owners. If people decide to challenge what you’re saying, get ready because even though they may be hecklers, their goal is to call you out for not knowing the subject matter – and your job is to prove you are.

Being on a stage for the first time can turn a normally confident person into a nervous one. Everyone gets stage fright and messes up, just focus on making sure you know your stuff before you get on a stage. Research public speaking skills and practice your speech several times before you actually give it at the event.

What is Promotional Versus Non-Promotional?

Sometimes there is a fine line promotional and non-promotional. You don’t want to pitch your company because you end up sounding like a salesman and turn off an audience. At the same time, you do want to be able to provide your information and show you and your company/services can benefit the audience. That’s where you have to figure out what is promotional and what is spammy.

Your Introduction

When you introduce yourself, or the moderator does, include your name, city, and your company. It’s ok to say what your company’s core focuses are, but don’t go into detail. If you do SEO, say you do SEO and maybe something more specific, such as “We do SEO from a link building and content strategy standpoint for small- to mid-size companies.” It lets the audience know what your core competency is and who your target is, but it doesn’t pitch them.

Once the audience knows what you are an expert on, they can figure out what the right questions to ask you are. This is key to building business from a session. Look at the topic and make sure it matches your own skill set, while also opening up space for the audience to be able to ask the right questions so you can help them.

Case Studies

Using a case study to show how your products or services helped companies is almost always beneficial. The trick is to remember to talk about how the client or company was able to grow due to your help. Also, be sure to tell the audience how they can mimic the strategies you used to grow their own company, which is why they are there to begin with.

Another important part of a successful case study is using screenshots and slides with the real life examples and actual data. This is where you can show off the benefits of your service with actual results.

Slides

Your slides are almost as important as what you say. Many shows will upload them to SlideShare, where they can be indexed in Google. Audience members may take screenshots and share them on social media or include them in blog posts – and they are what people use to take notes during your presentation.

Double-check the following things before you submit your presentation.

Use the conference template: This is important if the event requires it. Although it’s fun to stand out with a cool design, you don’t want to agitate your fellow speakers or anger the conference owners. If they require you use their template, do not modify it, but you can be creative with the layouts of the content and images within the space to help yourself stand out.

Your contact information on the opening and closing slides: Don’t forget to include an email address or contact information on the opening and closing slides. If you did a good job and delivered great content, having a way to reach you through your email or a contact form at the end is a great way for shy listeners to find you. Many will take pictures so they have your contact info, especially if they are too shy to approach you when you finish.

Add your Twitter handle to your slides, especially ones with great content: Because slides can be shared and stored, make sure you have your twitter handle on each one. As people share your slides, they may call you out by using the handle helping you to track who was there and can help you know who to thank. As the audience shares while you’re speaking, having your handle available will help them to know who to call out as well. This will help people reach you with more questions, giving you a chance to close a new deal or find a new client.

Mentioning Competitors

Although your boss or CEO may not like it, don’t be company-centric. It’s okay to mention competing products and tools. This shows you aren’t biased and are willing to be open and honest. I mention competitors’ firms and tips I’ve learned from them all the time when I speak. It helps to build trust and credibility with the attendees.

Conclusion

When you first start speaking, you need to know how to pick a show that can build business and how to properly present yourself. Think about the attendees and how they can benefit you and your company. Then, evaluate how to tie in your own skill sets with the topic of the presentation so the audience knows what questions to ask based on your expertise. Last, remember to include ways to contact you so new clients and potential backlinks can find you.

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4 Tips For School Leaders Starting Dei Work

It’s no secret that 2023 was a landmark year that brought about a rise in schools and organizations trying hard to do work focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. For many, this is a season that has highlighted gaps that need to be filled and demanded that people stretch themselves and press into discomfort. One of the main frustrations we’ve been hearing from teachers—both from our work with them and through social media—is that their school leaders don’t seem to be prioritizing this work, if exploring it at all.

So, while there are articles out there on what books to read and what organizations to turn to, we wanted to write directly to school leaders and invite you to consider some preliminary steps that you can take to launch sustainable and authentic work for celebrating diversity, moving toward equity, and practicing inclusion.

1. Do Your Own Work

You can’t lead a school through equity and justice work if you haven’t done the work yourself. It’s important to model some of the ideas yourselves. The best way to get buy-in from your community is to own the work and live it out. Teachers often feel that school leaders are doing performative work because they use “equity” as a tagline and a one-off event or professional development session. What counts most is how you do things, not necessarily what you’re doing.

A common barrier to getting started is facing the reality of having several priorities and so much to tackle at your school. That’s real. However, this important work would definitely become a top priority the minute your school ended up on social media or in the news because one of your teachers or another staff member did something racist and discriminatory. You can be proactive and make this one of your top priorities now. Move it up on the list.

2. Identify Other School Leaders Who Have Done This Work

You’re not alone, especially in 2023. There are other school leaders around the country in all types of school settings moving equity work forward in ways that suit their context. Try seeing their work as a model that you can borrow from. Around this issue, networking is a critical part of your approach. Join organizations and social media groups such as Multicultural Classroom (our organization), Bright Morning, Embracing Equity, and more so that you can meet other school leaders for brainstorming sessions.

Not knowing where to start or where to find active people is a common obstacle. We get it. Where are you supposed to find other school leaders dedicated to this work? Supposedly, no one is doing this, right? Wrong. Others are doing it, and as we said, it’s about building a network. Consider starting on social media. Look up groups, pages, hashtags, and organizations that promote this work, and you’ll certainly find school leaders there.

3. Identify Your School-Based Partners in This Work

You can be sure that there are already others at your school wanting to do, if not already doing, equity- and justice-focused work. Tap their shoulder and build community with them. Check in on what they’ve accomplished, and share your desires and intentions with them. While bringing teachers in is crucial, don’t stop there.

Consider reaching out to parents, students, alumni, staff, and other stakeholders. You can connect with parents through meet-and-greets on campus, relationship building at extracurricular events, and other moments when they may be physically present. Sometimes, Roberto would intentionally attend basketball and other sporting games to make sure to connect with specific parents for conversations in these friendly contexts.

Other stakeholders include community members, board members, local leaders, and others connected to the school, such as business owners. While seemingly disconnected, they play an important role in the community, and their support at school could yield impactful change. They may also be able to offer resources in support of your vision.

When reaching out to your school community, you might fear being seen as lacking knowledge, or the opposite—taking too strong of a stance. What’s the alternative? Silence on the issue? If you’re truly committed to the work, it’s important to strive toward your goal. Boldness and courage are traits that we want our students to display, and we can model them ourselves. Start small and take the leap.

4. Take Tangible Steps That Will Move You Forward

Too often, this work in schools becomes about a committee that comes together to talk. After months of only that, people lose morale and energy. Make sure to set goals and work toward achieving them. Set attainable goals and don’t worry about hitting a home run. Advancement is the goal.

At one school facing some major challenges, Roberto identified a critical issue furthering inequities. These were his initial goals:

Decrease the student suspension rate by finding alternatives for student support.

Partner with a district-based thought leader to create alternatives.

In a different context, Lorena was trying to help her school launch their anti-bias work. Her goals were the following:

Identify two to three staff members who would engage in the work.

Establish a committee to share the labor and design next steps for impact.

Starting these committees and communities within a school is no easy task, but it can surely be done well. You’re likely to feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. This is understandable and a real concern, but there are things you can keep in mind in order to make the process more manageable.

First, remember to start small and focus on one task at a time. Second, don’t work alone. Use the school community network that you’ve built. Depend on them to help you move the work forward. Third, turn to external experts when necessary. Is there a local organization that can support your school’s work?

When Roberto was working to decrease student suspensions, he recruited a local grassroots artistic organization, Elevated Thought, that used art therapy for healing and identity building. It was the first partnership and program of its kind at that school. Students and even their parents became engaged! Are there experts that can come and assist your team to move the work forward? Reach out and welcome them in.

In the end, taking initiative is the first step. It communicates to your team that you are leaning in to this and these issues matter to you, both personally and professionally. Demonstrate that embracing diversity, motivating others to think about and practice equity, and intentionally including marginalized people is a priority for you and that you’re willing to take risks for it.

All of this change requires community, and nurturing of that community can’t happen with you alone. This important work, while it depends on you to succeed, isn’t about you. That’s the good news: All of the work is about the school community.

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