Motivation vs. Capacity

Dear Instructional Leaders,

A surplus 📈of Motivation can’t overcome a deficit 📉of CAPACITY.

As leaders, we have a tendency to focus on motivating educators and getting them to “buy in” to the improvements, we would like to see. However, it is critical that we do not overlook 👀 the importance of Capacity in producing equitable environments, high achievement, and improved outcomes.

🙋🏾‍♀️What is CAPACITY?

Capacity is the skills, the knowledge, the resources and tools, and the time to accomplish an objective or goal. Without capacity, motivation is ineffectual.

Educators and instructional leaders often receive a great deal of motivation. Motivation can take the form of personal dedication and desire to help students learn, a desire to avoid being labeled as low achieving, an understanding that the educator or leader will be evaluated based on student outcomes or growth, increased salaries, pay or bonuses related to student achievement. The list goes on and on.

However, having the motivation to improve achievement and outcomes for children does not mean educators and leaders have the Capacity to do so.

No amount of motivation can make educators and leaders do -

👉🏿What they don’t KNOW HOW to do.

👉🏽What they don’t have the RESOURCES to do,

👉🏾What they don’t have the TIME to do,

or 👉🏽What they don’t have the SKILLS to do.

If your educators and leaders are motivated to promote equity, or to improve student achievement, that is a great start.

The next step to make those improvements a reality is to place a laser-like focus on building capacity for each teacher, each team, each school, and each system.

As you plan ✍🏽 for the coming school year, now is the time to make a plan for how to improve CAPACITY.

🎯 What skills and what knowledge does every educator and every leader need in order to improve outcomes?

🏫 What resources are required to implement the instructional practices needed to meet the needs of all children?

🕰️ How will we ensure that the necessary time is devoted to instruction, reflection, coaching, and professional development?

Build your CAPACITY to accomplish what you are Motivated to do. 🏆