Imagine that there are ten guests driving to a party. They are following the directions closely. However, a mischievous teenager has reversed one of the street signs. One by one, each of the guests takes the wrong turn, sending them off course, just minutes from their destination. In this scenario, which guest arrives at the party first? Of course, the answer is the first guest to realize the mistake and turn around makes it to the party soonest.
Wherever we are going, we are faced with tough decisions and road signs that are difficult to read. Inevitably, we will make a few wrong turns. Every minute we spend going down the wrong path counts double because we will eventually have to retrace our steps as we attempt to get back on the right track. Everyone makes mistakes. The people that recognize and correct their mistakes the soonest are usually the most successful.
Nobody is perfect, and working with children is unpredictable. Inevitably, everyone who works with children will make a mistake at some point. Perhaps a punishment was too strict, or a consequence was applied unfairly. It is easy to double-down on a mistake, and insist that it was correct. In the long run, admitting the error and attempting to remedy it in a straightforward way will usually be the best course of action. Getting back on the right track as quickly as possible is always a good plan.
It is easy to say that we will admit our mistakes and correct them quickly. But what about the situation when we are unsure? We don’t always realize that we’ve made a mistake right away. That’s why it’s so important to have “guideposts” along the way. I think of a guidepost as a way for us to check in on our paths. It may be different for everyone and vary based on circumstances. A guide post can be a gut feeling. Or it can be a lesson from this book, like “What would the world be like if everyone behaved like you?” Sometimes a guide post can be a trusted friend asking if everything is OK, or subtly suggesting that you change course.
Whatever your guideposts are, remember to look for them. They are always there, and they will tell you when it is time to turn around.
Take The Summer Camp MBA with you, or get the field notes by email while you work through the lessons here.