For a staff member, what’s the difference between doing alright and flourishing?

/ mkessenburg

International Christian school staff members, doing alright does not equal flourishing! So, don’t be satisfied with doing alright—instead, focus on flourishing! Why?

  • Because God made you to flourish and help others flourish.
  • Because when you’re flourishing, you’re thriving and bearing fruit (instead of doing OK or good enough).
  • Because your international Christian schools needs staff members “who…are highly engaged with their families, work, and communities…driven by a sense of purpose…know why they get up in the morning” (Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the 3-to-1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life, 2009, p. 17).

Photo by phyo min on Unsplash

Let me explain further by providing a description of what it looks like for staff members to experience each of the 5 elements of flourishing at the “doing alright” level and at the “flourishing” level:

(A) Passionate purpose:

  • Doing alright staff members experience reviews of the purpose statements; some connections between their job responsibilities and the achievement of the mission; working with others to help students flourish.
  • Flourishing staff members consistently experience discussions (including celebrations) of the meaning, implications, and achievement of the purpose statements; clear connections between their job responsibilities and the achievement of the mission and outcomes; working with others to design action steps to help students flourish holistically—mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually (see Construct: Holistic Teaching, p. 14).

(B) Resilient well-being:

  • Doing alright staff members experience time pressure to do their work, some exercise and some personal devotions, and a Christ-centered environment.
  • Flourishing staff members consistently experience adequate time to do their work (see Construct: Stress, p. 18); consistent exercise and personal devotions; and a safe, nurturing, Christ-centered environment. 

(C) Healthy relationships:

  • Doing alright staff members experience two-way communication with parents; Christ-centered colleagues who exhibit vulnerability and commitment; and supportive, Christ-centered leadership (see Construct: Supportive Leadership p. 15)..
  • Flourishing staff members consistently experience positive, collaborative, two-way communication with parents (see Construct: Parent Relationships, p. 15); Christ-centered colleagues who exhibit transparency, vulnerability, healthy conflict, commitment, accountability, and a focus on mission-centered results; and trustworthy, supportive, respectful, empowering Christ-centered leadership (see Construct: Supportive Leadership p. 15).

(D) Transformative learning:

  • Doing alright staff members experience professional development, professional organizations, and feedback.
  • Flourishing staff members consistently experience professional development aligned with individual, department/team, and schoolwide goals (see Construct: Professional Development, p. 16); participation in professional/virtual learning communities and in professional organizations; and frequent feedback—criticism that is kind and clear, praise that is specific and sincere (see Construct: Feedback, p. 16).

(E) Helpful resources:

  • Doing alright staff members experience adequate facilities and technology, and skillful, Christ-centered leaders. 
  • Flourishing staff members consistently experience well-maintained facilities and effective technology (see Construct: Resources, p. 17); and skillful, encouraging, Christ-centered leaders who have a trust-and-inspire mindset. 

Here are some related resources:

Bottom line: Don’t settle for just doing alright. Instead, focus on flourishing!

Photo by Ann H

What about you? What’s the difference between doing alright and flourishing? For a staff member, what does it look like to be doing alright for each of the 5 elements of flourishing? For a staff member, what does it look like to be flourishing in each of the 5 elements of flourishing? What’s 1 action step you can take to toward flourishing?

Get flourishing!

Michael