Tolerating Good Enough For Long Enough To Create Excellence

I remember when I got my first W2 job when I was 19.

I was so proud and excited.

I was working hard, showing up every day, and doing my best.

But when I got that first paycheck, my heart sank.

I thought, “There’s something wrong. This is not the amount that was in my contract.”

I went to my boss and gently let her know about the mistake.

Little did I know there was no mistake.

She showed me the other side of the paycheck, with taxes, benefits, and withholdings.

It was Greek to me. I had no idea how the working world operated.

When I look back at that memory, I cringe.

And I honestly hope you cringe at your past self, too.

Because if you’re cringing by looking back, that means you’ve grown a whole lot in the intervening years.

Just remember, some of your employees are new to the ECE field—or are new to working in general, just like I was at 19.

You’ve hired a teacher for whom you have high expectations.

And they want to meet those expectations. 

But before they can master classroom management and parent communication and curriculum planning…

They need to know the basics.

Where’s the bathroom? How do they clock in? Where are the supplies?

In this week's podcast episode, I invite you to temper your expectations while maintaining your high standards.

I want to encourage you to define and then tolerate “good enough” for long enough, so you can build a school of excellence.

Join me for a conversation about:

• Why setting realistic expectations fosters an environment of growth
• How to determine what “good enough” means for each employee 
• Ideas for supporting teachers in achieving good enough without sacrificing high standards
• Why growing through the learning curve cultivates better employee performance in the long run

Learn more and apply for the Director’s Inner Circle & Owner’s HQ: https://schoolsofexcellence.com/membership/ 

If perfectionism is your middle name, and you’re open to a loving reality check that ultimately benefits your teachers, your center, and you, I encourage you to apply for our Owner's HQ and Director's Inner Circle membership programs. As a member, you'll gain access to tools, resources, coaching, and community that will help you as you work toward building a school of excellence. 

Are you adjusting how you onboard new staff at your school and you are craving support as you adjust your expectations? Allow me to help. During a Schools of Excellence Leadership Day Intensive, you'll get a full day of on-demand, in-school training with me, plus various accountability check-ins, to help you and your team work through obstacles and build a stronger, healthier center that values self-care. https://schoolsofexcellence.com/leadership/

More about the show:

If you are an Early Childhood director or owner, prepare to transform your school and life with the Schools of Excellence podcast. Tune in each week to learn from Chanie Wilschanski, the founder and host of the Schools of Excellence Podcast and a mom of 4 little kids. Each episode will be packed with tools and strategies – equipping you to build schools with higher staff retention, teacher motivation, parent partnership, collaborative culture, and beautiful quality of life. 

Every week, Chanie shares the truth about the journey to excellence, the strategies that are working TODAY, and the mindset about the critical decisions and choices that you make every day which impact yourself, your teachers, parents, family, and children who you serve every day.