In a recent professional development session for Columbus City Schools (CCS) principals, bestselling author James Clear dropped some knowledge bombs on how small habits can make a big impact. Clear, the man behind the wildly popular book "Atomic Habits," spoke to CCS's leaders about the transformative power of tiny, consistent actions over sweeping changes, according to Columbus City Schools News. It's not often that the author of a book with over 25 million copies sold takes time to engage with school principals, which makes this initiative by CCS exceptional in its foresight.
The gathering was evidently a hit, with CCS Principal Coach Dr. Zachary Duberstein clearly thrilled, telling Columbus City Schools News that there's never been a more pressing time for these insights. The schools are trying to cope with significant challenges, and Clear's focus on growth and improvement seems to perfectly align with the needs of the moment. Every principal was poised on the edge of their seats, metaphorically speaking, as Clear recounted how he had to literally rebuild himself after a life-changing injury, step by tiny step.
During the session, Clear hammered home the pivotal role that identity plays in habit formation. "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become," he told CCS's school leaders, a statement obtained by Columbus City Schools News. This idea goes beyond mere outcomes, pushing educators to understand who they and their schools are becoming with every small decision they make every day.
Clearly laid out four key rules dubbed the "Four Laws of Behavior Change" — make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying — to effectively embed positive practices within the school environment, according to Columbus City Schools News. In a refreshing departure from relying solely on motivation to drive change, Clear introduced strategies to create systems and environments that can more effectively foster desired behaviors among staff and students. He was keen to highlight the "plateau of latent potential" where the fruits of hard, unseen labor accumulate before bursting into visible success, noting, "The work isn't wasted, it's being stored."
Wrapping up the insightful session, Clear offered a practical piece of advice to the attending principals. He suggested they not to underestimate the power of investing as little as "five good minutes" into focused actions, which, according to a statement he gave to Columbus City Schools News, could potentially set off a new trajectory.
