Systems

Dr. Forys has shared the systems that she has developed to organize routine,
reoccurring activities like School Board Meetings, bond/levy, budget, task
forces, citizenÂ1s complaints. These systems are designed to break down
complicated, challenging issues into manageable tasks to give school board
directors the time to make wise decisions.

These systems are a perfect example of CovyÂ1s time management model. There
are important and unimportant tasks/projects and emergencies and
non-emergencies. Covy says that we should minimize the time we spend on
unimportant tasks and emergencies by taking the time to plan to make most of
our activities be important non-emergencies.

Basically, take the time to create systems that break complex tasks into
manageable, meaningful activities. By doing this, Dr. Forys has helped the
Northshore School Board become a real decision making board.

This isnÂ1t just for superintendents. I can use systems thinking in the same
way as a principal, a coach, a teacher.