One Word for 2021: Partnership
- Sarah Hodgson
- Jan 1, 2021
- 4 min read
January 1st, 2021. Time for some goal setting. Kinda.
I have a few friends who always choose one word to focus on for the year. So I decided to do that, instead of the usual ‘resolutions’ that never seem to make it past mid-January. I’ve also tried to write ‘open goals‘, instead of SMART ones.
My immediate gut reaction took me to ‘partnership’, inspired by the work of Dr. Jim Knight. I’ve read two of his books recently (Better Conversations and Unmistakeable Impact) and have just started The Impact Cycle. They have completely changed the way I see myself as an educator and coach. Huge thanks to @lv_white for steering me in that direction. The injection of learning that I was hoping for when I moved schools. Invigorating and exciting – hoping for more of that in 2021!
Initially, I wasn’t sure how the word ‘partnership’ could fit into other areas of my life, but I think I can make this work. Here’s how I’m hoping 2021 will play out:
“At its core, the partnership approach is about a simple idea: treat others the way you would like to be treated.” (Knight, 2011)
Partnership – Professional
Partnership with colleagues. Live and embody the Partnership Principles (Knight, 2018): equality, choice, voice, reflection, dialogue, reflection, praxis, reciprocity. Continue to build and maintain trustful and respectful coaching and collaborative partnerships.
Partnership with students. Keep them at the centre of EVERYTHING I do. Spend more time developing the student tech leadership team – co-construct with them the why, how, and what of their role in the school.
Partnership with parents. In my role as PYP Digital Learning Coach, my contact with parents is minimal. They usually come to me when they are experiencing problems with, or are frustrated by, technology! Maintain respectful relationships and provide support whenever and however I can.
Partnership with educators worldwide. Maintain an active Twitter profile, connect to and share with educators across the globe. Never underestimate the power of a tweet!
Partnership with learning. Read, read, read, and then read some more. Dive deeper into the world of coaching and concept based learning. Attend virtual professional learning opportunities whenever I can. I already have these two lined up for January and February 2021. Yes, I admit it, I’m definitely a fan!
Partnership – Personal
Partnership with self-care. If 2020 taught me anything, it was that self-care is not just important. It is crucial. Without it, nothing else works. I’ve never been good at taking care of me, but I’m getting better.
Partnership with food. Eat Paleo as much as I can. I know I feel better when I do. Improve my gut health as this impacts EVERYTHING in my life.
Partnership with exercise. 2 walks per day, plus as much time with weights and yoga as I can fit into my week. Focusing on fitness, mobility, and strength.
Partnership with habits. Out with the bad unhealthy, in with the good healthy! Continue to use Noom to support me and for accountability.
Partnership with therapy. Meeting regularly with a psychotherapist. Working through childhood trauma and the 40+ years of crap that have followed as a result. I’m a work in progress and I know this is not a quick fix, but I’m so, so ready to ‘go there’ now. Finally in a place where I feel safe enough to do this.
Partnership with spiritual/personal growth. Meditate more. Visualise more. Practice daily affirmations. Read more spiritual texts. Find peace in me.
Partnership with play. Paint, paint, paint. Create something every day. WRITE as much as I can.
Partnership with nature. Get out into it as much as I possibly can. Good for my soul.
Partnership with travel. When the pandemic has stabilized and we are able to travel more freely and without worry, I’m looking forward to exploring more of Romania and Europe. Here’s hoping we get to see some new places in 2021.
Partnership with family.
Partnership with my son. Be the best Mum I can be to this incredible teenager. Consciously keep the lines of communication well and truly open, no matter what. Help him be as independent as I possibly can.
Partnership with family in the UK. Contact regularly, texts, Skype chats… and hopefully get to London to spend significant time with them in person.
Partnership with our rescue dog. Continue to learn more and improve as a dog owner. Cesar Milan, you are my hero.
Partnership with other humans.
Partnership with friends overseas. Maintain contact as much as possible. Facebook, WhatsApp, Skype, whatever… Hopefully, catch up with some friends face-to-face in UK and other places this year. Time will tell on that one.
Partnership with friends and social connections in Romania. Fight the introvert in me. Be more open to invitations. Say yes more. This is probably the hardest thing for me to do in this whole blog post and I can feel the anxiety rising in me as I type it. Sad, but true. Slowly does it.
Partnership with service. Find ways to help others. Give back to the community. Give time.
Partnership with finances.
Partnership with saving. I’ve never been good with money. I’ve never learnt HOW to be good with money. Being a single income family doesn’t always allow me to save how I would ideally like to. Time to knuckle down, be more frugal, and get my son through uni (if he wants to go that route), and get myself organised so I can retire (later) without worries about where the next meal is coming from. Develop a plan. Somehow.
There’s a lot going on there, but if I keep ‘partnership’ at my core, it will all work out. I think. Let’s go, 2021!
References:
Knight, Jim. Better Conversations: Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected. Corwin, A Sage Company, 2016.
Knight, Jim. The Impact Cycle: What Instructional Coaches Should Do to Foster Powerful Improvements in Teaching. Corwin, 2018.
Knight, Jim. Unmistakable Impact: a Partnership Approach for Dramatically Improving Instruction. Corwin, 2011.
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