Remedy must match diagnosis
According to Mrs Linn at the Oaks Academy there are three reasons why kids don’t do what they are asked to do.
Ignorance: they don’t actually know how to do what they were asked to do. Remedy: Information or education.
Weakness: they know what they are supposed to do but they just can’t get themselves to do it. Remedy: Support or encouragement.
Rebellion: They are willfully choosing to not do what they are supposed to do. Remedy: Use authority.
The temptation as a parent (or teacher or leader) is to treat every diagnosis with the same remedy. We then end up frustrated that we didn’t get the result we were looking for and we blame the other.
Our responsibility is to know the people we lead (parent, teach) well enough that we can properly diagnose what the cause is and remedy it appropriately.
This is why manuals and ‘best practices’ have limited effectiveness.
When the people you lead are not doing the things you are hoping they would do is it because;
They don’t know how? Teach and equip
They don’t buy in? Help them understand why.
They don’t have time? Help them prioritize and cut things that are a lower priority.
They lack vision? Motivate
They lack confidence? Go with them until they gain confidence
They have fear? Give them a smaller task and point out what happens when you overcome fear.
I don’t know what the answer is to each obstacle but I do know that it doesn’t work to treat strep throat by icing your knee.
The remedy must match diagnosis and this only happens by knowing your people.