When Performance Meets Values !

Last month I was honored to be the guest speaker felicitating graduates of Al-Waha International School Jeddah, KSA - one of the most successful schools implementing the British system. It was not only a very professionally organized event, but it was also an event with a school climate and culture that I personally found profound !

Organizing a professional event is not something unexpected or new of such a school because it has been operating since 1992 and as per the records, it grew in quality and size over the years.

What was actually impressive was the climate and culture that I sensed that evening. This is a theme I have worked on for years, acknowledging its importance in organizations, such as schools. I have always believed and reiterated that schools and hospitals are two types of organizations that cannot be handled with neglect of values or insincerity to their vision and mission statements because these two organizations involve lives of people on the physical, mental, and social-emotional levels. Errors in hospitals could cause extended illnesses and even death; malpractices in schools could cause academic failure, unstable future, loss of confidence and other significant life-long character imbalance. Schools that stand truthful to their statements are those that can genuinely project a healthy environment in less than an hour of observation. Attending that event with the keen eye that I have, it was very obvious that the entire staff was not just standing there performing a pre-planned program, showing their best at a yearly official event as per the norms. On the contrary, most if not all were there in heart, celebrating their senior years accomplishments with the graduates. The two school graduation traditions, undertaken as a token of mentorship from the school chairman and that of the graduates towards their teachers, were very indicative of that climate and culture, deeply rooted in the school.

Sustainability was the theme I chose for my speech because it is a matter of high importance for new generations and leaders to be. Auspiciously, it was no surprise that it was relevant and purposeful in that school environment. The auditorium walls were colorfully decorated with messages and paintings of compassion, hope, resourcefulness, perseverance, and faith, and the overall atmosphere implied just that !

We as educators and leaders hold roles and responsibilities, and two of the most important are sincerity and integrity. These are the basics of every thriving organisation !

Wholeheartedly thanking Al-Waha for the meaningful evening.The school impact as a learning, sustainable community upon the lives of hundreds of learners is highly admirable!