Quote-A-Day: Day 157

#Efficiency is different from #effectiveness. We can work hard, + quickly, but still miss the mark. #QuoteADay #Day157 #edchat #ASCDL2L #edu

It is possible for use to be efficient, and complete tasks in both a timely manner and with hard work built in.  However, efficiency doesn't equal effectiveness, as anyone who has put all their effort into a project, only to have it end up not working right, can understand.

As leaders and learners, we have to be careful not to mistake these two for each other.  True, one can be effective and also efficient, but it is also possible to be one, or the other.

A true test for a leader is whether he or she can recognize the different in these terms among the people worked with (and of course, within him or herself).

Which is more important to successfully leading and learning?

In reality, "effectiveness," since it doesn't matter how quickly we complete a task or reach a goal.  If what we've done is wrong, then we're likely worse off than prior to engaging in the work.

Therefore, we need to keep our eyes peeled for efficiency that isn't matched to effectiveness.  If we don't see signs of the two together, and only identify efficiency in use, then we need to assist those we work with in finding ways to become more effective.

How can we do that?

Here are two beginning thoughts:

1.  Pair people up with complementary skills to reach a benchmark.  If you work with someone who is beyond efficient, but needs help in moving into the effective realm, match them up with a colleague that is incredibly effective.  It's quite possible in this scenario that both parties will benefit, as even the most effective people could always use an efficiency boost.

2.  Help those who are less effective learn to self-monitor.  Create an effectiveness checklist, or a work completion reflection tool.  At times, we are so efficient in our work that we forget to think about the how and the why of what we're doing.  A checklist as we work, or a reflection tool at the end, can help us think about any issues that may have appeared that might lead us to be less effective.

It's true that to be at our best, we need to be efficiently effective.  But, we must understand that getting to this point requires us to always be thinking about the work we're engaged in.

Not an easy task in today's educational milieu.