CEO Thought for the Week

Hi All,

I hope you’ve had a brilliant week so far and are enjoying the sunshine. It’s warming up nicely!

I heard an interesting phrase this week that has stuck with me- “Ceiling Inducing Language”. We talk often about the importance of language and how choosing our words wisely is so critical in our jobs because children (and colleagues) are sponges for soaking up what they hear. And human nature means we’ve always got an ear out for the negative.

“Ceiling Inducing Language”  as I understand it is all about how our use of negative or pessimistic language can lead us to adjust downwards our expectations and ambitions. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy- we effectively speak it into reality! I’m sure you’ve heard things like “well what do you expect with these children” or “he’ll never be able to..” or  “they’re a difficult group” and so on. As soon as we allow ourselves and each other to start to speak like this we do two things. Firstly, we immediately put a “ceiling” on what we believe is achievable (and therefore we are able to achieve) and secondly, we are almost accepting excuses in advance of under performance. It’s almost like we’ve given up before we’ve even got started.

I recognise that there are many challenges facing our schools and that we must put a voice to these to understand them but that should only ever be in the context of trying to find a way to resolve them. In effect, to enable us to be solutions-focussed. I have been concerned lately on a few visits that people have spent more time telling me the things their children can’t do, or the multitude of barriers and problems faced in their schools that they seem to have forgotten or overlooked so much of the brilliant work that is happening each and every day.

In the modern world our children (and colleagues) need us to be the bearers of optimism, energy and above all hope. Negativity surrounds us like a cloud- it’s on every TV channel, social media post and street corner. We must be the antidote to it in our schools. We need every child who comes through our doors to know that we believe they can do anything. We need our colleagues to feel that we stand with them shoulder to shoulder ready to move mountains so our children can succeed. Ultimately, that within Infinity we never drop our expectations, that we never settle or give in and that above all we have hope for our children and for the future.

So, my challenge to us all is this, let’s stop putting ceilings on what is possible and focussing on the barrier/problems but instead on becoming dealers in hope. Let’s make sure our words reflect our beliefs- that everyone  within our Infinity family big or small can be successful and flourish now and into the future.

Have a great week!

Best Wishes

Gavin