In February I attended the National Association of Independent School (“NAIS”) conference. The theme this year was “Adapt, Survive, Thrive” and many of the presentations were organized around strategies independent schools must adopt to move through the recession. Doesn’t sound very uplifting? Well, the title of one presentation caught my eye – “How Can Your School Think Like Google?” I came away with the following seven points, as well as renewed appreciation for all that Derryfield does incredibly well.
1. Ideas come from everywhere - Google encourages people to attend meetings outside their field, even meetings outside their comfort zone.
2. Share everything you can - The institution should constantly be creating opportunities for convergence.
Most parents are not likely to have experienced some of my most favorite events at Derryfield. That is, our full faculty meeting on Friday morning that we call “Stand-up” (a remnant from when we did not have a room large enough for everyone to sit), or our All-School Meeting on Monday mornings (which you are invited to, but most parents find inconvenient to attend). Both “Stand-Up” and All School Meeting have a tone of respect for one another, and a sense that we are at our best when sharing the talents in or community. Both of these gatherings have a grand feeling of “convergence” about them, and in different ways they represent our school culture at its best.
3. You’re inspiring? We’re Hiring! Leadership that actively seeks diverse viewpoints, supported by a genuinely welcoming community.
Each year at this time I am inspired by the quality of people who want to teach at Derryfield, and the way the school’s reputation seems to excite them and bring out the best in them. Google’s phrase captures the essence of our mission statement (“The Derryfield School inspires bright, motivated young people . . .”) and helps to explain why both Derryfield and Google made it from young start-ups to mature organizations.
4. Give a License to Pursue Dreams – Explanation: Google has their famous “20% time” (that is, one of every five days employees get to work on whatever interests them – pet projects, passions, etc. G-mail, Google maps, and many others were developed because of the 20% time). But they are also developing a new idea at their phenomenal campus – they are pursuing a work-life that is “blended,” not “balanced.” The cynical view –now employees never have a reason to go home. Google’s view – This is what it takes to be a great company.
We have spent time this year in a variety of ways exploring our core value of “Balance,” defined as “inspiring academic, artistic, and athletic opportunities, promoting the development of healthy habits of mind, body, and spirit, and the skill to balance creative tension.” Best I can tell, Google has simply walked by any pretense of balance, opting instead to offer their employees a “blended” life – one in which their employees never have to leave their extraordinary corporate headquarters. Does this approach hint at what is to come if our children are to work at leading companies five or ten years from now? Is the value of “balance” already an outdated idea for our children and their future?
I cast my lot with Derryfield’s view of balance. Doubtless the world will give more opportunities for our children to blend interests, but schools – and the adults in them – must continue to promote the skills needed to navigate creative tension. I call that balance. Google disagrees.
5. Creativity Loves Constraint - The economy is the new constraint, and you have to surf it, not resent it.
No argument here. In fact, if creativity loves constraint, we may be entering a whole new era of creativity on a global scale.
6. Innovation, not Instant Perfection. In other words - Start, innovate and iterate.
I think this is an exceptionally important value to build into a start-up. It explains so much of Google’s success. So many young organizations have analysis paralysis. The best teachers, like the best organizations, find a way to create an environment of thoughtful risk taking. I was fortunate to inherit Derryfield’s healthy atmosphere in this regard, and yet I continue to see opportunities to move this value forward. We have some of the most innovative faculty, staff, students, parents and Board members anyone could ask for – but the phrase implies constant work, constant review, and a determined humility that always seeks improvement on behalf of students.
7. Data is apolitical - Data has no agenda
This was a raucous way to end a presentation, in part because the day’s newspaper headlines included a story about Google having good reason to believe that China may be tampering with their servers – in essence, with their data. In light of this, the mantra seemed naïve. And, one could argue, exposed a humanizing sense of fallibility in a company that has a Midas touch.
I hope you enjoy your spring break. Take some time to think, perhaps even some time to think like Google. And let me know your reaction to these seven points. Meanwhile, I am developing a presentation called “How Can Google Think Like Derryfield.” I bet it will be standing room only.
CNS
