The generation of innovative ideas and practices are often propelled through attendance at professional learning sessions where engaging practitioners and experts share their knowledge.
Participants leave energized and excited; ready to get back to their schools to implement the new learning. All too often, without a systematic and consistent approach present within the culture of their schools, much of this enthusiasm diminishes when day-to-day obstacles arise.
Urgency in a PLC
Urgency creates action now. It’s focused on initiating the momentum for long-term initiative.
A quick lookup in Merriam-Webster, and we find the following:
- importance requiring swift action.
synonyms: importance, top priority, imperativeness, weight, weightiness, gravity, necessity, exigency, seriousness. - an earnest and persistent quality; insistence.
synonyms: insistence, persistence, determination, resolution, tenacity, obstinacy, doggedness.
Systematic and Consistent PLC Approach
A systematic approach looks at each priority in terms of a series. It requires a series of consistent events to shift and craft culture changes.
For example, a 2nd-grade language arts team might be working on increase the reading abilities of their young readers. To create lasting change, the team must
- commit to a set of actions
- consistently implement those commitments
- create systematic ways to evaluate their progress along the way
The same is true for developing leaders in a PLC. It requires consistency over time. Here’s a graphic that shows leadership development over a series of years…even decades.

Urgency and Consistency in a PLC
Urgency is the spark. It gets the fire going. A systematic approach creates the consistency needed for lasting success. It is the fuel that keeps the fire burning.
I hope you enjoyed this quick article. I’m curious about your efforts in refining your PLC processes. Share this article or Tweet me your thoughts!
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