The story of NorthLight
- Heartwork @ NorthLight
Creative Tension at Play
Our Desired Future
- where we want to be
Opposing
Systemic
Structures
(eg Limits to
success)
Supporting
Systemic
Structures
(Theory of
success)
Our Current Reality
- where we are
2
Current Reality:
•Deep sense of failure and
hopelessness
•Angry parents -blame self and
society
•May incur a social cost in the long
run
•May become future low wage
workers
(Good morning NLS)
Profile of the students
•55% has very low language
proficiency
•96% has a U grade for Maths
•70% has low household income
•EQ profile - Intrapersonal skills ,
Interpersonal, skills adaptability, stress
management, general mood.
Lowest in Interpersonal skills and
general mood.
Questions asked:
-How will the society view NLS?
-Will there be parents who wants to
send their children to NLS?
-Will there be teachers who want to
come and teach?
-Is a centralised model the best
option?
•“Good to Great” by Jim Collins
First Who then What
Hedgehog concept
•Path of Least Resistance by Robert
Fritz
Mission
Vision
Motto
Values
- staff , parents, students’ creeds
Theory of Success
The theories drive our strategies, decisions and actions.
Why do we need to make it explicit?
Question the mental models and assumptions underlying our
theories to see if they are valid..
Ensure that our strategies and actions have coherence
A valid theory of success is a reinforcing loop – it is a
virtuous cycle that is self-sustaining.
Identify potential obstacles which prevent our theory of
success from taking off on a sustainable basis.
Northlight’s Theory of Success
Quality of Results
Quality of Plans & Actions
Quality of Relationships
Reinforcing Cycle
Quality of Collective Thinking
Quality of Conversations
(This theory of success is adapted from Daniel Kim’s core theory of success for
organisations)
The above core theory of success is one of NorthLight’s key success loop. It
reflects our assumptions about what will enable NorthLight to create its
desired results. It shows a self-reinforcing loop with the following variables:
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A Core Theory of Success
(cont’d)
Quality of Results
“What do we want to create together in this school? Why is
this important and meaningful? ”
Quality of Plans & Actions
. “What high leverage actions do we need to take to reach
our desired future?”
Quality of Collective Thinking
“Do our team members understand where we are going,
why we are going there and what we need to do to get
there?
Is there synergy among the different departments and
individuals in the NorthLight team? ”
Quality of Conversations
“Do our conversations give life; do they encourage ownership
and commitment?”
12
NorthLight’s Operational Theory of
Success
In additional to the core theory of success, NorthLight also has an operational
theory that drives many of its teaching, learning and character development
strategies:
Student’s level of
hope
Tastes/ Experiences of
success
Student’s
Motivation to
Succeed
Confidence
Performance
The theory goes as follows: When our students taste success, their level of
hope go up. As their hope goes up their motivation to succeed increases.
This leads to better performance and higher confidence. These in turn
causes them to experience more success. The success loop is in operation!
Rebranded
Redefined Success Relevance, resilience
Identity
Attract
Quality of Results
believers
Trust,
not fear
Resources
Quality of Actions
Quality of
Relationships
Our mission
and vision
Quality of Planning
Quality of Collective
Thinking
Our values
NorthLight Overall Theory of Success
Pattern of Behavior of Variables
in Theory of Success
The variables in success loops experience exponential growth or decline. It
usually takes time for the results to show initially, as this is when the initial
actions to start the success loop are made. After this initial period we will
experience exponential growth or take off.
Fast
Desired Outcomes
Time
Slow
In NorthLight’s case, we have experienced faster than expected results in
terms of our students’ motivation, character and performance.
15
Limits To Growth
In NorthLight,
•Clarity of what we want in our staff and students
•Theory of success to reach our desired outcome.
As our success loop grows, more resources will be needed.
As the resource is fixed, the resource gap (or availability)
falls. This declining availability may retard the growth of
one or more variables in the success loop.
This is very real in NorthLight as we have experienced
faster than expected growth in our desired outcomes. As we
go into our third year of operation, we need to be aware of
what our limits are, organisationally and individually, so
that we can anticipate them and take corrective action.
Only then can our results be sustained in the long term in a
life giving way.
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
2007 – 80 visitors, 23 attachments

2008 – fixed 2 school learning journeys/
term ; 83 groups visited; 53 attachments

2009 : 1 learning journey/ term; Fixed
attachments
NorthLight – Success Redefined
(What we want to grow more of)
Relationships and Team Spirit (7)
 Empathy and Acceptance (7)
 Perseverance (7)
 Belief in the NorthLight Cause (6)
 Passion and Commitment (5)
 Others – Humility, Courage,
Integrity, Attendance

Success Redefined

For Graduating Class
- World – ready
- Work- ready
- Character (eg resilience, focus, on
task, sustain in job)
- IT proficient
- Continued connection with
NorthLight through WDA – funded
courses, alumni
Sustaining our Passion,
Staying the Course
“What is needed, individually and
collectively, for us in NorthLight to
sustain the progress made in our first 2
years, and replendish our passion and
energy on a sustainable basis?”
What Organisational Limits do we
need to be aware of?
Size of Organisation and Impact
on Communications
 Resources – Time, Finance,
Manpower
 Competencies
 Bureaucracy vs Flexibility
 Family Support for students

Sustaining Our Passion, Staying
the Course

What will enable me to deepen
relationships, be more empathetic
and accepting – of myself and
one another in the team (staff and
students)?
“A bird sings not because it has
the answer,
it sings because it has
a song”