There are several reasons why good ideas fail – even award-winning ideas – in their implementation in some schools or districts. This represents part 1 of several posts about implementation plans and why some are successful and why some are not.
For me, the first key to implementing anything is to implement with high fidelity. That is, if you are going to take on the challenge of implementing a new routine, program, process, or practice, rule #1 is to implement what it is you said you were going to implement.
Like any relationship, implementation fidelity matters. Fidelity from an implementation perspective means we stay “loyal” to what the research has taught us would work. This is particularly important if you are leading the implementation plan (whether alone or with a team). Fidelity is about staying true to the fundamentals of the new routine, practice, process, or system we’re hoping to put in place. Fidelity is more likely when we ensure that we (and our team, staff, district, etc.) have the fluency and capacity to do what it is we are hoping we’ll do.
Fluency means we are “fluent” with the core content or knowledge of the new idea. It means I understand the language and terminology of the new idea; that I have a good sense of what the new routine is supposed to look like even if I haven’t completely mastered it. Fluency is about KNOWING what I need to know in order to do what I intend to do. Fluency is not enough since we are all aware of the knowing-doing gap.
Capacity is a little different. Once I know I now have to believe that I can…that I have the capacity to execute the plan, practice, etc. Fluency is a precursor, however, it doesn’t guarantee that I have – or feel I have – the capacity to move ahead. I might know what it’s supposed to look like and I might be able to tell you (fluency) but I might not believe I’m capable. This is why I have come to believe (and subsequently wrote) that leaders should “Lead for Confidence”
A lack of fluency requires more learning; a lack of capacity requires coaching and modeling. Either one on its own is incomplete. Both, however, ensure that we implement with high fidelity; that we stay “faithful” to the research or fundamentals of any new idea.