Getting off the Sidelines
I think it was late 2020 or early 2021. It all feels merged around that time. The Teams meeting icebreaker was “what has been your lockdown song?” Mine was Sidelines by Canadian artist Peter Broderick. I often seemed to have these lyrics in my head (apologies for the swearing but seemed weird to change it.)
“Ever since the rain came down
The field’s been all muddy
And everybody’s playing like sh*tThere is something we’re all stuck with
And I have tried to point it out
But no one likes the guy
Who points from the sidelines”
Peter Broderick at the Camden Jazz Café in late 2021 was the last gig I saw before lockdown, so it was partly that. Mostly it was because I felt like I was on the edge looking in on a lot of work happening at the time. I was the guy ‘who points from the sidelines’.
It was a strange time for everyone. People did amazing things but it was ‘all muddy’ and people weren’t always at their best. I had people on the sidelines of my work as well. I didn’t like them pointing out when I was playing badly.
The view from the sidelines can be hugely valuable but it needs to be used in a way that adds value. It can become too be easy to point out faults or find blame, rather than coaching, supporting and taking some responsibility for the work.
In the end, I decided it was time to get off the sidelines at Camden. I was worried I was becoming the critical sidelines guy, on the outside looking in rather than part of the solution.
I’ve reconfigured how I use my energy now. As a freelancer, I am often on the sidelines. I definitely have more energy to help people to play better rather than just spotting the bumps in the road. A client recently said, “I’ve really valued your mind tidying.”
I have also noticed that as I have gotten older, my focus has become more local, to places where it is impossible to shout from the sidelines and not take responsibility because I am so connected to the place and the people. This doesn’t mean I don’t care about the bigger stuff or support those working in those spaces, just that this isn’t my work right now.
I am finding my role as Chair of Governors at Ferry Lane School especially purposeful due to it being centred in my community. Schools are at the heart of our communities and I have found that my main role as Chair has been to find ways to encourage people off the sidelines, to support the children at Ferry Lane and in the wider community to thrive.
We often view schools through an outsider ‘sidelines’ lens via Ofsted, a set of numbers, or a historic reputation. To are encouraged to pick our school based on what our child will gain, rather than what we can offer.
With all the challenges schools currently face we need to find more ways to help not just parents but other members of our communities to play more active roles in our children’s education, for all our benefits.
The question I’m asking now is: how do we help people off the sidelines to help build their communities?
