The STOP, START and CONTINUE Approach

Throughout a Change Management process, I have often used the following approach of STOP, START and CONTINUE in schools I have worked at. It is a way to bring the whole team together, to align a vision and to create a consitent apporach and transparency.

Approach

Discussing all issues and assigning them into the 3 categories, STOP, START and CONTINUE.

It can really help bring staff together, launch new initiatives, remove potential obstacles and build on current strengths in the workplace. It can create strong communication during changes, and put everyone at ease by explaining the reasons behind any decision.

Purpose

It can help create a balance during chage management and avoid a new leader making too many quick changes. It helps to focus on the positives and to build on the strengths of a school.

Personally, I have found that this model can help reduce unnecessary tasks, extra staff workload and potentially 'wasted time' to then invest in items that have a bigger impact on learning!

Framework

The Stop, Start, Continue approach is a simple and useful framework that helps individuals overcome some of the challenges of both giving and receiving feedback.

To use the model, simply request or provide feedback in three sections:

1. Stop: Things that are less good and which should be stopped, and

2. Start: Things which aren’t currently being done but which it would be good to start doing.

3. Continue: Things that are good and which should be continued.

https://worldofwork.io/2019/07/feedback-start-stop-continue/#:~:text=Stop%2C%20Start%2C%20Continue%20is%20a,things%20they%20should%20start%20doing.

STOP, START and CONTINUE model explained:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7OMEDQIzl4Y

Example starting points for questions to ask

STOP

• What is stopping us completing procedures?

• What is wasting our money? affecting our budget without value?

• What’s slowing us down or creating roadblocks?

• What activities are wasting time or resources?

• What actions or behaviours are not helping us reach our goals?

  
  

START

• What opportunities can look at?

• Where are our skills under-utilised?

• What do we excel in that we haven't implemented?

• What’s missing that could help us achieve our goals?

• What new practices or strategies should we implement?

• What can we do differently to improve outcomes?

CONTINUE

• What do we do well that is aligned to our Vision and Mission?

• What are we proud of?

• What are our strengths?

• What practices or strategies have been beneficial and should be sustained?

• What’s currently working well that we should keep doing?

• What strengths can we build upon for further success?

Engaging with Parents:

When to 'Start'

If you’re starting from a place of low trust, take it slowly and step by step. In a group setting, start by getting the team members to write all the things they think are amazing about each other on posters, post-its or sticky notes – the ‘Continue’ part of the exercise. By introducing a round of praise first, you’re starting on a positive note and encouraging the easiest conversations to get everyone used to appraising each other. The key for this stage is to refer to the strengths and use these in the future to build from otherwise this will be identified as a pointless exercise. All three phases need care and attention.

This process can be used at the start of the year, end of the year and possibly even in each term but I would recommend that the activities and approach is vaired to maintain interest and also that previous work is referred to and built upon to give the sessions a sense of purpose.

Complete guide

Great leaders know success isn’t an end state — it’s an iterative process. Each step in the process asks open-ended questions that help you think of ways to create a better workflow or improve team cohesion. This could come in the form of an employee feedback survey, a solo journaling session, or a post-project meeting.

Compared to close-ended questions and numerical rating systems, studies show that the Start, Stop, Continue method is a valuable alternative that results in real-world changes. Academics and educators often use Start, Stop, Continue to collect student feedback and improve the quality of instruction. 

When to use

While the Start-Stop-Continue retrospective framework can be used at any time, it is especially beneficial in certain instances:

• Joining a new school and setting a vision

• Strategic planning and Annual improvement plans

• At each milestone in a project to know how things are progressing

• At the end of a school year

• During performance managment review discussions

• During team and departmental meetings

• When launching a new process or idea

• While seeking feedback about specific challenges from parents and staff

• During goal-setting discussions

• When looking to solve specific problems, e.g. communication gaps

• During Self Evaluation processes

Find the complete guide below:

https://www.betterup.com/blog/start-stop-continue#:~:text=about%20its%20benefits.-,What%27s%20Start%2C%20Stop%2C%20Continue%3F,to%20do%20for%20future%20initiatives.

Further reading:

https://worldofwork.io/2019/07/feedback-start-stop-continue/

As you join a new school, think about what you could keep the same and continue? what you need to stop based on staff feedback and new quick wins that you could start?

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Published by Dr. Paul Walton. @paultwalton

Principal, Educator, Leadership Coach.