If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom. The challenge – scaling what works

Intellectual humility—knowing what we don’t know.

Recognizing our shortcomings opens the door to doubt. As we question our current understanding, we become curious about what information we’re missing. That search leads us to new discoveries, which in turn maintain our humility by reinforcing how much we still have to learn. If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom. Quoted from Adam Grant  in Think Again

I am feeling so blessed to be part of something that has this much impact

I have the wisdom to know that the program’s success is underpinned by the relationships and partnerships we build ( and the Power of the Koala)

Monitoring and evaluating (M&E) should be a key component of everything we do in business and life. Asking people to actively participate in the M&E process requires them to be as passionate about the outcomes you are trying to achieve as you are. It also requires you to provide them with clarity around what the outcomes are.

This week I was reminded of the high level expertise I have been introduced to on my journey and in this post I would like to do a shout out to Larraine Larri who was our program evaluator for seven years.

Best practice behaviour change programs are underpinned by program logic.   Success requires a deep appreciation of the Theory Of Change. Putting it all on paper requires a whizz – our whizz in this space was Larri

You might be saying its one thing for young people to say they are changing their behaviours can we show they are they walking the talk? Its gives me great joy to share with you they are. Report the #CKreative Koalas Kids Changemakers Community Action Reports here  

What we gleaned from our exit survey

96% of young people reported experiencing a change in knowledge, attitude, or behaviour (a little or a lot/ either in school, outside of school or both) because of participating in Kreative Koalas

In an open response question we asked them to tell us what these changes looked like.

The top seven participant generated responses ( Note participants could give two responses) out of a wide range of responses were:

• 20% reported personal growth. This included increased communication skills and confidence to talk to others about sustainability, better collaboration skills and caring for others, and an increased ability to advocate for positive actions that impact the environment
• 20%  engaged in behaviours to reduce electricity use and energy consumption and increased understanding of the importance of switching to renewable energy
• 17% reported increased awareness about the impact of their actions on the environment and commitment to action for improving environmental outcomes
• 15% reported they reduced their food and water waste in general
• 15% started growing vegetable gardens or other plants at home.
• 14% reported greater awareness of the importance of wildlife conservation.
• 10%  reported engaging in recycling at home and school

The Kreative Koalas teachers also had multiple opportunities throughout 2020 to attend our  Train the Trainer workshops.

It is clear Changeologist Guru Les Robinson empowered the teachers to support the students on their journey to #BeTheChange

Les ethos reminds me of the work of  BJ Fogg

Behaviour = Motivation + Ability + Prompt

See Les’ Comfy Zone Diagnostic Tool here 

As the word spreads about the high level impact our programs are having I am more and more finding myself invited to consult to other organisations on how they too can achieve this type of impact. I am more than happy to share my knowledge and have conversations that reinforce you don’t always have to have scale to have influence. We can all be #RoleModels