Habit 1: Be Proactive® – Embracing Proactivity with iAbacus

When I set out to create iAbacus, I knew that empowering educators to take charge of their own growth was at the heart of what I wanted to achieve. Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People played a significant role in shaping my thinking, and one idea resonated with me above all: be proactive. This mindset was a game-changer for me—a shift from feeling like circumstances were dictating my life to realising I could shape my own journey. It became a foundational pillar when designing iAbacus, and it’s the reason why iAbacus is more than just a planning tool—it’s a catalyst for proactive change.

The Essence of Proactivity

Covey describes proactivity as much more than simply taking action. It’s about responsibility, intentionality, and choosing your response to whatever comes your way. In education, being proactive means not waiting for the next inspection, policy, or external judgement—it’s about evaluating, acting, and making changes because you believe in the power of your own actions to drive improvement. With iAbacus, I wanted to provide a platform that encourages exactly this kind of empowering mindset.

How iAbacus Encourages Proactive Growth

iAbacus was developed with the idea that we should all be the architects of our own progress. Here’s how iAbacus helps educators take proactive steps:

1. Taking Ownership from the Outset

The first step in iAbacus is to initiate an evaluation independently. This puts educators in the driver’s seat. Whether it’s a classroom teacher assessing learning outcomes or a headteacher looking at school-wide performance, iAbacus encourages self-initiated evaluations—no waiting for inspections or external assessments. This empowerment was at the heart of my vision for iAbacus: putting educators in charge of their journey.

2. Making Conscious Judgements

The act of sliding the beads on the abacus is more than just an interactive feature. It’s a symbolic commitment to taking control. Whether you're an individual teacher, a department head, or part of a senior leadership team, you're making a conscious judgement about your current state and determining the progress you wish to achieve. This kind of visual, kinaesthetic interaction encourages accountability and intentional action.

3. Focusing on What You Can Control

In education, there are countless variables, but not all are within our control. iAbacus helps users identify and focus on the factors they can influence. Instead of worrying about external pressures like policy changes or fluctuating funding, educators can channel their efforts into improving teaching practices, student support, and resource allocation—all elements within their "circle of influence."

4. Turning Intentions into Action

Being proactive isn’t just about having a plan—it’s about executing it. iAbacus helps transform intentions into action. The platform provides a space to outline specific actions, assign responsibilities, set timelines, and measure progress. This structured approach makes sure that proactive energy translates into tangible improvements that drive lasting change.

5. Building a Culture of Proactivity

Proactivity isn’t just an individual mindset—it’s a culture. iAbacus enables teams to work collaboratively on evaluations and improvement plans, encouraging a collective sense of ownership. Teachers, school staff, and leadership teams become more invested in taking action, helping create a proactive culture that permeates the entire organisation.

The Power of Being Proactive in Action

Consider a primary school looking to improve student well-being. Instead of waiting for an external audit to highlight areas for improvement, the staff use iAbacus to assess the current situation. They identify the factors that help, such as strong pastoral care, as well as hindrances like inconsistent mental health resources. From there, they create a strategic action plan—such as providing teacher training on supporting mental health, introducing well-being activities, and allocating resources for student counselling. This proactive approach enables them to take control and move towards their vision, rather than waiting for circumstances to dictate their next move.

Embrace Proactivity with iAbacus

Being proactive is about taking ownership of your growth, both personally and professionally. iAbacus was created with this principle in mind—to help educators take control, act intentionally, and create meaningful change. By initiating evaluations, focusing on what you can control, and turning plans into action, you can actively shape your journey of improvement.