The Ripple Effect

The Starfish Story -click link to view clip

As school leaders, your days are filled with decisions, conversations, and moments, many of them so small they might seem insignificant at the time. But just like the starfish, these moments can change the course of someone’s day… or even their life.

We invite you to pause and notice the starfish moments — and to encourage others to notice them too. Whether it’s during a planned hui check-in or during the incidental conversations that happen in our day-to-day interactions, these moments give us a chance to focus on what’s going well and the positive difference we’re making. By doing this we keep our attention on the impact that truly matters.

Starfish on Vanuatu beach

Broaden-and-Build Theory (Barbara Fredrickson, 1998)

Core idea: Positive emotions (e.g. pride, gratitude) broaden our thinking and help us build lasting resources — intellectual, social, and psychological.

Link to your question: Asking people to reflect on something they’re proud of activates a positive emotional state. This primes them to think more expansively, be more creative in problem-solving, and build stronger connections in the group.

Here are some practical tools to support you:

Ripple Effect Mapping

A visual brainstorming activity:

1.    Write a single action in the centre (e.g., “Supported a new teacher”).

2.    Draw outward “ripples” of secondary effects (e.g., “Boosted teacher confidence → Improved classroom climate → Better student engagement”).

Great to show how small acts compound.

The ‘how are you?’ and ‘how’s your day?’ trap. What could be more effective?

What has been the best thing about your day?

Who have you connected with today?

What are you looking forward to this week?

What's been going well for you today?

How good has your day been?

For use right after watching The Starfish Story:

●      Who was the last ‘starfish’ for you, and why?

●      What small action have you taken recently that you might have undervalued at the time?

●      How might we create more conditions for starfish moments to happen in our school?

Amongst the external noise and the fast pace of change let’s not overlook the great work and efforts taking place around us every day. All the best for the second half of term 3.

Ngā mihi 

Carol & Nadia