Difficult decisions

Sometimes it feels like whatever direction I turn I can't make the right decision. Someone is going to be unhappy. I know leadership isn't about making people happy however having a demotivated staff and making them unhappy helps no one.

So how do you turn around the morale and feelings of frustrations? I have tried listening and adjusting the timetable- starting after Easter- and I think it will work and be a better timetable. But I also feel called to address work/life balance. Especially after reading this article.

So what's the solution. I think I need to start by looking at what the expectations are. How much above and beyond teaching are we asking. I admit I think it might scare me. As part of the difficult decision I will be job sharing a class instead of doing cover. Half of me is excited, the other half is terrified. Yes I've balenced the leadership responsibilites with class ones before but I also get attached. I want to do the best for my class.

I see teachers whose morale is low and know that their motivation to stay at my school must also be low. Yet I love this school, these children and I want them to feel the same way. Surely I have a responsibility to avoid burn out and to try and raise retention levels. I want to make school a fun place to work and learn. With a buzzing atmosphere where even when difficult decisions are made the team support them and make the best of them.

So how? Well I'm starting with the list and would love to hear ideas. I don't think its about quick fixes but it is about empowering teachers and prioritising expectations.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Leading millennials

Image
Last night St Luke’s church hosted an evening with Phil Knox who works for evangelical alliance looking at reaching young adults presented a conversation thinking about how to lead millennials and the changing landscape that businesses, churches and other settings find themselves working with and supporting millennials (those born between 1982-2000). In the church Phil referred to this generation often being the ‘missing generation’ who have never been involved in church as a child. I went along because, as a millennial myself I find myself leading those of an older generation but will also soon be a millennials leading other millennials and those who are post millennial. The opening comment around millennials being those who often find job satisfaction hard and look for instant gratification is something that I can certainly relate to with those who I know. Those who never seem satisfied with the job they have and are constantly on the look out for something different or better. We ...
Read more

Leading millennials II

Image
Following on from my last post because the evening was in two halves it seemed to make sense to do the same with my reflections. We started this part looking at a model of leadership with relationships at the heart. It was made very clear that this model of leadership was not just specific to millennials but to all generations.  This reminded me of a conversation I had with another head about how she so valued the servant leadership model with love at the heart of all she did both with, alongside and for the staff and pupils within her school. Get those relationships right and the results come well. Underestimate or get relationships wrong and you may not even get to action let alone results. Because they look back...we move forward We discussed how anything that is considered static or institutional is not regarded positively by millennials and the impact of that on people’s perceptions on religion. Compared to perceptions and positive views on anything that seems dynam...
Read more

Learning event day 2

Image
Romans 12:2 4-8 Be transformed by Gods renewing- God has placed me in this role not to hide my gifts away but to transform them. That being a leader is about stepping forward and showing others what God is doing. If your gift is to lead do it diligently- v8 what a challenge! My overnight reflections were mainly based on how: * People read me and know far more than I think.  * I need to take control of that and consider thoughtfully and prayerfully the change they will see when I return next week.  * To find ways to be a better servant leader.  * To focus on loving others, giving generously, to grow others. This led to me creating some Emerging leadership goals * to find ways to use key questions that I need to ask -to show vision is in practise and action within school * to feel more confident to answer those questions with gods help and to find different sources when needed * for both good teachers and great leaders questions are key!...
Read more