Stepping up into your first role as a school leader can be daunting, and with more and more young teachers progressing in their careers quickly, there can be little preparation for those going into senior leadership roles. So, how can teachers prepare for their first step on the leadership ladder?
We rise by lifting others
Probably the most valuable quality a leader can possess is the ability to be empathetic and supportive to their colleagues. Amid teacher strikes and continuing pressure to fill the gaps from the pandemic, some teachers are feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated, so even the smallest gesture from a member of SLT could make a difference to their wellbeing and attitude towards work. Looking at things from other people’s perspectives will allow you understand their motives and therefore allow you to support colleagues with any issues that they may be dealing with. Remember that you were in their shoes not so long ago. Try to develop an approachable and positive relationship with colleagues and make an effort to praise their achievements regularly and publicly. Take a few minutes to simply check in with how they are feeling. Senior leaders are obviously very busy, but making time for your colleagues will have numerous benefits.
Be a role model
It’s easy to succumb to the ‘do as I say, not as I do’ philosophy but, as a leader, it is important to set a positive example to your colleagues. Don’t be tempted to join in with school gossip or negative talk in the staff room. Try to stick to the rules – there’s nothing worse than a hypocritical school leader. This doesn’t mean you have to be a ‘fun sponge’ or constantly be berating people for small rule-breaks, but it does mean that you sometimes must be extra careful with your own behaviour. If you no longer have teaching responsibilities, try to keep a connection to the classroom by team-teaching or taking intervention groups so that you can practise what you preach. Leadership is about accountability and taking responsibility, so be sure to set an example that you would want staff to follow. Of course, you can relax and have fun every now and then but remember that you have a reputation to uphold.
Communication is key
Open communication with staff, pupils and parents/carers is one of the things that makes a great leadership team successful. Staff need to feel comfortable raising any concerns and voicing their opinions, and the wider school community needs to feel familiar and safe with the leaders running the school. Listen to others without interruption or judgement and take the time to think about how you are going to respond to them. Be visible around the school instead of hiding away in an office. And, when you inevitably must have those difficult conversations with staff or parents, focus on solutions over problems, and think about how you are going to resolve the issue together.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Collaboration is essential when it comes to being a strong leader. Now that you are in this position of responsibility and authority, you may feel as though you have to have all the answers and that you need to do everything yourself. This is not effective leadership. Everybody has different strengths, so drawing on these whilst working together for a common goal is a no-brainer. On top of this, those working in the school should have a say on how things are done, so gaining the opinions and perspectives of staff will mean that they will feel valued and part of any decision-making processes that involve them, rather than simply being told what to do.
Manage your time well
Sometimes it’s just easier to do things yourself – I am guilty of thinking this myself. But, as I mentioned earlier, you don’t have the capacity to do everything on your own, especially when you have picked up additional responsibilities as a senior leader. Learn to delegate and trust others to do the job as well as you would – possibly even better! Support, encourage and express gratitude for hard work. And for your own workload: make lists, allocate focus time, prioritise and set boundaries. Most importantly, incorporate relaxation time or time to do something for yourself. So many teachers, and particularly SLT members, forget to factor in ‘me time’, which can lead to burnout and ultimately becoming disillusioned with the profession.
Be reflective
Reflecting on your own practice is a big part of being a teacher, and it doesn’t stop as you climb the leadership ladder. ‘How do you think that lesson went?’ ‘What could I have done better next time?’ ‘Did they understand that lesson?’ are all key questions in our day-to-day teacher lives, and similar questions can be applied to our practice as leaders. ‘How could I have handled that differently?’ ‘Could I have dealt with that in a better way?’ ‘Is this the best approach for the children?’ No matter where you are in your teaching career, you never stop learning and growing.
Recommended reading:
https://johntomsett.com/2020/02/28/this-much-i-now-about-putting-staff-first/
https://brenebrown.com/book/dare-to-lead/
About the author
Emma Johnston
After graduating with a BA in Communications from Bournemouth University, Emma worked in public relations and marketing before deciding to undertake a PGCE at Kingston University and begin her journey as a primary school teacher. Emma taught for 15 years in schools around London and Surrey, in a variety of roles including lead practitioner and assistant headteacher. Emma now works for Eteach as Education Partnerships Coordinator, where she can share her knowledge of the education sector and support those beginning their teaching career.
