20 Apr TIME TO GROW YOUR SCHOOL LEADERSHIP SKILLS?  

Have you been thinking about how to improve your school leadership skills and leadership capacity lately? Maybe you’re thinking it’s time to refocus on those Professional Learning Goals you set at the start of the year.

Like you, I’ve just been on term break. A great chance to rest, renew and re-energise myself. I’ve been enjoying the Australian bush with friends and family.

Schools today are such busy and complex places that it’s more important than ever to make the time to enjoy family, friends and adventures. I hope you made some time to unwind and relax too. It’s an awesome way to boost your creativity and productivity. And the best part is, the last few days of term break provide quality time for you to refocus your energy and efforts.

Giving yourself time to recharge and reflect provides you with the time, enthusiasm and passion to refocus on what’s really important to you. So let’s revisit your personal, professional and leadership goals.

You made some BIG commitments at the start of the year. You were fired up! Fuelled with passion! But now you feel like you’ve been knocked off course by giving most of your time to putting out spot fires, dealing with difficult people, organising school events and of course, supporting others. I’m guessing that at the end of term you were exhausted. Yes?

Ok, so put that behind you and with your fresh, clear mind focus on what you want to achieve this coming term.

Actually, I’ve been a team leader, curriculum leader, principal and head of school over the past 20 years and here are 3 awesome tips that I’ve learnt along the way that I’m pretty sure will work for you too.

3 ‘Get Back on Track’ School Leadership Tips.

1. Focus

There’s a forgotten skill we must master to be truly successful in the 21st century. It’s paramount that we learn how to focus as this ensures continual self-improvement and also school improvement. Focus on your BIG Goals each day. Know your top priorities for the year, the term and each week. Focus on your highest priorities first thing every day. Yes there will be times you will be knocked off course, but the sooner you get back to your BIG Goals the more productive and successful you will be.

2. Self-manage

You can’t lead anyone unless you can lead yourself. It’s time to take care of yourself; physically, mentally and spiritually. You know the drill. Make the time and take care to eat well, exercise regularly, get into your mindfulness stuff, even just 2 – 5 minutes a day, focus on the positive and plan mini-adventures every day to keep your creativity and productivity at super high levels.

3. Be a learner

Think back to the end of last term and reflect on what and how you can improve your self-management and self-leadership for the new term/year ahead. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other,” said John F Kennedy, former President, USA. Adopt a growth mindset and constantly reflect on your practices and find ways to improve your skills and strategies.

To help you really focus on growing your leadership skills I’ve created an online school leadership course that you can take anywhere and at anytime. It includes 7 slick videos jam-packed with heaps of tips, strategies, resources and research to get you back on track with your school leadership goals. Once you sign up you own the online course for life and can return to any section over and over again. I’ve actually created a Pop-Up Sale for the month of May to give you the opportunity to sign up at a greatly reduced price. Check it out here. I know you will enjoy it and you’ll definitely grow your school leadership skills.

If you have any questions flick me off a quick email to maxine@thinkstrategic.com.au

Would love to hear how you go developing and growing your school leadership skills.