July 2022 – Happy Schools

The Unwritten Ground Rules (UGR’s)

July 28, 2022

I have read many articles and books over the years that have focused on the concept of an organisational culture. For many years I passed the concept off as an academic one that had little practical application in the workforce. During that period however, I remained confused. As a consultant, going into various organisations, I could ‘feel’ the culture. In one organisation there would be a positive, upbeat feel to it. In another, there was a little tension in the air. In another, you could cut the air with a knife! The confusion I felt centred on recognition that culture played a fundamental role in every organisation. Yet I could not understand it in simple or practical terms. That remained…

How to Work SMARTER and not HARDER with Email

July 21, 2022

Stevef

Communication

One of the challenges facing staff in schools is the volume of email received. Whilst we all want to be responsive to our colleagues, parents and connections, it can be challenging to find the right balance between managing email AND getting your work done! If you have ever gone home at night feeling like you have done nothing all day except respond to other people’s emails, then maybe it is time you sent out an Email S.O.S! What is Email SOS? It’s a simple strategy to help you reduce the volume of email you receive, enabling you to increase your productivity by strategically focusing on how you use your time. Share these simple strategies at your school and you’ll find…

People Management Mistakes and How To Avoid Them

July 14, 2022

Stevef

Communication

Here are five common pitfalls of people management to avoid. Being too busy to touch base. It is easy to forget the importance of touching base with other team members. Speaking regularly with our colleagues is one of the most important things we can do. Human beings are social animals. Genuinely asking ‘How are you going?’, thanking them for their efforts and laughing with your team mates, are all important parts of team well-being. Not communicating expectations. In sharing the load and working well in teams, it is important to clearly communicate our key expectations of each other. One staff member I know has three key expectations of her colleagues – that they are reliable, responsible and respectful. What are…

Happiness is…..?

July 7, 2022

Stevef

Engagement

What does HAPPINESS mean to you? Would more money make you happier, more job satisfaction, more family time, a new car, more travel opportunities? What would make you happier? A Time magazine poll found happiness tended to increase as income rose to $50000 per year but after that money didn’t have a significant effect on happiness. They concluded that money ceases to have a significant effect on our happiness once an average level of income is attained. Social and brain scientists have been able to ascertain the things that make us happy – but to get there we need to stop our quest for status and stop buying unnecessary possessions. Scientists at the University of Wisconsin have used CT scans…