September 2023 – Happy Schools

Managing Conflict With Colleagues

September 28, 2023

One of the key factors in determining whether a school culture is toxic or thrives, is how staff members deal with their own conflicts as they arise. Whilst it is inevitable that there will be conflicts amongst staff, it is vital that these are dealt with in a positive, respectful manner. Alex Kajitani in Owning It: Proven Strategies for Success in ALL of Your Roles as a Teacher Today recommends the following approach when a conflict with a colleague arises. Discuss privately If we have an issue to discuss with a colleague it’s important that this conversation takes place in a comfortable, private location, with plenty of time. Catching someone off guard is not only unfair, it can also block…

Conveying Difficult Information on Student Reports

September 21, 2023

Stevef

Communication

One of the most difficult aspects of writing comments on student reports is figuring out how to phrase messages that may be difficult, challenging or confronting for parents to receive. The following tips are intended to help you determine the most tactful and compassionate way to write about tough topics in your report comments. No Surprises Don’t take the opportunity to drop a bomb. Student reports should not contain surprises. If there are major concerns then the parent needs to know before the end of the semester. No one wants to find out about a problem after it’s already spiralled out of control for weeks on end. The problems you discuss in report comments should not be a surprise to…

Want MORE Satisfaction From Your Work?

September 14, 2023

Stevef

Engagement

Working in schools can be demanding. More is expected of us than ever before. Increases in accountability, the accelerating pace of change, high expectations from busy, stressed parents and the challenges of working with people all add to the melting pot that is a busy school. It is therefore not surprising that staff morale can suffer. This leads to a lower sense of job satisfaction. However, according to Herzberg in the Harvard Business Review, “The factors that lead to producing job satisfaction (and motivation) are separate and distinct from the factors that lead to job dissatisfaction.” According to Herzberg the opposite of job satisfaction is NOT job dissatisfaction but rather, NO job satisfaction. This resonated as one of the main…

Be Connected

September 7, 2023

Stevef

Teamwork

“A worthy building cannot be erected on a weak foundation” I recently read this quote and it made me think about the importance of taking the time and effort to connect with people. Whether you want to build a relationship with a child, a parent, a colleague, a partner or a friend, building the foundations to connect with the other person will ensure relationships are starting from a stable base. Taking the time to build relationships now, makes it much easier to resolve any differences that may arise in the future. In today’s society we are short on time and resources. As a result, relationships are being built on agendas with the goal to achieve successful outcomes. Whilst I acknowledge…