There are no problems we cannot solve together, and very few that we can solve by ourselves. Lyndon Johnson As we begin our first few September meetings, we may experience two feelings. On the one hand there is the joy and privilege of leading the individuals who make up our uniquely-shaped team. But on the other … Continue reading 10 tips on how to build a cohesive team
mental health
Balancing the operational and the strategic
'I’m spending all my time being operational', is a common complaint I hear from school leaders. They are, in other words, too busy dealing with the day-to-day to be able to focus on the the longer term. They sometimes describe this in a way which suggests that ‘operational’ is somehow more basic, a set of … Continue reading Balancing the operational and the strategic
Having better conversations
We have talk enough, but no conversation. Samuel Johnson I’m working on having better conversations. I want to focus on how I listen, what I say and how I behave when I’m talking with colleagues. We assume that the art of conversation is a skill that we are all born with, as natural as talking. But … Continue reading Having better conversations
Walking in winter
It’s November. It’s wet, and it’s getting cold. This morning I walked round a lake. It was pond-like, the air misty, even milky, and during the whole walk the sun promised to slip through, but never quite did. Willows stood upright, sharp and distinct, like pencil drawings. Tiny, industrious birds flitted from the bush ahead … Continue reading Walking in winter
The joy of the job
We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy. Joseph Campbell There’s a scene in Star Wars – a New Hope that used to give me nightmares as a boy. Our heroes Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and Chewbacca find themselves trapped in the Trash Compactor on the … Continue reading The joy of the job
5 principles for better inclusion
Here are five simple principles we are using to help guide our thinking in the way we support our school leaders and SENDCOs around inclusion. Principle 1/ I don’t have to be an expert to play my part Working in SEND can be a lonely place. There is lots of technical and legal detail, and … Continue reading 5 principles for better inclusion
A positive way of giving a negative message
The way you treat people is what they become. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. When we sit down with a teacher after observing their lesson, we think carefully about all the myriad elements we might choose to feedback. And mostly we know to only select the one or two elements which are helpful for them to work on right at … Continue reading A positive way of giving a negative message
10 tips for more effective one-to-ones
Image - Gregor Cresnar One to ones are quiet, focused collaboration time for employees and bosses to connect. It’s their time, not yours. Kim Scott - Radical Candor We can all point to memories we have of great and terrible line managers we’ve experienced, and the shape of the clumsy boot-print or lifelong inspiration they … Continue reading 10 tips for more effective one-to-ones
To do or not to do
One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done. Marie Curie We all use to do lists. For food shopping, reminders for our children, holiday packing and of course at work. From the back of an envelope to a computer screen, this most simple of reminders seems to … Continue reading To do or not to do
When things go wrong
‘We learn from failure, not from success.’ Bram Stoker There are times in our working lives when we all feel a little bit lost. A project goes wrong, we feel we’re losing the class or a job ends badly. When we are going through this we feel pain, frustration or disappointment. This creates a sense … Continue reading When things go wrong
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