Leading a school requires a unique skill set and mindset. Headship provides unparalleled chances for transformational leadership and professional growth—especially for Heads of small schools, aspiring Heads, and those early in their career.
As a Head of School, you play an integral role in your school’s success. Your responsibilities may vary significantly depending on the size and mission of your institution. But no matter what your job description includes, it is vital to understand how to lead and sustain a high performing administrative team.
Here are some areas to consider to strengthen your leadership skills and build successful, healthy teams.
Goals and Objectives
School Heads are the conductors of a large symphony (or some may feel a three-ring circus!) Leading a team requires you to divide a host of responsibilities. It is vital to establish clear goals and objectives for each member of your administrative team.
Be cognizant of each person’s strengths and weaknesses so you can tailor objectives that complement them. This strategy supports task management effectively and efficiently, and leads to positive results.
Additionally, clearly communicate goals so everyone understands their role and responsibilities—especially concerning how to achieve them. Revisit goals regularly and evaluate whether they are aligned with the school's mission and vision.
Collaboration and Communication
When leading a high-performing administrative team, it is crucial to foster collaboration and communication among team members. Create an environment where ideas can be shared openly and respectfully—under conditions that support creative problem-solving.
Furthermore, encourage regular check-ins among team members to help them stay focused. And be sure to provide opportunities for feedback or to ask questions if needed.
Tune in to live webinars every week during the school year to get specific, research-backed insight you can immediately apply at your school.
Expectations and Accountability
For your administrative team to perform at its highest level, set expectations for individual performance as well as collectively for the team. Include realistic deadlines for tasks and projects and provide explicit instructions about what needs to be done.
Additionally, defining methods for accountability ensures equality and productivity.
Professional Development and Growth
Professional development helps everyone progress in their careers, remain motivated, and develop their skills. As the leader of your team, it is your responsibility to encourage professional development and growth opportunities for all—yourself included!
There are many ways professional development can be implemented, including offering mentorship programs or allocating funding for workshops and conferences.
TRUST
The most important aspect to leadership is the establishment of a trusting relationship with and between the members of your leadership team, your faculty, and you. Without the foundation of trust, all other efforts to lead will flounder. “Trust” in the context of school leadership can be articulated as an essential equation: Reliability + Care + Rapport = TRUST.
- School Heads must consistently demonstrate that colleagues can count on them and the reliability of their words and deeds.
- Heads must genuinely “care” for the people with whom they work and that quality should be manifested in authentic words and deeds.
- Heads should work to establish rapport with colleagues.
While building trust with the many constituencies of an independent school takes time and conscientious effort, it is the foundation of all the good work that might be accomplished for the sake of the school and its students.
Your role as a School Head is ever-changing. To be successful you must adapt quickly and accurately assess your evolving responsibilities. By considering these areas, you can strengthen your leadership skills, build successful teams, and guarantee your school’s continued success!
