Fostering Effective Relationships
Leadership Dimension #1
Introduction
The administrator builds trust and fosters positive working relationships on the basis of appropriate values and ethical foundations, within the school community, i.e. students, teachers and other staff, parents/guardians, school council members and others who have an interest in the school.
Administrator Descriptors
- acts with fairness, dignity and integrity
- demonstrates a sensitivity to and genuine caring for others, and cultivates a climate of mutual respect
- promotes and inclusive school culture respecting and honouring diversity
- demonstrates responsibility for all students and acts in their best interests
- models and promotes open, inclusive dialogue
- uses effective communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills
- supports processes for improving relationships and dealing with conflict within the school community
- adheres to professional standards of conduct
The administrator builds trust and fosters positive working relationships on the basis of appropriate values and ethical foundations, within the school community, i.e. students, teachers and other staff, parents/guardians, school council members and others who have an interest in the school.
Administrator Descriptors
- acts with fairness, dignity and integrity
- demonstrates a sensitivity to and genuine caring for others, and cultivates a climate of mutual respect
- promotes and inclusive school culture respecting and honouring diversity
- demonstrates responsibility for all students and acts in their best interests
- models and promotes open, inclusive dialogue
- uses effective communication, facilitation, and problem-solving skills
- supports processes for improving relationships and dealing with conflict within the school community
- adheres to professional standards of conduct
Evidence/Artifacts:
One of the main foundations of what I do is based on the idea of establishing, maintaining and fostering effective relationships. In fact, everything we learned in ALP 3 this year was centered around the idea the "RELATIONSHIPS MATTER".
Part of this is simply my personality. I am open and honest. I act with fairness and integrity. I care about the staff, students, and the school. One way I have accomplished this is through my various "hallway" conversations with staff. I try to talk to every staff member on a personal note at least once a week which leads to conversations about pedagogy and practice. I have tried to be a visible administrator. In fact, I've had a couple of staff members tell me how they appreciate my visibility. The creation of the timetable is one way I have been able to foster relationships. I have made the timetable process open, transparent, and inclusive to this point. There have been many teachers who feel free enough to offer suggestions and requests. How I manage this with staff is important in developing relationships. I am using the social capital I have built with staff to gain their support and cooperation with the timetable. Another way I have fostered effective relationships is through teacher supervision. Through Learning Walks and the informal chats in the hallway, teachers are quite comfortable when I come into their classrooms. These visits can give me a sense of where a teacher is and can provide the foundation for further discussions about pedagogy and practice. Also, I was trained in Fierce Conversations in the fall of 2012 and by January of 2013 I had the opportunity to practice the skill I learned! Although I am not afraid of having those hard conversations with people, it is still uncomfortable but absolutely necessary. I just hope that having these conversations can still maintain good relationships I have built. |
|
Reflection:
As a teacher, I always understood the importance of developing relationships with students and their parents. Now as an administrator, the relationships you build with all of the stakeholders in the school are vitally important. If you cannot leverage teachers, students and community, no initiative will occur.
I think I've done a good job at building and maintaining relationships this year. Our relationship as an administration team has blossomed into a trusting, hard working team. I'm having fun with the women on the team. I've been able to maintain and build new relationships with many students through not only my classroom work but also with their participation in events like the Awards ceremony and Remembrance Day event. I've been able to develop a good relationship with our trustee and school council chairs, again through our more public events.
I also think I've done a good job transitioning my relationships with teachers. Last year, I was a colleague. This year, I'm their administrator. I don't feel like the relationships have changed significantly, except that now I am expected to field questions and complaints.
I think I've done a good job at building and maintaining relationships this year. Our relationship as an administration team has blossomed into a trusting, hard working team. I'm having fun with the women on the team. I've been able to maintain and build new relationships with many students through not only my classroom work but also with their participation in events like the Awards ceremony and Remembrance Day event. I've been able to develop a good relationship with our trustee and school council chairs, again through our more public events.
I also think I've done a good job transitioning my relationships with teachers. Last year, I was a colleague. This year, I'm their administrator. I don't feel like the relationships have changed significantly, except that now I am expected to field questions and complaints.
Areas of Growth/Areas of Excellence:
One of my strengths is the way I deal with people. I naturally build strong relationships. In my unassuming way, I can get people on my side. I have the ability to have the hard conversations and in the next breathe treat someone with the same level of respect I always had.
I do however, need to learn to communicate more effectively. I am learning that I need to spell things out in a much clearer way, eliminating as much confusion as I can. I am not naturally an over-communicator but I understand the importance of communicating clearly and at every step of the way. I'm working on it!
I do however, need to learn to communicate more effectively. I am learning that I need to spell things out in a much clearer way, eliminating as much confusion as I can. I am not naturally an over-communicator but I understand the importance of communicating clearly and at every step of the way. I'm working on it!
