Being an effective school leader is not an easy task. It takes a lot of hard work and maybe a twinge of luck. Also, one of the overlooked school leadership attributes is the ability to sustain a good leadership team. Your leadership team will be comprised of many members, each with a pivotal role to play.
For instance, a high school principal may have a leadership team comprised of four assistant principals, academic coaches, academic department heads, the athletic director, school safety officers, etc. They will be your eyes and ears, trusted advisors, and allies.
In this piece, we will discuss 5 things that school leaders must do to build and maintain a successful leadership team.
- Define roles. Each member of your school leadership team needs to know what their jobs are and how they fit into the leadership hierarchy. They also need to understand the chain of command and how to work in line with the school’s mission and your vision.
- Grow leaders. To strengthen the leadership abilities of your team, be sure to provide mentorship and professional development. Your job is to help them become the best leaders that they can be. This way they will be an asset to the team, and help it reach its main objective, which is creating and maintaining a safe teaching and learning environment. Make sure that you give them tasks that are within and just outside of their ability level to help them reach their potential.
- Choose the best candidates. When hiring members of your school leadership team choose the best candidates for the job. Don’t choose people just because they are your friends or because you have known them for years. Choose people that are talented and competent, because they will help you reach your goals. Also, make sure that their temperament and personality will be a good fit with the other team members, as chemistry is very important.
- Establish trust and respect. If you want your team to operate at an optimal level, make sure you establish a culture of trust and respect. This will alleviate petty bickering and discord, which will allow team members to concentrate on the task at hand. This doesn’t mean that everyone likes each other, it just means they respect the skills and abilities of their coworkers and trust their judgment.
- Praise, Praise, Praise. Everyone on your school leadership team wants to know that they are not just a cog in the wheel, but a valued member of your school district. They want to know that their skills are recognized, and their contributions are making a difference. Make a habit of praising and rewarding your team for a job well done. It can boost morale through the roof, and it only takes a small amount of effort on your part.
Well, we have discussed 5 things that school leaders must due to build and maintain a successful leadership team. Can you think of any more?
