In the fast-paced school environment, the little things often make the most significant impact- school leaders who pay attention to the small details can significantly influence staff morale, retention, and overall school culture.
Cate Reed, seasoned administrator, current Senior Vice President of Teach For America, and Possip Reporter, explores six seemingly small things to do that make a big difference in your school’s culture.
Below are ideas on how seemingly minor actions can lead to substantial positive changes in schools and offer practical strategies for school leaders to implement these actions effectively.
The Power of Small Gestures from Leaders
It is easy to overlook the power of small gestures, but these can often have the most lasting impact.
- Acts of recognition, even as simple as a handwritten note or a verbal acknowledgment, can significantly make staff feel valued and appreciated. These small acts of kindness and recognition can improve morale and create a supportive work environment, enhancing staff retention.
- Have a bulletin board prominently displayed for each month, calling out the birthdays of staff in the building or other anniversaries, such as years of service or other milestones.
Sweat the Small Stuff
Attention to the finer details is crucial for school leaders. This means prioritizing accuracy, precision, and meticulousness in all aspects of work. Minor, incremental improvements can lead to significant innovations over time. Leaders who sweat the small stuff prevent errors and inspire their team to strive for excellence in their work.
- For example, ensuring that documents are typos-free demonstrates a commitment to quality and sets a standard for the team.
- Hold firms to deadlines and meetings so that people see you value and respect their time.
Model What You Expect
Consistency between words and actions is vital for earning the team’s respect and trust. School leaders should embody the behaviors and attitudes they wish to see in their staff. By practicing what they preach, leaders can motivate and inspire their teams, fostering a culture of integrity and reliability.
- If punctuality is valued, leaders should always be early.
- If attention to detail is essential, leaders should ensure their work is impeccable.
- If kindness is the expectation, ensure please and thank you are used often and sincerely.
Be Creative and Set Yourself Apart
Understanding the unique needs and preferences of your team, staff, and families can help create a joyful and motivated school environment. These creative and personalized acts show leaders care about their team’s well-being and happiness.
- Personalized gestures can significantly boost morale, such as hiring an on-site barista to provide coffee and snacks during late work sessions or organizing special birthday celebrations with student handwritten notes.
- Enlist a group of parent volunteers to help pack up classrooms alongside teachers at the end of the school year.
- Find a local movie theater to give free tickets to teachers one weekend as a surprise after a long week of testing or other intensive work.
Promote Work-Life Balance and Show Flexibility
Encouraging a healthy work-life balance is essential for maintaining staff well-being. Showing flexibility, such as accommodating personal needs and offering support during challenging times, demonstrates empathy and respect for staff members’ personal lives. This approach can significantly improve staff satisfaction and retention.
- Survey staff about the best times for meetings, and if there are significant conflicts, consider hosting two different times to be as accommodating as possible.
- When holding evening events, see if you can find local teens to provide childcare in the library or gym so teachers can attend without paying for childcare. Even better- provide pizza and drinks!
Effective Communication and Soliciting Feedback
Open and effective communication is the backbone of a well-functioning school. Leaders should actively solicit feedback from staff and act on it. This practice helps address concerns and improve processes and makes staff feel heard and valued.
- Set a schedule for written communication and stick to it! Predictability builds confidence.
- Ask your staff questions about what can be done better. Using Possip is a great way to start!
Seemingly few things that school leaders do can significantly affect staff morale, retention, and overall school culture. School leaders can create a positive and engaging work environment by sweating the small stuff, modeling desired behaviors, being creative, and showing genuine care and appreciation for their team. These small but meaningful actions can snowball into the culture leaders aspire to build, ultimately leading to a thriving school community.
Conclusion
For further reading on related topics, consider exploring the following resources:
By focusing on these seemingly small but impactful strategies, school leaders can make a lasting positive impact on their schools.
Speed Read (tldr): 6 Simple Actions For School Leaders That Transform School Culture
Model Expected Behaviors: School leaders should exemplify the behaviors and values they expect from their staff, such as punctuality and kindness, to foster a culture of integrity and encourage staff to adopt similar habits.
Value Small Gestures: Simple acts of recognition, such as handwritten notes or public acknowledgments, significantly boost staff morale and contribute to a positive work environment, enhancing retention and overall school culture.
Enact Detail-Oriented Leadership and Communication: Paying attention to detail in every aspect of school management, including ensuring error-free documents and respecting time commitments, sets high standards. Effective communication, such as predictable schedules for written communication and actively soliciting feedback from staff, is essential in making staff feel valued and heard.
Read below for resources, tips, and the why!
