I’M THE HEAD OF SCHOOL… NOW WHAT? WOMEN OF INFLUENCE CONFERENCE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 0CTOBER 13-15, 2017 ellendstern@gmail.com

WOMEN AND POWER POWER OVER OTHERS VS POWER WITH OR THROUGH MORE ABOUT PURPOSE THAN STATUS CULTURE: MANIPULATE OR INFLUENCE QUIETLY? SMALL STEPS LEAD TO BIG STEPS WHEN SOMEONE OFFERS YOU AN OPPORTUNITY… BE A ROLE MODEL

LEADERSHIP LEADERS ARE MADE NOT BORN THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE ALL YOUR GIFTS THE CAPACITY TO TRANSLATE VISION INTO REALITY inspiring, delegating, communicating, collaborating, influencing, knowing, learning, challenging LIMITATIONS lack of confidence, impatience, intolerance, defensiveness

THE CHALLENGES OF LEADERSHIP Changing relationships with colleagues No end to the job—24/7--12 months Balancing the good of the whole with the good of the one Loss of privacy and voicing thoughts Being a change agent Managing crises (internal and external) Grief counseling Making difficult personnel decisions Loneliness

FIVE PILLARS OF HEADSHIP WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW The Gospel according to Bambi Betts 1. EDUCATION 2. FINANCE 3. HUMAN RESOURCES 4. FACILITIES 5. MARKETING/ADVANCEMENT

TWO PILLARS OF HEADSHIP The Gospel according to Ellen 1. FINANCES 2. BOARD/ HEAD RELATIONSHIP The Myth according to Ellen Stern “SMALL SCHOOLS ARE EASIER TO RUN.”

FIVE PILLARS OF HEADSHIP 1. EDUCATION: You know that. Keep learning. 2. FINANCE: A new challenge? We can make it simple 3. HUMAN RESOURCES: You know the soft stuff, but learn school culture Have someone who knows the laws of the country 4. FACILITIES: Hire expertise, be watchful, use common sense 5. MARKETING/ADVANCEMENT: Always the chief cheerleader Time constraints require finding volunteer or hiring expertise

FINANCES (courtesy of Linda Duevel and Jane Thompson THING ONE AND THING TWO (+a method for collecting overdue finances) KEEP IT SIMPLE GET IT RIGHT PRACTICE YOUR ESTIMATING SKILLS BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE BUDGET Zero profit, target profit, deficit budget RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CFO/BM (+checks and balances)

RESOURCES for advice on finances Board members’ expertise External auditors Internet searches Your predecesssor Other schools Headnet/AISHnet

BOARD/HEAD RELATIONSHIP WHY CAN IT BE CHALLENGING? WHT HAPPENS WHEN THEY ARE NOT ALIGNED? WHAT ARE THE TENSION POINTS? Admissions Class size, Tuition and fees, Hiring, Discipline Staff/student/education issues

WHAT DO THE BOARD AND HEAD NEED TO KNOW TO WORK TOGETHER? BUILD TRUST DO WHAT YOU SAY YOU WILL DO DISTINGUISH POLICY FROM PRACTICE BOARD NEED-TO-KNOWS Information re fiduciary, strategic, political, press HEAD NEED-TO-KNOWS Board priorities, decision-making, level of detail, student matters, curriculum, discipline

HOW TO BUILD A TRUSTING RELATIONSHIP THE HONEYMOON IS OVER, NOW WHAT Keep an open mind Avoid stereotypes Don’t make assumptions Always assume positive intentions Learn to distinguish between micro-managing and rubber-stamping Get involved in community events

HEAD AND CHAIR MUST DO’S Absolute confidentiality Meet face-to-face Respect each other’s time and preferred style (call? Email? Skype? Breakfast?) Do what you say you will do Serve each other’s best interests Admit mistakes and acknowledge weaknesses Coach each other Support each other in private and public Get to know each other personally as well as professionally

WHEN DIFFERENCES STILL ARISE? ADDRESS THE ISSUES DIRECTLY STAY IN THE DISCUSSION NURTURE THE RELATIONSHIP REMIND YOURSELF OF THE BASICS (the war not the battle!) DO NOT BE SHY IN SEEKING OUTSIDE HELP

REMEMBER KEEP COMMUNICATING THE VISION KEEP THE EVERYDAY UNDER CONTROL SET AN EXAMPLE AVOID BURNOUT FIND SUPPORT Peer group (EARCOS, NESA, ECIS, AISH, etc.) Coaches

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure the impact lasts in your absence.”