Viv Grant: Director – Integrity Coaching Webinar Stress reduction for school leaders Viv Grant: Director – Integrity Coaching Download this presentation from http://bit.ly/leaderWellbeing

Overview Strategies in achieving a work-life balance How to recognise the importance of looking after your own well-being as well as that of your team Leading without sacrificing yourself The importance of the relationship with the governing body in offering support Ideas to minimise stress and maximise efficiency

Why do school leaders need to find ways to achieve a greater work life balance?

Data tells us … 88% of people working in education have suffered from stress Just 8% said they have a well-being policy at work that is implemented 89% said that workload was the main cause of of their mental health issues 13% left their job as a result [The Education Support Partnership, 2014] And we know that: Recruitment and retention of school leaders is increasingly becoming problematic for the sector

When well-being is not attended to ….

How to recognise the importance of looking after your own well-being Begin by recognising that this is not who you are and that your own humanity comes first!

The starting point who you are! Meeting your emotional needs We all have basic emotional needs to feel: accepted listened to valued supported. When these natural emotions are met, healthy behaviour follows.

What the problem is … The world is emotionally complex Schools are emotionally complex You are emotionally complex And your role demands that you display all the expertise and knowledge of a trained and experienced psychologist to deal with the complexities of human behavior – both yours and others! And most of the time you are required to do this without any support!

Coping mechanisms ‘For years I had been doing what I do; not looking after myself, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. I had learned to ignore things that had had a negative impact on me.’ Headteacher quoted in Staying A Head: The Stress Management Secrets of Successful School Leaders

Getting caught in the sacrifice syndrome

Do any of these symptoms resonate with you? Taking foolhardy risks Avoiding challenging situations Adopting a façade that all is well even outside of work Becoming withdrawn Self–doubt Constant tiredness and irritability Inability to retain perspective Always assuming the worst possible outcome Not listening to your body Being reactive to situations big and small

Leading without sacrificing yourself

It is important to attend to… deepening your self-understanding developing your emotional resources sustaining your sense of vocation and purpose bringing congruity to your original ideals and current realities.

Be proactive and develop a renewal cycle!

Why? ‘Sustainable, effective leadership occurs only when the experiences of the sacrifice and stress of leadership are interchanged with those of renewal’ Boyatzis and McKee: Resonant leadership

The role of the governing body Governors need to: develop an accurate understanding of the support needs of headteachers - beyond the strategic and operational aspects of running a school analyse the school’s sickness and absence data. What does the data reveal? What’s good? What’s in need of development? support schools in developing a well-being policy and sustainable practices to support its implementation.

Governors cont… understand that if they wish their school to continue to grow, they need to invest in the personal and professional growth of the headteacher understand that their duty of care towards the headteacher has as much to do with ‘caring for the person in the role’ as it does with securing high standards look at good examples from outside of education, where CEO’s with ‘high power/ high stress’ roles (similar in that respect to heads), are provided with coaches to help them deal effectively with stress and maintain high levels of performance.

5 ideas to minimise stress and maximise efficiency Develop a reflective practice Build supportive connections/networks Capture the golden moments Get a coach Put yourself first

1. Develop a reflective practice ‘Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.’ Kierkegaard (Danish philosopher)

2. Build supportive connections/networks Ensure you have relationships which: affirm your self worth give you constructive challenge open new learning opportunities allow you to be yourself create a space for you to be listened to enable you to be in a role where you are not expected to have all of the answers provide a space for you to be taken care of and have your needs met.

3. Capture the golden moments They are the parts of your school life that cause you to say at the end of each day: ‘That’s the reason why I am here in this school, serving this community.’

4. Get a coach

Put yourself first!

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