Why do some schools flourish in a crisis?

It’s a difficult time to be a teacher at the moment. Lots of stress and change and worry. So why are some schools positively energised while others are virtually coming apart at the seams? What is it that some schools are doing differently?  

Well, for some schools, their leadership teams focus on culture before anything else and this keeps them right on track during the rocky times. At Culture Shock we talk about the 5 pillars of high performance culture and of paramount importance during a crisis is ‘Exceptional Leadership’.  

Schools with a culture of ‘Exceptional Leadership’ have leaders who are positive role models and have the respect of the staff.  The leadership team passionately articulates a vision for the school and inspires transformation.  Leaders remove obstacles for their people and enable every member of staff to perform at their best. 

So what does an ‘Exceptional Leader’ look like in schools right now, during a very difficult time?  

An exceptional leader; 

·         Is empathetic towards their team and shows concern for their people personally 

·         Demonstrates a high level of trust and gives autonomy for decisions to be made at the lowest possible level 

·         Removes obstacles and clears away all non-essential activities from their team 

·         Prioritises what’s right even when it’s difficult 

·         Listens and supports others to solve their own problems 

·         Articulates a shared vision of the school’s direction (and shares it non-stop!) 

Principals and school leadership teams are the single biggest influence on the culture that exists in their school right now.  The way in which leaders ‘show up’ as individuals and a team is the centre of the ripple effect that shapes the culture of their school. If you want to go deeper on how to shape culture in your school check out our website www.cultureshock.education or contact us at info@cultureshock.education.