NEW TERM, NEW YOU
As a Headteacher I always looked forward to a new term, with hope, optimism and great expectations of how things were going to be.
By the end of the second week though my optimism had waned and I found things were not working out as I had expected. The reality was that the same issues, people and routines that had been causing me challenges in previous terms still existed. Instead of the term being as great as I had hoped, in reality the same old issues were there or as one colleague termed it ‘same cr*p, different day.’
If I wanted a new term to be better then it was obvious something had to change. I recognised that I had been looking forward to a new term and hoping external differences would make things better. I thought new classes would improve behaviour, new colleagues would bring energy to the team or the revised timetable would provide more flexibility.
When these external changes did not create the improvements I had expected, I felt disappointed. This disappointment lead to frustration and I found myself pointing the finger of blame to others and ultimately to myself. If you have ever had the pleasure of seeing Brene Brown’s work on blame (you can find it here) you will understand that blame is just an outpouring of emotions.
My yearly cycle of starting each new term relying on others to bring change and feeling disappointment when nothing was better was, in retrospect, just insane.
What I learnt then and more recently working with headteachers struggling with the same issues, is that change needs to happen but we shouldn’t look externally for this. The most powerful positive changes come from changing the way we think, act and interact.
‘If you want to change the world, first change yourself.’
I learnt the hard way that I cannot rely on external elements to create positive change. I now know the best change comes from within. It has been transformational to take control of my thinking, actions and reactions to best develop the environment and others around me. I have learnt how to build great relationships with colleagues, inspire others and enable them to achieve success in their roles. I have in turn become happier as I have been able to ‘let go’ of the things I can’t change or influence.
Instead of looking externally for things to improve we need to look at our own responsibility, Where can we influence change?
If you want different outcomes from your new classes or new team ask yourself;
What am I going to do differently to ensure change happens? How can I communicate this change to the best effect? How can I structure sessions to improve outcomes?
If you have difficulty with another colleague ask yourself;
How can I change the way I interact with them? What do I want the communication to be like? How can I make the relationship work? How can I change the way I think about my colleague?
A great tool to use for identifying what we can change is the Stephen Covey’s the Circle of Influence in ‘The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People’. Information about the tool and how to use it can be found in our blog section.
Research shows us that people with a good internal locus of control (people who understand they that they have responsibility for what happens around them) have greater confidence and improved mental health. I have seen this through my work with Headteachers: they have improved their self confidence and self belief and are in turn much happier in their roles and lives.
Take a moment to reflect on your hopes and aspirations for the new term and ask yourself what YOU may need to change. The best way to make the term stay shiny and new is to make changes yourself. It will have a positive impact on both you and your environment
Personally, it has been empowering to let things go that are beyond my control and focus on the things that I can influence – ensuring that every term stays great!