Starting as a new headteacher can feel like you’ve been thrown in at the deep end, but it doesn’t have to feel like that. A few simple strategies to help you get through the first few weeks can make a big difference to how you feel.
As you know, we're here to listen, and we’ve had several people get in touch recently who have been having issues after starting a new job as a Headteacher.
So we thought we would write down what we would do in this situation, to see if it can help you. And don’t think we have all the answers - we don’t! We’ve just been in education for 30 years and we’ve built up some experience along the way.
We hope this helps some of you to make this path a little easier for you.
- Build a team that wants to work with you. Focus on building relationships first. Good relationships will carry you through the difficult times, and help to make it easier for you to make any changes that you may need to make in the future.
- Start by establishing trust and fostering open communication with your staff. Spend time with them, get to know them, find out what their strengths are, and celebrate these. A team that feels valued and involved in the school's direction will stay with you all the way. It’s the most important thing you can do.
- Be clear on your expectations, and be fair with them too. Ensure your colleagues understand what is expected of them, and why it is important, but make sure that your expectations are reasonable and fair. Have conversations with staff right at the beginning to establish what is possible, and what isn’t. Involve them in key decision-making as much as possible so that they feel a part of the school’s journey, and don’t be afraid to talk to staff about having high expectations. People like to know that you are leading them, it helps them to feel safe in their role.
- Balance the demands of the role with your own well-being. Make sure that you plan time for your own well-being. I know it sounds strange, but a simple but effective way to look after your well-being is to schedule some time in your diary to do something just for you. Yes, that’s right - you didn’t misread that! Something as simple as blocking out some time in your busy week to go for a walk or meet a friend for coffee can have a big impact on your mental health. Try it! You won’t regret it.
- Talk to your Governors Have regular chats with your Governors and tell them how you are getting on. This can often lead to a greater understanding of how you are getting on so that they can help and support you.
- Celebrate the little things Those of you who know me well, know that I like to have a planner to help me organise my day (hence the reason why we have planners in our shop! They are the planners that I created!). I used to write down every success I had had each week as it helped me to focus on the positives and also to talk about what I had achieved with my colleagues and Governors. It’s amazing how much it helped me to look back over the weeks to see what I had achieved over time.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help We all have good times and bad times, and that’s ok. Don’t be ashamed to say that you need some help. We all do at some point in our leadership journey. We certainly did!
Remember, we are here for you if you feel you would like to talk to someone confidentially. That’s why we set up HeadteacherChat in the first place, to help other leaders as we totally understand what it’s like!
If you want, you can book a coaching call with Jonathan to talk things through. It's always helpful to talk things through, especially when you are just starting out.
Remember, it's important to take care of yourself to be able to take care of others effectively.
We wish you all the best for your new role,
Jonathan and Lucy