How School Heads Can Build Relationship With Their Members of Staff

Just like it is with every leader, the school heads are expected to take up the job of multi-tasking every time. Tagging the responsibilities of the school heads as a task is smaller to what they perform, but this illustration is what many of us are familiar with. Some of the responsibilities of a school head range from representing the school at special events, giving a proposal to the board of directors, and standing in for any ill teacher or trying to calm an angry parent down. Their most important work is to be the leader of the team, which entails giving support to teachers and other members of staff.

The same type of responsibility is portrayed by teachers, just like the school head does, they are caught up switching between numerous assignments/tasks simultaneously. However, their responsibilities are a little different they include; being responsible for a classroom, being in control of a disruptive class or student, showing care to ill students and reporting the performance of students to their parents. Teachers are often referred to as the agents of primary change in the lives of the students, this is because they spend more time dealing and working directly with the students in the bid to help develop a healthy, trustworthy relationship with them.

How then do the school heads ensure that they are working in line with taking care of their resources – who, in this case, are the students? One of the most important ways a school head can additionally show support is by forming and keeping a healthy relationship with every member of their staff, especially the teachers. Building that supportive relationship allows the school heads to work effectively and be able to meet up with their responsibilities. Respect, mutual trust, and confidence are gained through the process of building a supportive relationship, allowing the flow of useful information that sets up an environment with quality services. Let us examine the behaviors that tend to promote the relationship with members of staff in schools.

1. Communication

‘Communicate unto the other person that which you would want him to communicate unto you if your positions were reversed. – Aaron Goldman’

This shows to you that communication is very important when it comes to building a relationship with teachers. Communication can be improved through the following ways;

• Be available. Everyone knows that school heads are always busy, but the teachers are to know that they are always there to provide that support, advice, and direction when needed. When the time to communicate comes, be attentive and give ears to their words.

• Give room for them to express themselves. Teachers only express themselves when they are being instructed to do so. The school heads then have to give room during meetings for teachers to share their opinions and feelings about things happening in school.

• Employ their ideas. Following up on the previous point, give room for ideas from teachers, and check the possibility of how the ideas can help. This builds the confidence of the teacher and allows them to share more useful ideas.

• Give feedback. Feedback is a form of correction to the teachers as it allows them to make changes where necessary.

Be real. Honesty is a crucial pointer in any relationship. This means that any information given must be real and true, when teachers notice their leader is not sincere, it destroys the relationship.

2. Positive Attitude

Teachers love school heads that are excited about relating to them every time. Creating a positive environment is one of the primary responsibilities of a school head, simple reactions like having a sense of humor, smiling, using a calm tone and among others will help promote that positive environment. There will be days when such a positive environment will not be maintained, but keeping that constant negative vibe will affect the job which will eventually harm your relationship with your members of staff. 

3. Celebrate the Success of Staff

Most school heads spend more time noticing and condemning the wrongs of teachers, although that is part of the job. However, there is more benefit that is gotten from appreciating their good deeds as well. Stronger and positive relationships are fostered when school heads acknowledge the accomplishments of teachers. Regardless of how small or big, it is, from emails to comments and passing notes to teachers that are doing well in school or even holding parties that celebrate teachers like the teacher of the year or teacher of the month. These are ways of appreciating the members of staff for their work. By doing this, you can bring out the best in them, allowing them to go extra miles for the school and help in fostering a positive learning environment. 

4. Investing in Teachers Development

There have been researches that are saying that the development of staff helps in promoting their growth professionally and also builds a positive supportive relationship with them. School heads are those that are in control of how resources in school are used, so decisions like developmental summit and picking of curriculum and teaching materials in cooperation with the teachers will positively impact the growth of the students. Heads of schools serve as that link by which teachers can have a fulfilling career in that school, which can be effectively achieved when there is a positive supportive relationship.