Coaching for Heads
"From a position of not seeing the wood for the trees, I can now see all the trees in the wood ... and know what I need to do to move forward for the school, the governors, my staff and for me." C.V. Head, SW London Prep School.
"With Jem, I explored my retirement. Something I was terrified to face, admit or even think about. He was brilliant and really made me face my worries and develop a road map for success. It has now become a really positive and exciting point of change in my life!" D.T. Head Teacher, West London Senior school.
Entering and sustaining a successful Headship, or any senior role in a school, is arguably one of the steepest learning curves of any educator's journey. It requires inspiring and motivating leadership together with a tranche of skills with which to negotiate, problem solve, manage, strategize, listen, placate, resolve numerous difficult situations, achieve a decent work-life balance and of course, laugh heartily as often as possible.
In reality, coping and managing effectively in such a unique environment, tends to be mastered over time as one gains wisdom and experience but often with little support or true targeted development. Fellow Heads are perhaps not as freely available as we would like to help guide, consider ideas or to use as a sounding board - they too are all busy at their own coal face.
Coaching can help you achieve a number of things:
- It can accelerate your journey of experience through exploring possibilities, situations, strategy and outcomes based on your agenda.
- It will give you time and space to think and consider in a non-judgemental, confidential and safe environment.
- It is a space where your work load and the demands, complexity and difficulties that come with it, can be untangled.
- You will be able to establish a clear path through whatever it is you are facing and want to achieve.
- It will give you confidence and clarity to move ahead professionally, personally and in life generally.
Your senior leadership team
Professional, executive coaching can be truly transformational for school leaders ... indeed for everybody. Prioritise it for yourself as a leader, it is one of the best investments in 'you' that you can make.
Consider coaching for your senior leaders to help align them with common goals, work more collaboratively and more openly.
See also:
Developing Head Teachers
Widespread research conducted by CollectivED at Leeds Beckett University, Jan 2020, clearly outlines the impact of Leadership Coaching in Schools.
Heads and leaders who have engaged a coach report:
- Gaining a greater sense of work life balance and being provided with emotional support.
- Building resilience to face the range of challenges while maintaining wellbeing.
- Gaining confidence in their leadership role.
- Improvements in working relationships whilst helping better develop other staff.
- Developing their ability to be reflective and drill down to specifics of challenges.
- Support with problem solving and coping with continuing demands of the job.
- Improved ability to manage difficult issues and people by gaining new perspectives.
- Thinking more strategically and having time to prioritise the issues that need resolving.
- More clearly recognising the importance of children’s learning and wellbeing.
- Seeing the value in making time for oneself to be able to focus on what is required.
- Understanding and living by one’s own values and clearer vision of my own leadership.
Many of the heads who took part in this research also commented that the 'investment' in themselves, whilst initially difficult to justify, has made significant contributions to the effectiveness, positive working practices, efficiency and happiness of their schools. Ultimately, that is reflected in the quality of learning for each child.
See also: What can I offer you?
What can I offer you?
I have 35 years’ experience in education across the state and private sectors with 25 years in senior leadership, the last 10 of which have been as a Head. I am a qualified Masters Level 7 Executive Coach and Mentor gained through the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) and working with executives in business and heads and senior leaders in education.
Whilst I know you will be embracing the ever-changing challenges of your role, I am only too aware of the unique stresses, strains and demands placed upon you and your leadership teams from all directions. I am also aware of the longer term impact of these on one's health, wellbeing and happiness.
I have experienced the pressures first hand but also the transformational change as a result of coaching. I have used coaching extensively as a leader and for professional development for my self and my staff.
Coaching causes you to slow down, reflect and open you up to possibilities. It creates space for you to evaluate, think and strategise. It allows you a confidential, non-judgemental, supportive and positive forum in which you can explore what you need to do, where you want to go and ultimately how to get there.
I have a breadth of knowledge, understanding and experience in a wide variety of organisations to bring to our coaching relationship.