Keeping your 'growth mindset' glasses on as you nurture leaders

Keeping your 'growth mindset' glasses on as you nurture leaders

Most of the education leaders I know are passionate about nurturing other leaders in their school. They're also keen to distribute leadership, recognising how this can contribute to increasing leadership capacity and supporting their own wellbeing. However, sometimes, we can get in our way in this area, by slipping into a fixed mindset. I've seen it happen and been guilty of it myself, 'pigeon hole-ing' people, making assumptions about their potential and limitations. I've heard leaders say things like 'she'll never be able to do that' or 'he's not leadership material'.

I love the idea of growth mindset being like a pair of glasses that you put on to look at a situation. We all slip back into a fixed mindset at times, and we need to consciously move out of it in order to get the best from ourselves and others.

We get to know each other really well when we work together in a leadership team. We start to recognise each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The danger comes when we start playing to strengths and avoiding weaknesses when we assign roles and responsibilities. It’s the role of heads/principals to empower other leaders to step outside of their comfort zone and feel supported to grow. Remembering that people can learn, grow and develop in new directions can be tough when we’ve got our heads down and we’re busy with bringing about school improvement. It requires an investment of time and effort on the part of the head, to encourage, support and coach through difficult moments, when trying new tasks and leading in new areas.

If you feel you've got stuck into a bit of a rut in this area, here's a few ways you can put your 'growth mindset' glasses back on:

1. Have regular check-ins with each leader you line manage. Make sure the agenda gives them the opportunity to raise things with you.
2. Bring curiosity to the conversations you have with your leaders. Active listening means that you set aside your assumptions and are open to whatever comes up.
3. When new opportunities arise, try not to have any pre-conceptions about who might apply, who would be best for the role or who you hope will apply. Keep an open mind.

Leadership coaching is a good way to avoid getting in your own way when it comes to nurturing your leaders. A good coach challenges assumptions and helps you to find a fresh perspective. Clients say they like to work with me because I've been a head and can really empathise with what they're going through. Message me if you'd like to explore coaching options.