Leaders - You don't have to do it all!
Kimberley Evans
Helping school leaders improve their school's outcomes by increasing staff productivity and improving retention with surveys, consultancy & training. Invest ￡6 pp today to see improvements within a term. Staff wellbeing
I know how long your to-do list is. Every morning, it feels like you’re already behind, doesn't it? You get to the end of the day exhausted, wondering how much longer you can keep up this pace.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been talking about delegating and recognising when you need to ask for help.
Take a moment to do some self-reflection. Your workload. It’s huge, isn’t it?
Now ask yourself - how much of that is because you have to do those tasks, and how much is because you choose to? How much is because you feel the need to do everything yourself?
I can already hear some of you rolling your eyes, thinking, "Pft, you have no idea, Kimberley!"?Probably followed by, "You are not a headteacher, you have no idea!"
You’d be right, I’m not a headteacher. But I do know that most headteachers are perfectionists. And what goes hand in hand with perfectionism? Control.
That constant need to oversee every detail, to ensure things are done just right. The habit of saying, No, I’m fine! when people offer to help. The urge to double-check everything because it feels quicker and easier than trusting someone else to do it properly. Sound familiar?
I totally get it. I may not run a school, but I do know what it feels like to need control. I also know that perfectionists can spot each other a mile away!
But here’s the thing - holding on to everything isn’t making your job easier, it’s making it harder. And it’s exhausting you.
So, let’s try something different. Start small. Pick one task today that you usually do but don’t have to do. Pass it on to someone else. It might not be done exactly how you’d do it - but does it really need to be? If they can do it 80% as well as you, that’s good enough. Over time, they’ll improve, and you’ll feel more confident letting go.
And here’s another thought - delegation isn’t just about lightening your workload; it’s about empowering your staff. Your team is full of talented people, so why not make use of their strengths? Matching tasks to their skills will not only reduce your to-do list but also build a stronger, more confident team around you.
Think back to today -?how many things did you do that could have been done by someone else? Even just partly?
Comment below and tell me -?is this something you struggle to do??
Passionately committed to supporting the development of professionals working with, and for, children & young people and as an Educational Advisor, Trainer & Coach.
1 天前Thanks Kimberley, I know you do such excellent work supporting school leaders at all levels. I’m really concerned that so many of the HTs with whom I have contact are really struggling, especially in primary schools. The support you offer them and this excellent advice could be invaluable.