Things I've Learnt This Lockdown

So, as I write this from a position I didn't want to find myself in again (amidst a fairly hectic stretch of home-schooling that is), and one which isn't looking too likely to end when we thought (HOPED) it might have, I have paused and reflected a LOT. After lots of Whatsapp messages with my daughter's class mums group, I know I'm definitely NOT the only one who is feeling this way, but yikes it's pretty tough this time around!

I am a working mum. I love my kiddos - they are really quite awesome little human beings and I am really rather pleased I got these two! BUT, I love my job too, and I love and embrace the fact that I am a working mum. I love the chaos of early starts, fierce organisation and getting to the end of the week having ACHIEVED for me, and ready to give my all to my babies for the weekend. This balance is me! Both of my kids have been in full time child care (nursery) since they were 9 months old - a decision which is right for me and our family set up and so works for us. I am definitely no teacher, but find myself apparently a leader!

Part of my musings this week have included a little piece about how parenting (and in this case teaching) and managing/leading a team are pretty closely connected. Check it out:

1. Teaching (managing) is very different to what I thought it would be. Managing isn't (or at least shouldn't be) telling someone what to do and when to do it. Managing (teaching) is about showing, but more importantly, inspiring - giving your team (or kids) a goal and working out together how to get there. It's about inspiring, speaking to them in a language they understand, at a pace which works to get the best out of them and enthusing with them about the progress they make - every last little tiny step. A lot of the time, it's about confidence and affirmation.
2. What is obvious to me is absolutely not obvious to everyone (her). Every single person thinks in a slightly different way. Don't assume they get it; help them get it - THEIR way! 'Obviously' is now a banned word in our (my) world!
3. My way isn't the only way. And it DEFINITELY isn't the best way! The way they teach stuff these days is SO very different to how they did 'in my day' - some better, some worse (in my humble opinion), but all hopefully leading to the right answer; eventually! It reminds me of working with my lovely colleague Jemma - we couldn't be more different in our approach to recruitment - both equally successful and complete polar opposites! Similarly, cheesy quote: "Different Strokes for Different Folks"! Imagine if me and Jem had to do it the same way... one of us would have walked away feeling we were pretty sh*t at recruitment. My daughter's way beats my way. Sometimes. So bottling the vision and end goal versus bottling HOW you get there is the aim.
4. Mistakes are mandatory. Mistakes are not a bad thing, they are fundamental and essential to bettering oneself. And an environment where you feel safe to f*** it up is critical. I'm a TOTAL perfectionist and I've had to work really hard to ensure that my daughter feels she is allowed to not get it all right. She's only 9! Likewise with a team - it takes years to learn and be brilliant at some things. It takes practice, repetition and a whole lot of getting it wrong. Simon Sinek talks about changing the narrative by simply adding the word 'yet' to the end of a (negative) statement: I haven't got it right...yet! Failure (big word) - isn't permanent!
5. Time Management (and goal setting) is SO important. As mentioned, one of my 'things' is perfectionism - I WILL sit there until it's right. Often to the detriment and sacrifice of other stuff. A huge lesson I've had to 'learn' myself this time around (and I am not embarrassed to admit seeking guidance from my daughter's teacher on this one) is that often it CAN'T all be done. A 45minute window to do a creative writing piece is a 45 minute window to do that piece of work. What you've done is what you've done. It might not be much but it's what you CAN achieve, at this point in time. It's a starting point and a target to beat next time! Similarly in management / leadership - as long as you've done better than you did the last time - you're on a winning path!

Anyway, simple musings for a Friday afternoon. To all those parent home schooling - wine-o'clock is close; as is the weekend and we're only 2 weeks from the coveted half term.....you've got this! And if you're juggling working too - pour yourself a double!

KC