How to role-model wellbeing as a busy leader

Emotionally healthy teachers and education staff make effective learning possible – here’s how to role-model wellbeing as a leader and create change from the top

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Education Support

For school leaders, the pressure is real and unrelenting. The load you put on yourself to ensure you are doing the best possible job for the pupils in your care, is often a cause of anxiety.

But role modelling good staff wellbeing is not about unwavering positivity in the face of adversity. It is about building relationships, showing you are human, admitting when you are wrong and seeking your own support when needed. 

It’s also remembering that it is okay to show vulnerability as a leader, and that cultural change such as this has to start from the top.

Why invest in your wellbeing as a leader?

• Role modelling healthy wellbeing habits to staff
• Creating a safe space in school for anyone to talk about their mental health
• Building a mentally healthy school, which in turn will increase staff retention and pupil progress
• Putting yourself first to enable you to have a longer tenure with no danger of burnout

Many headteachers have enlisted the help of a coach. This has really helped them in a role where there are not many people to talk to objectively about the pressures of the job. That extra layer of ‘wellbeing accountability’ is also very useful as setting and achieving wellbeing targets. These are as important as any other school target.

Home truths activity

In order to start this journey of personal self-reflection, try stepping off the work treadmill for a few hours and undertaking some self-work. 

Find a quiet environment where you don’t feel the need to do anything else (i.e. not at work or home) and ask yourself the following questions:

• When was the last time I put my needs first at home or school?
• What are my actual percentages when it comes to work/life balance (excluding sleeping time)?
• Who in my personal life is missing out as a result of my workload?
• What do I do each week to bring myself joy?

If you write the first thing that comes to mind It’s generally the truth and sometimes a perspective you hadn’t considered as your intuition takes over from your ego.

How can I be my authentic self?

The core of being our authentic selves is doing what feels right and not undertaking tasks or behaving in a certain way just to please others. Try to forget the external influences and focus on your staff so that they can effectively focus on the children.  

It doesn’t have to be a sudden shift, if you wish to change your leadership style, then evolve it slowly changing one element at a time. These gradual shifts will lead to improved embedding of the leadership style you want to have.

Showing vulnerability as a leader

So many organisations both in and outside of education are facing enormous challenges right now but I wonder how many leaders have let their staff know the extent of the issues and have been open to a candid dialogue on what the school or organisation can do moving forward.

Being truthful and sharing that you don’t have all the answers can be essential for workforce ‘buy-in’. This approach builds trust and relationships as opposed to a ‘them and us’ situation. 

If you don’t know what to do in a situation, it doesn’t mean you’re failing as a leader. If you ask for staff input, it shows you are open to ideas. This will also help build a school with wellbeing at its heart. 

Top tips for this process:

• Start asking for more collective dialogue on whole school issues and openly act on advice from staff
• Share challenges factually without exaggeration
• Keep reiterating the importance of the school staff team and how you are all working together to evolve the staff team and school in becoming even stronger

The mentally healthy school

The process of showing vulnerability as a leader all forms part of being a mentally healthy school. 

The first task in showing your vulnerability as a leader, could indeed be to start addressing this important area by getting a school wellbeing charter in place. 

The government has produced a wellbeing charter to support schools navigating this area. It will allow school leaders to:

• Show staff that you take their wellbeing seriously
• Open a conversation with staff about their wellbeing and mental health
• Create a staff wellbeing strategy
• Create a wellbeing-focused culture

This charter also sends the message that your wellbeing matters as well.

Busting wellbeing myths

Within my work supporting schools and individuals with their wellbeing journeys, I have come across several common themes:

Role modelling wellbeing is not…

• A bolt-on that can simply be addressed through an annual survey
• Something left to a ‘wellbeing committee’ that has a small budget to organise social activities and staffroom cake
• Assuming that staff will say something if they are not happy and if they don’t come, they must be happy – leaders need to actively seek this information

Role modelling wellbeing is…

• Not difficult and can be incorporated easily into everyday life
• Involves you as the leader to be your authentic, vulnerable and heart-centred self
• Dropping your perfectionist persona and admitting to, as well as not being afraid of, making mistakes.

We hope that these points go some way in supporting you and your school to continue your wellbeing journey and also support you on your personal development when it comes to your own wellbeing and showing vulnerability.