Before we get started, I have two quick announcements

1.     I’ve been hearing a strong interest in how to support beginning teachers. I went into some key practices last year in episodes 214 and 215, so if you are in the mode to think about how to support your BTs (and ECTs), give a listen to episodes 214 and 215

2.     The July 22 episode of The Assistant Principal Podcast we feature a panel discussion with myself and five assistant principals. Some are national/state AP of the Year awardees and others are just wrapping up their first year as assist principals. The focus of our discussion is being a first year AP! We would love to hear from you. If you have questions, topics, advice, or stories, please consider sharing. Please email them to me at [email protected]. I would love to be able to name contributors but will only do so if you explicitly give permission for us to include your name and affiliation. We are recording on July 15, so don’t wait.

Okay, now onto the episode…

Monday:

Relationships in the workplace take three basic forms:

·      Congenial: people share a social bond

·      Pragmatic: people share a professional bond

·      Collegial: people share professional and social bonds

The problem with congenial relationships is that while they make people happy, they don’t help us achieve the organizational purpose.

The problem with pragmatic relationships is that they only work well for some people. 

Collegial relationships thus have two elements – professional and social. The ratios of each will vary, but both are present. 

COVID laid bare the idea that work and life were separate, and if we don’t have a connection at both levels than we are missing something.

Tuesday

The prerequisite is to actually care.

We each have a story

Three steps to caring:

1.     Recognize your own imperfections

2.     Appreciate diverse perspectives

3.     Learn the stories behind those perspectives

Wednesday

(Scott) The early steps of building a relationship are to be fully present, ask good questions, and listen.

Thursday

Being vulnerable isn’t safe, but here are a couple meaningful ways that you can share vulnerabilities:

·      Show that you are human but don’t complain

·      Ask for help that the listener can give

·      Share your dreams and what you are trying to get better at.

Friday

My goal this week was not to educate you on relationships, but instead to give you some simple things that you can think about and act upon.

·      From this week, what is one thing you can act on?

·      Bonus: What have you done this week to build relationships with each of your ECTs?

·      What will you do next week?

Takeaway

·      Building relationships should be intentional

·      Learn people’s stories by being present, asking, and listening

·      Be human, be vulnerable

Two dangers:

·      Pragmatic (tasks over people)

·      Congenial (single dimensional)

As leaders, we have an ethical obligation to serve our teachers, to help them grow, and to help them find joy in their work. We can do all those things better when we know their story and when they trust us.

This wraps up this week’s Five for Friday rendition of The Assistant Principal Podcast. If you enjoyed today’s show, please subscribe and rate this podcast. Rating the podcast really does help other people to find it.

If you have questions, ideas, or stories you’d like to share, please email me at [email protected]. 

If you’d like to find out more about what I’m doing to support assistant principals, you can head over to my website at frederickbuskey.com/theassistantprincipal.

I’m Frederick Buskey and I hope you’ll join me next time for the Assistant Principal Podcast. Cheers!

On September 22, from 7-8:30 EDT, I will take you on a space trip that will lead us out of the black hole of urgency.

In 90 minutes:

·      You will understand how the gravitational pull of gravity really works, which will allow you to use more effective strategies to escape it.

·      You will think differently, which will allow you to invest more energy into what you care about.

·      You will learn five strategies, which will help you achieve more by doing less.

·      You will learn one proactive practice, which will help you grow the people around you. 

This webinar is FREE to Quadrant2 subscribers and registration opens today!

You can subscribe to Quadrant2 here.