Headteacher jobs

There are three common errors that principals make while coping with stress.

Being a head teacher is by far one of the most difficult jobs that a person can have, yet it's also one of the most rewarding. Due to the weight of having to cater to the requirements of such a large number of people, the expectations that are placed on you often give the impression that you are required to take on the characteristics of a super hero.

As well as herculean amounts of inner fortitude to withstand the trials of a 'regular' day, much alone a week, a term, or a year. If there even is such a thing! If not called into question, this strategy and attitude toward the position may only lead to a rise in the amount of stress experienced and, eventually, burnout.

Read about the three common errors that head teachers make while coping with stress, as well as the solutions to those errors, if you wish to avoid the "crash and burn" mentality.

The first error you may make is to think of yourself as a superhero.

You are not! You are referred to as "only human." It is okay for you to experience the same range of emotions that everyone else does. It is very normal for you to have feelings of tiredness and exhaustion, just like everyone else. It is normal for anybody, including you, to have feelings of confusion and anxiety from time to time.

The issue is that too many head teachers have the perception that they cannot confess these sentiments to themselves because of the prestige that their job affords them. This is the root of the problem.

A blunder... but why? Because when you disconnect from what you are really feeling and experiencing on a day-to-day basis, you lose the capacity to know and understand yourself on a deep and meaningful level. This may lead to poor decision making in times of hardship and stress because you have unknowingly diminished your capacity to make choices that are truly connected with who you are and what you believe in.

The solution is to have an understanding of your feelings and what they are trying to communicate to you in any particular circumstance. Realize that your feelings are indicators of what's happening on the inside of you, and that they also [both positively and negatively] impact how you react when you're under pressure.

Believing that the'show' has to go on is the second mistake people make.

Every head teacher is aware of and at peace with the reality that they get up to work each day with the intention of delivering the greatest performance of their life. They use the school as their stage; the faculty, students, parents, and governors each have a part to play; nevertheless, in the end, it is the head teacher who is in charge of directing the action and who takes on the role of the protagonist.

Even though the head teacher is suffering from a raging fever, is gradually losing their voice, and has to take an aspirin every two hours, they nevertheless fight through their symptoms because they are certain that the show must go on.

A blunder... but why? Because when our immune systems get compromised and we ignore the warning signals, we raise the chance of being sick with a condition that is much more severe and slow down the pace at which we recover.

Solution: STOP! As easy as that, put a stop to it! Give your body the time it needs to recharge by letting it rest.

The third error is failing to pay attention to what is going place "behind stage."

To continue with the stage metaphor, many heads of schools make the error of focusing an excessive amount of emphasis on their own performance on the "front stage," while simultaneously disregarding what is taking on "behind stage."

You demonstrate all of the traits that have to be constantly on display for people to have faith in you and follow your example, and you do this on the front stage of your life. Backstage is the place where you may leave your anxieties, concerns, and feelings of bewilderment and self-doubt.

A blunder... but why? Because if you let your backstage go unchecked, it will ultimately "leak" out onto your "front stage," which will damage not just how you feel yourself but also how others see you.

Work on your backstage skills as a solution! Find strategies to deal with your worry, self-doubt, fear, and other problems you have. Your levels of stress will drop, and you will become a stronger, more confident, and more resilient leader as a result of doing so.

Altering the Course of the Story...

When I reflect on the years I spent as a Head Teacher and compare those experiences to the work I do with school leaders today, I am struck by how simple it is for school leaders to come to understand that feelings of exhaustion, emotional overload, and anger are par for the course.

After a particularly taxing exchange with a parent, I came to the realization that I needed to change my perspective. When my feelings did eventually catch up with me, I had been so used to numbing them out and wearing my "super-head" cloak that I did not know what to do. I had become so accustomed to numbing out my emotions and wearing my cloak.

I was unable to do anything except sob uncontrollably as I sat in my vehicle. It wasn't until something like this occurred to me that I was able to do some serious introspection and figure out why I was in this position and what had been lacking from my life as a head teacher all along... Support!

I'm not referring about the kind of assistance that head teachers get from school advisers, governors, or other colleagues in the same building. My realization that there was a deficiency in support came in the form of a different kind.

I needed assistance that was private and free from criticism at this time. I needed a place where, even if only for a little time, I could take off my mask and just be myself. A place where I could feel safe enough to reveal my weaknesses and get the assistance I needed to make sense of my own feelings in light of the responsibilities of my work.

Unfortunately, some 15 years later, there is still a deplorable lack of support that can be considered "appropriate" for those who are in charge. As a consequence of this, there are many Heads who continue to experience emotional overload as a characteristic of the position.

Because of this, I have decided to start offering FREE "Coaching for the Soul" Calls. The purpose of these calls is to give school leaders with a secure and judgment-free environment in which they may discuss the difficulties associated with their roles.

This call provides a safe and private environment in which leaders can:

- Guide them through the difficulties they are experiencing and help them discover answers

- In the midst of their present circumstance, get support and encouragement

- Give some thought to current happenings and the effects those events are having.

- Obtain an understanding of their views and build a strategy for moving ahead