Endpiece

Happy New … You Tracy Shand has a fresh approach to New Year resolutions for school leaders

Being successful in the independent sector today is a question of capital management, innovation and marketing prowess. These are challenging times when your limited resources are required to be maximised to survive. Your biggest cost can become your best asset in 2017 when you empower the human capital working in your school.

Your success is based on one thing – YOU, how you act and react. You are where you are today because of the personal and professional choices that you have made. If there is a problem anywhere in your life – the day that you wanted to have never happens, the job that you love becomes a challenge not a joy – choices can be overwhelmed by emotions kicking in and things change. It is the same for everyone you manage. To move forward in 2017 you need to unleash the power of one. When it comes to any aspect of your life – accepting a job, proposing to your love and especially your well-being – all it takes is one person to change your life for the better.

One hand – yours

Now we all know that under the senior leader disguise there is an inner child itching to come out, so let’s go back to the future and start planning. Grab a pen now, armed with the curious nature of a child, and away we go – it’s playtime.

Do you have a pen yet?

Your future is in your hands. Gimme Five!

Get some paper and draw round your hand. Yes, draw round your hand. OK, the resulting image is not perfect, but did it make you smile? This is the resource that you need to build your tomorrow. Now write down the five things that you want to be able to say on 31 Dec 2017 – one on each finger. Glue this onto an A3 piece of paper and write 5 steps above each finger about how to get there. I love this one and do it every year as my New Year resolution and have lost no fingers yet! Will you?

One space

Look at these words: Career Care er Impossible Im possible Impressed Im pressed Weekend Week end

If you reflect on the emotions associated with these words, what a difference a space makes. Which ones are you drawn to in the pair? Thoughts drive emotions. Emotions drive behaviour. Behaviour drives the school culture you are living in today. So, what one change can you make now to create a positive space to move forward? One action is all it takes. What could that be?

One action

Two Words + One Action Two words can stop you in your tracks – NOT AGAIN (your staff when the senior team announce a really good idea) NOT NOW (when you are your most tired and something happens)

- but they can also be a kick-starter.

To be successful, choose two words and one action to improve your tomorrow. You could have ‘keep learning’ or ‘what if’, or, to get you started, what about -

HELP ME …. to manage my work life balance. ACTION …. write what it looks like and feels like. What one action can you take to begin?

It is as simple as that – actions speak louder than words. Small or big, action is still an action. Take one today and then another: you have 365 days a year, what a lot of ground you can cover.

One future

Is your wellbeing or other people’s your number one priority? Leader, are you building for tomorrow or just surviving today? Let’s see if your answer matches your behaviour. Take a moment to reflect on your day – your challenge is to answer these questions truthfully.

How much sleep have you had? Did you wake feeling wellrested? Did you miss breakfast? How many meals have you had today? Did you eat fast or slow? Did you eat at your desk or take your time? Describe your day in THREE words. How much time today have you had just for you? How much time today have you done nothing? Yes, nothing.

Are you shocked by your answers? What would you say to a young person or colleague that told you this was their life? What one change would you suggest for them to do immediately? Yes, it’s time to take your own advice and you need to do it now

One time machine

Sometimes you need to step back to move forward. They say writing a letter is a lost art. Not today! It is time to step into your own time machine. Write a letter to your 16 year-old self. (If you want to get in character it’s best just to put on some old music rather than change your hairstyle or clothes!) Write a letter to your 60 year-old self. Now, what do you want to be able to say? Put them both away for 24 hours then read them together. What is missing? What one action do you need to start today? It is time to Believe in Yourself to achieve your definition of success. To build your community for tomorrow, you need to empower your human capital today. Put the ‘I’ back anywhere into your life starting now, as you have all the resources to be successful. Do something today that your future self will thank you for. Good luck this year!

A published author and thought leader, Tracy’s mission is to put the ‘I’ back into your boarding life. More recently her book Boardingology was reviewed by boarding professionals as ‘motivational and inspirational’ on Amazon. All royalties from the book go to support young people who need boarding to move forward in their life.

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