You’re a teacher.
I’m a teacher.
We could get a class of 30 children to listen, to learn, to develop and to behave.
So why is it harder with adults?!
I know most of your team do behave well.
And those that don’t probably aren’t ‘misbehaving’ on purpose (I know it might feel like it sometimes).
And ‘misbehave’ is often too strong a word.
It’s often things like, they:
- don’t take the initiative.
- come to you for the answers.
- don’t regulate their emotions.
- don’t read the room.
- and I’m sure you can think of more.
This is a conduct issue, aka behaviour issue.
But because it’s not a really bad conduct issue, it can feel quite minor.
Just one of those things we have to live with.
It’s how people are.
But lots of small issues every day are wearing.
And as a class teacher, I bet you worked to improve these in your class, am I right?
We need to do the same as leaders.
So what can you do?
Find a common issue, one that happens across the school and talk to the team about it.
- What is it?
- Are there examples you can share (whilst maintaining psychological safety)
- What do we want to happen instead?
- What do we do if it doesn’t happen?
Let me know: what adult behaviour would you like to improve across your school?
Spotlight Resource
Check out and share my weekly 2-minute top tips to help you have more successful difficult conversations:
https://ukheadsup.com/top-tips-for-successful-difficult-conversations/
Nearly 200 bite size tips to help you tackle issues in school, nicely and effectively.
Here’s a choice one for conduct
Episode 162: How do I talk to someone about their conduct?
Do you worry about the legal side of staff issues? Come along to our March conference: ‘Tackle under-performance and sickness quickly, kindly and legally’. Rated 9.1/10 by school leaders like you.
- Clare Fowler, Employment Solicitor at the charity YESS Law, will help you manage sickness and capability better.
- Maria Brosnan of Everyday Wellbeing will help you manage well-being better.
- And Sonia Gill (me!) will be helping you fix these issues before capability and to support well-being.