7 ways to be a brilliant school leader - not for Ofsted, but for you!

Being a brilliant school leader is more than an Ofsted tick-box or an end of term governors’ report. It’s more than being able to placate a grumpy parent or calm an emotional child. 

While all of those things are important (ish - we’re looking at you, Ofsted tickbox), it’s more about the person you are underneath the role of ‘school leader’ - the one that makes you memorable for all the right…or wrong…reasons. 

Brilliant school leaders - are they born that way?

When you meet a brilliant school leader, it’s often quite easy to pick out their redeeming qualities. What it is about them that makes them inspirational and a joy to work for. It’s these attributes that can make you assume they came out of the womb and ‘Future Leader’ was written on their hospital tag. 

But actually, to be a brilliant leader - or even a great one - you don’t have to have it written in your DNA. Leadership is a learnable skill. It can take a while to get it right but when you do, it makes all the difference to the team or community you’re leading. 

So what are these skills that can help you in your quest for brilliance? Well here are 7 of the most important ones for you to consider.   

1. Vulnerability 

Bet you didn’t think we’d start with that, right? But it’s actually an integral part of leadership. Maybe you think vulnerability is weakness, but we’re here to tell you it’s not. It’s actually a way to appear stronger to those around you. 

Why?

Because being vulnerable shows you’re human. You’re not simply a leadership robot who appears unaffected during challenging times. No, we’re not suggesting you weep continuously when something goes wrong, but what we are saying is that you should feel free to admit your mistakes or express concerns you have. 

Share how you’re really feeling when it’s appropriate to do so. If you’re finding something tougher than usual, talk to others about it. It’s courageous to open up and show your more vulnerable side, and people will respect you for it.  

2. Communication 

Ask any team what their biggest irritation is with leadership and it’s often communication. There’s nothing more annoying than expectations being put upon you that haven’t been shared in the appropriate way. And if you’re the leader responsible, it can hamper any good relationships you try to build. 

Good communication underpins any healthy relationship you have - be it in your personal life or your professional one. Wherever possible, keep channels of communication open so people know what’s expected of them and when.  

Of course things can crop up at the last minute but as long as these are few and far between, and you’re open and honest about the situation, people will still feel as though you’re doing your best.  

An apology, if necessary, is also a great way to earn the trust and respect of your team and colleagues. 

3. Listening 

The other essential part of good communication is listening. And not just giving them half an ear while you finish that data report or keeping one eye on your email inbox. 

People want to be seen and heard - and by showing them this with your body language, they’ll know you’re giving their concerns or problems your full attention. Give them eye contact, invite them to sit down, and nod as they’re speaking to show you’re listening.

As Stephen Covey said, ‘Seek first to understand, then to be understood.’ So rather than swooping in with your theories and your ideas, let people say all they have to say, before you jump in. It can be terribly tempting, but it’s so important. 

One book we love here at Laughology is Time to Think by Nancy Kline, which shares so many brilliant ideas to help build effective listening skills. 

4. Approachability

If you want to be a brilliant school leader, you can’t hide away in your office. Being visible and approachable is key to building trust and authority within your team. And while it may be tempting to rock slowly in the corner of your office whenever possible, your teachers and support staff need you to be there for them. 

Set clear boundaries and communicate them with your team. Create a system so people know when it’s okay to chat to you. As tempting as it is to have an official booking system, it can be off-putting for people. An open-door policy can work wonders for your team but it also needs to work for you too.  

Ask around if you’re not sure, what are other school leaders doing that works? Adapt it to suit your situation and people will feel valued and happy to know there are times when they can simply knock on your door and speak to you. No appointment necessary. 

5. Solution-focused 

As a school leader, you’ll know that people will come to you with all manner of problems they need solutions for. It’s all too tempting just to sort the problem out for them - after all, it’s probably quicker that way. 

But what actually works best for the people on your team is if you encourage them to come to you with solutions already in mind. Listen to their ideas and give feedback. The more you do this, the more your team will start to solve problems without coming to you first - giving them a boost in confidence and you more of your time back. 

A word of caution here! If you create a solution-focused approach in your team, you need to be prepared that people won’t necessarily solve problems exactly how you would. Become okay with that, otherwise it can cause friction. Allow them to make mistakes too - it’s how we learn after all. 

Nothing is more empowering for people than to be in charge of their decisions and not feel as though they’re always relying on others for help. It might be a challenge to start with, but you’re giving them skills for life.

6. Reflectiveness 

Brilliant school leaders need to be reflective - it’s the only way you’ll improve both as a leader and as a human. Taking the time to stop and think about decisions you’ve made or situations you’ve been part of can only help you consider your actions…and whether you’d do things differently next time.

Don’t be afraid to share these reflections with others - even with your whole team if appropriate. Not only will it build that know, like and trust factor, but it will also model good practice for them too. After all, reflective teachers are the best teachers. 

You might find it useful to log your reflections or to simply share them as part of your SLT meetings. By taking the time to do this regularly, even though you’re spinning many plates right now, you’ll soon begin to see the benefits and improvements in your leadership. 

 And don’t forget to celebrate the good times too.

7. Awareness

Being aware of how your team are feeling or the general morale of the community is a vital part of being a brilliant school leader. Awareness is everything and comes with all the other skills listed above - particularly communication and listening. 

Talk to people, ask for feedback. Listen to what they have to say to you. If they’re not happy, is there a valid reason? It can feel hard to get past all the minor grumbles people have, particularly towards the end of term. But it’s worth keeping your ear to the ground and seeing whether anything is repeatedly an issue. 

Some school leaders hold regular ‘surgeries’ where members of the team can come in and talk about things that are bothering them or that are causing them stress. You may like to do something similar. By showing people you want to listen, you’ll be seen as a leader who cares - and that matters to people. It matters a lot.

If you know someone has been going through a tough time of late, keep connecting with them and let them know you’re there for them. Kindness goes an incredibly long way on your journey to brilliance. 

Your school leadership role 

While being a school leader is a big part of your life, it’s worth remembering it’s just a role you play. It’s not your whole identity - and nor should it be. Of course it’s an important role and one you no doubt care deeply about. But it’s a role that requires a human side - a side that allows people to see the real you. 

Avoid getting too hung up on what a leader ‘should’ be and instead, be the brilliant school leader you want to be. Lead by example, lead with integrity but most importantly, lead with a smile. It’ll make your school a really happy place to be. 

And if you want some support, why not check out our Creating a Happy-Centred School INSET day? Just email doug@laughology.co.uk for more information.