Thapar School of Management’s Post

How to motivate and lead your 21st-century team. 1️⃣Be Authentic 💎Authenticity is crucial in building trust and rapport with your team. As a school leader in the 21st century, nothing is more important than embracing your true self and being transparent about your values, beliefs, and vision for the school. 💎Share your personal experiences, successes, and failures with your team. Authentic leaders are relatable. They humanise the leadership role, making it easier for team members to connect with them on a deeper level. Share how you failed and let your team down but learned the lesson and made better choices. 💎Encourage open communication and feedback within the team. Foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas without fear of judgment. Promote that every idea is worthy of consideration. Authenticity breeds authenticity, so lead by example and encourage authenticity in others. 2️⃣Show Your Empathy 💎Empathy is a powerful tool for school leaders to understand their team members' needs and emotions. Take the time to actively listen to your team, acknowledge their feelings, and validate their experiences. 💎Demonstrate empathy by offering support during challenging times, recognising individual achievements, and providing resources to help team members succeed. 💎Foster a culture of empathy within the school community by encouraging collaboration, teamwork, and mutual respect. Emphasise the importance of understanding and supporting each other's perspectives – even when we don’t agree - to create a supportive and inclusive environment. 3️⃣Inspiring a Sense of Purpose and Calling 💎Help your team members connect their work to a larger purpose or mission that aligns with the school's values. Articulate a compelling vision that inspires passion and commitment among team members. 💎Recognise and celebrate each team member's unique talents and contributions, highlighting how their individual efforts contribute to the school's success. 💎Provide opportunities for professional growth and development that empower team members to pursue their passions and fulfil their calling in education. Encourage them to reflect on their personal and professional goals and support them in achieving those aspirations. 💎Lead by example by demonstrating your sense of purpose and calling as a school leader. Show enthusiasm for your work and its impact on the lives of students, staff, and the broader community. What have I missed?

Till you start doing something with what you know, you don't really know it. It's your experience with what you know that legitimizes it. You might not feel like an expert, but here's the truth: it's not the years of study or theory that make you one. It's the act of applying what you know, testing it, and refining it. When you start sharing your knowledge, teaching others, and solving real problems, that's when you truly become an expert. Your unique perspective, skills, and experience make you an authority in your field. Don't let your knowledge gather dust. You studied, learned, and grew – now it's time to put that knowledge to work. Share your insights, teach others, and solve real problems. Your journey, successes, and lessons learned will authenticate your expertise.

I received some very honest feedback in a recent discussion with Heads about how we carry out school reviews at Chiltern. We call them QDRs - Quality & Development Reviews. Here’s the feedback and what we’re doing about it... On the plus side the reviews are viewed positively. Heads said the reviews have led to direct school improvement, often rapid and well supported. They appreciate the scrutiny, quality and depth. They believe they do follow (mostly) a coaching model and develop leaders. Our ability to adapt and change reviews is appreciated, as is psychological safety - people can make mistakes in and learn - they build knowledge, confidence and skills unlike an inspection. One piece of advice (that I have to remind myself of too): Don’t take it personally; be open to feedback and genuinely learn from it. Be brave. What we need to do to get better: 1. Retrain our teams on the purpose and approach to reviews - our reviews should be developmental ad coaching, not telling others, but enabling reflection. Remind everyone. 2. Nominate a Lead so they can check in with the Head, a bit like an Ofsted KIT or temperature check and then… 3. Be responsive to any feedback during the process. We have sometimes done this, and when shaped with the Head it has been developmental and sensitive. 4. Build in follow up activities, including reviews, that close the loop - where this has happened it celebrates progress and supports school improvement. 5. Connect more with schools beyond CLT so there are excellent models of practice we can learn from beyond our own schools. What feedback have you received recently? What are you tweaking about your school improvement process? I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Even better come to our Trust Education Leaders Conference on 27th and 28th of June. Brilliant Exec Ed leaders Practical and honest sessions Great food - highlight of last year was relaxed dinner out on Thurs night (link in the comments) DM me if you have any questions.

🔹 Your Degree is Just a Piece of Paper 🔸 True Education Reflects in Behavior Demonstrate your learning through your actions and interactions. Embody principles of integrity, respect, and empathy. 🔸 Character Over Credentials Show your expertise and knowledge through practical application. Lead by example and inspire others with your conduct. 🔸 Continuous Growth Pursue lifelong learning beyond formal education. Cultivate skills and wisdom that enhance personal and professional life. 🔸 Impactful Presence Make a positive difference with the values and knowledge you uphold. Build meaningful relationships and a reputable personal brand. Education is more than a degree , it's a way of life!

🔹 Your Degree is Just a Piece of Paper 🔸 True Education Reflects in Behavior Demonstrate your learning through your actions and interactions. Embody principles of integrity, respect, and empathy. 🔸 Character Over Credentials Show your expertise and knowledge through practical application. Lead by example and inspire others with your conduct. 🔸 Continuous Growth Pursue lifelong learning beyond formal education. Cultivate skills and wisdom that enhance personal and professional life. 🔸 Impactful Presence Make a positive difference with the values and knowledge you uphold. Build meaningful relationships and a reputable personal brand. 🚀 Education is more than a degree , it's a way of life!

I believe large organizations are missing an important aspect of workforce development. 🤔 On the other hand, educational institutions are still focused on traditional course structures, often failing to prepare students for the professional world. This gap places the responsibility on organizations to train students, rather than expecting them to be fully prepared from the start. Smart, motivated students can excel quickly with the right guidance and become valuable assets to your organization. 🚀

A teachers success is measured in his students achievements. It’s always great to see staff succeed and overcome obstacles after months of training and teaching. There is a sense of comfort handing over a project knowing it’s in good hands. Let’s trust those we teach and mentor.

If you know one thing, you will miss another. This is the only fact you need to know about research. Do not expect to become a research specialist simply by publishing one, two, 100, or 1000 publications. The research sector is a viable field that changes every hour, not every day; it is a challenging field with various approaches that you must be familiar with. If you know more than others, don't call yourself a mentor; rather, call yourself a learner, because you won't know everything. Sometimes you will have to refer to another expert in the subject, who will refer himself to another if he or she doesn't know and so on.

*Welcome to the 2024/2025 Academic Session!* Prestigious Teachers, As we step into a brand-new academic year, I want to commend you all for your dedication and commitment to shaping the future of our students. This new session presents fresh opportunities to inspire, nurture, and transform the lives of the young minds entrusted to us. Here are some key reflections as we begin: 1. *Set Clear Goals*: Take time to define your objectives for this session. Both personal and professional goals can drive you to greater success. 2. *Embrace Change*: Whether it’s a new curriculum, technology, or teaching method, flexibility is crucial. Stay open-minded and innovative. 3. *Cultivate Relationships*: Build stronger bonds with your students, colleagues, and administrators. Teamwork and a positive classroom environment lead to success. 4. *Prioritize Well-being*: Your well-being is just as important as that of your students. Strive for balance, self-care, and mental health support throughout the year. 5. *Consistency is Key*: It’s not just about how you start; it’s about staying the course. A consistent approach in lesson delivery, discipline, and engagement is essential for long-term success. Let’s make this session remarkable! Together, we will continue to shape the leaders of tomorrow through dedication, passion, and collaboration. Remember, the impact we make today echoes through the future. Wishing you all a productive and fulfilling 2024/2025 academic session. Oya o o ye, let's go make a difference! Best regards, *Tolulope Olotuah* Educators' Mind

Learn something new every day. Begin each day with a determination to learn something new, experience something different, or meet someone you don't already know. Doing this requires three things. 1. wake up with an attitude of openness to do something new. You must see the day as having multiple opportunities to learn. 2. You must keep your eyes and ears open as you go through the day. Most unsuccessful people accept their day. Most successful people seize their day, focusing ignoring distractions. Growing people remain focused, yet maintain a sensitivity and awareness that opens them up to new experiences. 3. Reflection. I have found that the best way to learn something new is to take time at the end of the day to ask yourself question that prompt you to think about what you learned. Remember , experience is not the best teacher; evaluated experience is. John Maxwell.