Today’s episode is a quick, down-and-dirty conversation about how to plan out norms. We’re already in October, but we still have time to establish and revisit norms in our schools. I’m giving you a strategy I use with my clients when it comes to planning out norms and getting others to follow them from a place of compassion.

Discussions about norms are one of those things that make people roll their eyes. You do them every year, and it can feel like they don’t matter. However, they establish a standard and expectation for collaboration and meeting behaviors, and they’re super important for getting things done. It’s time to talk about creating compassionate norms.

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It’s October, which means it’s a beautiful month of colorful leaves, costumes, and candy, but for school leaders, it’s one of the most exhausting times of the year. The fall dip is hitting schools left, right, and center, so in today’s episode, I’m showing you what you can do when you start experiencing the fall dip.

You’ve been going full blast since July, hiring, onboarding, planning, preparing, meeting, and getting things moving. October comes around and things are humming, but we’re exhausted. So, if you want some tips for getting through this tough month, this is the episode for you.

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You’re now at the point in your school year where you’ve been at it for a few months. This means the initial honeymoon period of excitement and enthusiasm has likely worn off, and your mind is racing about how there’s so much left to do and not enough time to get it all done.

We’ve been led to believe that we need to have a combative relationship with time. We say things like, “I don’t have time,” or “Time slipped away from me,” and we use time as a scapegoat for why we’re unhappy or for not accomplishing the things we truly want to do. The truth is we’ve been sold on this oppressive framework of time, but we can begin building a beautiful relationship with it instead.

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What are you worried you’ll lose when school is back in session? This is a question I recently posed to my Facebook community, and the overwhelming response I received from school leaders was regarding their time. That’s why we’re diving into managing your thoughts about time on this episode, specifically as it relates to meetings and finding substitutes.

As school leaders, you live in a world of meetings, whether that’s with teachers, parents, stakeholders, or your district – the list goes on. Another pain point that many principals experience is spending time securing substitute teachers. While these aspects of your job might make you think you’re losing valuable time, I’m offering you a more empowered way to think about these situations today.

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This week, I’m inviting you to decide, at the beginning of the school year, to meet regularly with your teachers. I know it seems like one more thing to add to your already full plate as a school leader, but I promise it’s extremely valuable.

You likely intellectually understand the power of meeting with your teachers. It’s a solid practice that serves your entire school community. However, you also probably realize that it’s one of the first things to fall off your plate as the year ramps up and things get busy. Regardless of emergencies, student disciplinary issues, or parent meetings, you can make time for it, and I’m here to show you how.

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