WELLBEING Leaders as role models for wellbeing
In his regular column this month for Education Today, MARK SOLOMONS, wellbeing expert and creator of six-times ERA Award-winning Welbee, an online evaluation and staff wellbeing improvement tool, discusses leaders as wellbeing role models.
be the only way.
Each of these requires thought. Identify your stressors and work through each step, then practise, reflect and keep score as you progress.
2. Set clear boundaries
We talk about ‘work-life balance’, yet it’s better to think of it as just ‘life balance’. We all have 24 hours in which to balance everything — work, life, family, friends, hobbies, food, sleep and more.
If your team sees you sending emails at midnight or talking about the heavy workload you have, then in addition to the impact this may have on you, they may also feel they need to match your pace. Setting ‘email rules’, disconnecting yourself and encouraging staff to disconnect after hours can send a powerful message.
W
orkload, wellbeing and mental health continue to dominate the staff agenda as we look forward to another challenging school year.
The 2023 Teacher Wellbeing Index painted a difficult picture for the state of education and I am sure when the 2024 one is published there will be little change. Key statistics included:
• 78% of school and college staff experiencing work-related stress
• 89% of senior leaders reporting the same
• And perhaps most concerning, 95% of headteachers
In addition, 39% of education staff reported mental health issues as a direct result of work, and burnout looks like it is becoming an epidemic. For leaders, the challenge is particularly acute, with 40% expressing they thought they were experiencing symptoms of burnout, compared to 35% for all staff. While as leaders we clearly have a responsibility for supporting the wellbeing of our teams, we can’t ignore our own stress levels. We often hear how important it is for leaders to be role models, but when it comes to wellbeing, many leaders feel pressure to always be available.
Yet leading by example means showing that prioritising personal wellbeing is just as important as meeting targets. People copy what they see, rather than following what they’re told. Telling staff not to work late, while visibly doing it yourself, is likely to have a negative impact for many. Vision and values are all well and good, but what matters are the behaviours that demonstrate you are
living them.
Stress and burnout manifests in different ways, such as finding it hard to sleep, changing eating habits, addictions and over- reacting to problems. Finding time to address it either strategically or individually, can be difficult.
It starts with our thinking. How we think determines how we feel and the actions we take. It’s easy to fall into poor habits, and very difficult to change behaviour and learn new ones - it’s about being self-aware.
Six ways to be a wellbeing role model 1. Manage your stressors
Stress and pressure are normal; we all know about the fight, flight, freeze response, which helps us prepare for challenging events and perform under pressure. But when stress becomes chronic and your body finds it difficult to return to its natural state, problems occur.
As a first step, identify your biggest stressors and later help your team to do the same. You can then think about how to tackle each stressor, starting with the most important one first. Following the Mayo model is a good way to do this.
How can you:
Avoid the stressor – remove it from your life Alter the stressor – make changes to it
Adapt to the stressor – change the way you respond to it
Accept the stressor – some are difficult to change and learning to live with them might
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Say ‘no’ when necessary. As leaders, it’s important to model discernment. You can frame this as ‘protecting your energy’. Only accept tasks that align with your values and your key objectives.
3. Make decisions
Indecision leads to uncertainty, confusion, apprehension, anxiety, and other emotions - both for you and those you lead. It can also lower trust with others. Making what turns out to be a wrong decision is still better than not taking one. Good leaders are adaptable. Be honest when circumstances change and use the information available at the time to do the best you can. Take the time to explain the ‘Why’.
4. Schedule your daily tasks and breaks Being visible, finding time to recognise people in the moment, as well as completing your most important tasks, all need doing. Without scheduling these, it is likely key things will not get done and your stress will increase. If you want to be a productive role model throughout the day, schedule refreshment and rest breaks.
5. Establish a support system in work Connect with fellow leaders to share challenges, strategies, and support. This could be a regular gathering as part of a community, or being able to seek out people in times of need.
Remember, burnout is not a badge of honour. A car can’t run on fumes, and neither can you. When you feel burnt out, you’re no use to anyone, including yourself. Self-care is the foundation of effective leadership. What have you done to look after yourself this week?
For more information or support with workforce planning, contact
uwelbee.co.uk
October 2024
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