How effective and engaging are your Middle Leaders meetings? Are you excited to attend them and have an input into whole school decision making or do they feel like a burden that gets in the way of you making a real impact?
In my experience of being either a Middle Leader or Senior Leader in a number of different schools (2 state comprehensives in the UK and now an International School in Thailand) the answer would be 'not very'.
The way these meetings normally run is this: Senior Leaders set the agenda and use it as a consultancy process with Middle Leaders, generally guiding them towards a route that has already been discussed in SLT meetings.
The Senior Leaders get the outcome they want and the Middle Leaders leave happy in the illusion that they've had an input and have had their voice heard.
This may not always be the case, but as I've said previously, this is my experience of these meetings.
As a Senior Leader it's important to create a following amongst your staff. You want everyone 'pulling in the same direction' and 'singing from the same hymn sheet'. Wrong!
As a Senior Leader it's important to create a LEADERS amongst your staff. It's important that they dictate the direction that new initiatives or solutions to existing problems take as they are the ones who have to work within the confines of decision. I's the Middle Leaders who have to present this to their departments and make it work effectively.
Ownership is they key!
So how would I improve this and make Middle Leaders meetings effective?
Firstly, remove Senior Leaders from Middle Leaders Meetings. Get the Middle Leaders to nominate two chair people who can oversee the meetings and make sure they are purposeful. This is not only needed as it adds structure, it also creates progression opportunities for members of staff who are looking at taking their first steps into Senior Leadership.
The chair people attend a meeting with SLT the week before the Middle Leaders Meeting where they create an agenda and share the rationale behind specific topics on the agenda.
After this comes the hardest part for the Senior Leaders: let go! Give ownership to the Middle Leaders Group and let them own the decision made at these meetings. The chair people can feedback after the meeting and explain the decision made, but the Senior Leaders need to accept these decisions and put faith in their leadership structure.
I am going to be test running this at my school. I would love it for you to do the same and let me know if these meetings become more effective and engaging over the next 6 months.
All feedback welcomed!
In my experience of being either a Middle Leader or Senior Leader in a number of different schools (2 state comprehensives in the UK and now an International School in Thailand) the answer would be 'not very'.
The way these meetings normally run is this: Senior Leaders set the agenda and use it as a consultancy process with Middle Leaders, generally guiding them towards a route that has already been discussed in SLT meetings.
The Senior Leaders get the outcome they want and the Middle Leaders leave happy in the illusion that they've had an input and have had their voice heard.
This may not always be the case, but as I've said previously, this is my experience of these meetings.
As a Senior Leader it's important to create a following amongst your staff. You want everyone 'pulling in the same direction' and 'singing from the same hymn sheet'. Wrong!
As a Senior Leader it's important to create a LEADERS amongst your staff. It's important that they dictate the direction that new initiatives or solutions to existing problems take as they are the ones who have to work within the confines of decision. I's the Middle Leaders who have to present this to their departments and make it work effectively.
Ownership is they key!
So how would I improve this and make Middle Leaders meetings effective?
Firstly, remove Senior Leaders from Middle Leaders Meetings. Get the Middle Leaders to nominate two chair people who can oversee the meetings and make sure they are purposeful. This is not only needed as it adds structure, it also creates progression opportunities for members of staff who are looking at taking their first steps into Senior Leadership.
The chair people attend a meeting with SLT the week before the Middle Leaders Meeting where they create an agenda and share the rationale behind specific topics on the agenda.
After this comes the hardest part for the Senior Leaders: let go! Give ownership to the Middle Leaders Group and let them own the decision made at these meetings. The chair people can feedback after the meeting and explain the decision made, but the Senior Leaders need to accept these decisions and put faith in their leadership structure.
I am going to be test running this at my school. I would love it for you to do the same and let me know if these meetings become more effective and engaging over the next 6 months.
All feedback welcomed!
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