Kristin Gilger gave us a lesson on how we teachers can manage our bosses. "You are responsible for your relationship with your boss," she said.However, since my boss is following this blog, I must say that she is the most understanding, compassionate, intelligent, hard-working self-starter that I have ever had the pleasure of working for.
Gilger said, "You have bosses who maybe don't understand what you do or why in the world you do it." But not me.
I won't name names, but there were quite a few teachers in our session who complained about their principals. But not me.
Gilger spoke on what she called 'principles for dealing with your principals.' Most the teachers found the 21 tips that were presented would help them in establishing better relationships with their bosses. But not me. I'm good.
Would you like to try to persuade your principal? Gilger said, "Facts don't persuade people. The most persuasive thing you can do is listen, and then demonstrate by your words or actions that what the person has said made a difference to you." Good advice for all those who want to be a suck up to their principals. But not me.
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My boss is also a wonderful leader at our school but it was interesting hearing how the other side lives and see how wonderful I have it.
ReplyDeleteVirginia Barr
Turlock High School
Turlock, Ca
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ReplyDeleteI also like working with my boss, I think we have a good relationship. I want to point out, however, that you can use these tips in all the relationships you care about; husband/wife, kids, parents, students, students' parents,etc. While some relationships are more important to you than others, being a rational, composed and civilized human being will go a long way.
ReplyDeleteA Rosenthal
The Hockaday School
Dallas, Tx
Rick, I love how your personality always comes through --- it is a joy.
ReplyDeleteAs far as furthering the discussion, this was a good session. I realized that I have not communicated effectively with my principal, and that I should quit thinking someone else will do it! On my giant to-do list, this is right up there. I actually feel quite lucky, as none of my admnistrators have practiced prior review.
I think I will also be taking a play from Weintrout on promoting my program more effectively.
Teresa Gallegos
Blackfoot High School
Blackfoot, Idaho
Coming from the coporate world, I was initially a bit surprised by this session. I found myself thinking, "These are all common sense techniques for dealing with any boss. Duh!" But then I realized that I worked in an environment where there were clear lines of command and a lot of direct communication between bosses and employees. Not everyone, especially teachers, have had that opportunity. As Lynn mentioned in class yesterday, schools seem to have their own culture and their own language of communication. I think that many school districts overlook the fact that all teachers can greatly benefit from communications training.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I don't have any problems with my principal. She's always very understanding, and I've had a good relationship with her from the beginning. Yet, it was interesting to hear about people who struggled through principals who seemed unwilling to create good relationships with their teachers. While most of this seemed like common sense to me, I think it may be because I come from the corporate world as well (like Sharon above).
ReplyDeleteIn general, you just want to have a good relationship with everyone you work with. It makes your life easier and your administration's life easier. So it is important to know these techniques in case we ever do have a difficult boss. Let's just hope we don't.
Rebecca Jackson
Douglas County High School
Douglasville, Ga.
I loved your post -- and enjoy your dry sense of humor during class. Maybe we're all getting punch-drunk, but I'm really enjoying everybody and starting to hear a lot more laughter and comments from all areas. My principal is also great -- I've had much worse and know how blessed I am.
ReplyDeleteLynn Dulcie
Rock Hill High School
Rock Hill, SC
To me a good principal is somebody to talk to when you have a need to do so, then he/she leaves you alone otherwise.
ReplyDeleteIn 16 years at my school I've had six principals. The district plays musical chairs with them, so it' like I'm having to break a new one in about every three years.
In contrast, at the daily paper there are clear lines of authority and everybody knows his/her place. Very different from the schools I've taught in over 28 years.
Mark Webber
Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts
Laredo, Texas
http://my.hsj.org/tx/laredo/vmt
I don't have any issues with my boss either. But I did need some lessons on how to communicate my needs and concerns better.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those people who has a lot of things I want to say, but who has trouble with how to word things. She gave me concrete examples of phrases that I can use to start a dialogue with my principal.
I now exactly how to approach him to ask about funding and the future of the Media department. I even know how to tell him that we need a media department. So I am ready and armed with good advice.
Alma A. McDonald
Hattiesburg High School
Hattiesburg, Miss.