Self-efficacy: Sunday dinner talk at my house!

When my daughter arrived for our traditional Family dinner last Sunday night I was reading this chapter. We had a good chuckle when I told her what I was reading about. Self-efficacy has honestly been a topic of conversation at our Sunday night dinners! My daughter is a graduate student in Social Work who is also working to get her PPS credential. She has done a good amount of reading on this topic and is quite knowledgeable about it. It will definitely have a prominent place in her thesis! She also likes to point out to me how I too frequently listen to my negative self talk and believe it! I am aware that I very rarely think that I am "good enough". My principal also points this out on my self evaluations-I always rate myself in a way that shows there is room to grow. I believe that an individual should always seek to grow and learn not only to better themselves but to stay current and challenge themselves.
What a responsibility we have in education! We not only influence students and parents but other staff especially as administrators. Encouragement and respect, self confidence and kindness are all ways we can influence our colleagues and assist them in feeling like they can do it! I got a lot out of this chapter in our book. I know I will go back to this chapter and use much of the information especially the list of skills needed.
It was affirming and a relief to read that One can never know everything and the beat thing ti do is to admit and go find the answer. A other key point was communication-it has been a constant throughout our admin credential journey. Listening with care and conviction
as well as having the ability to share his/her vision is important. The importance of humility in self-efficacy is another factor an administrator should pay close attention to not only in themselves but in staff as well.

A Safe Environment for All!

I have always been aware of the need for students to feel safe in order to learn...but did not ever take it to the level of how feeling unsafe effects our ability to participate in complex problem solving. As a teacher I have not experienced fear for my physical safety on many occasions although I have experienced this in my home. My husband is an attorney with the DA's office and we have received some threats over the year causing us to be a little fearful for our family's well being at times. I have never considered a teacher being bullied by coworkers or administrators. I suppose even parent could bully a teacher! Not a very pleasing thought! As I look back I recall a time when I could say I was bullied by a coworker. This did. Ot make for a very pleasant work atmosphere and I responded by withdrawing from the staff and avoiding interactions. It did indeed affect my complex problem solving skills. I lost confidence and even some of my passion for teaching.
Again the importance of communication (especially listening) and being visible and in touch with staff is a quality/characteristic of a good administrator or leader. Bullying among staff does not create an environment that is safe. This leads to mediocre teaching at best. Administrators must be aware and be willing to hold his/her staff accountable to respect for all!

Building a Foundation That Stands Firm: Leadership Connector, Support

"support is a basic need. ....this basic need must be met for people to be successful."

As I read this chapter I found myself thinking back to when I first joined the staff at my school site 15 years ago. It was a brand new school and it was my first permanent full time teaching position in CUSD. I could not have asked for more support. Everyone was willing to help in a variety of ways. It certainly made the beginning of my teaching career easier and enjoyable.
As I read on my experiences as a BTSA support provider came to mind. I have had good and not so good experiences. The good experiences have developed into lasting relationships and have become relationships that are mutually supporting, each of us listening and sorting through the other's concern, confusion, or frustration together.
Support for beginning teachers is extremely important but as a leader we must remember that all of our staff will need support from time to time. It could be for personal or professional reasons but it will happen. Being visible and knowing the staff will help me to stay in touch and determine who might need a note of encouragement, a treat in their mailbox, or perhaps just a smile to help them get through a hard time. Another instance when "knowing the story" of my colleagues is important!

Look, Listen and then Speak!

"...everything you say and do shapes people's opinions and feelings about you"
"...good communication is consistently recognized in schools as a key success factor."
"sharing information well is a high priority in school culture."
These quotes from Leadership Connectors by Phyllis Ann Hensley and LaVern Burmeister are cause to really consider how leaders at our schools communicate and to look very hard at my own communication style. As I read the chapter assigned on the first of six "connectors" I caught myself reflecting back on how my own "philosophy" or beliefs about appropriate ways to communicate have changed with professional and life experiences. I have grown to truly believe that looking for body language when someone is talking and that really listening to what they say before responding is essential in giving respect and developing rapport with colleagues, parents, and students.
Taking time to look and listen before speaking gives me time to process and determine if I understand what is being said or if I have the information I need to give the answers needed. I have often times found myself letting my exuberance for my passion cause me to respond too quickly and come across as if I am defensive. Taking the time to look and really listen helps me not to do this.
As I read this chapter my thoughts also turned to all of the ways we communicate electronically: email, text messaging, blog posts, and facebook comments. It seems to me hat sometimes these electronic ways of communicating can give false readings on intent because it isn't always easy to know what emotion is behind them. Are they joking? Are they mad? Are they annoyed? Clarification before responding makes the best sense whether communicating I person or electronically!