Team Building at the Campus Level

I’m sharing 3 valuable team building lessons today. We all know how crucial it is to cultivate a strong a supportive school community, beginning on day one.  Team building is important because it motivates employees, promotes creativity and breaks barriers.  It creates better relationships and ultimately produces positive results.  It’s a win-win.  Your first days back with the teachers will set the stage for the year.  Let’s do it right.

1.  Success is the result of a bigger mission.  Your campus success is built on commitment, accountability, and pushing the bounds of your own ability.  Every person on the campus fights hard each day for a belief in what you stand for.  So, what do you as the campus leader stand for this year?  What are your non-negotiables?  If your mentally and emotionally detached from your job, it’s time to reengage. Steve Jobs said, “Great things in business (school) are never done by one person.  They’re done by a team of people.”

2.  Back your words with actions.  You are a successful principal or leader on the campus if you take the time to care for your team.  Bring out the best in your people.  Focus 100% on your people.  It’s not what you say, it’s what you do that matters.  Actions brings satisfaction.  When you back your words with actions, others will follow your lead. You don’t build a school.  Build your people and then the people will build the school.

3.   Hold each other accountable for the goals.   I’m going to share with you a commitment card.  A few years ago, I asked my teachers to write a goal down for themselves.  At the end of the school year, I handed the cards back and asked if they met their goal.  I had the staff set goals for themselves for the year but you could do this activity several times throughout the year.  As with any profession or even in our own personal lives, we need to set goals.  Before we know what we are to achieve, we need to know what we are reaching for.  A set of goals is like a map.  When we write down our goals or commitments, it makes us more accountable for them.  It works!

My advice and words from experience- a team of people will not hold themselves accountable, sacrifice their time and energy or fight for just anyone.  But they will fight for a leader who stands for what they believe in and what’s best for the students.

Morale Booster Ideas- An activity for each month of the year!  Easy as can be.  Just print and go.  Very little funds needed.