Fostering a workforce who feel confident speaking up and who understand their roles and responsibilities is vital to good outcomes for children. Here’s how to do it:
- Set goals and check in.
Be clear about expectations and goals for your team, then work together on progress check-ins. You can use tools like GANTT charts or break the tasks into smaller steps with individual deadlines. Regular support check-ins tell educators you are there for them and make your expectations clear. - Provide adequate timelines and resources.
Work together to identify what educators need to achieve their tasks. Tools might include things like computer programs and developmental assessment charts, or education on using the learning frameworks or understanding the planning cycle. It’s also vital to ensure appropriate time has been provided to do the work. It’s not fair to ask for educators to work after hours. - Support a growth mindset.
Keep your word and demonstrate your own commitment to continuous improvement. Remember, people generally want to succeed, so if something goes wrong it’s usually because of a lack of skills, time or resources. When mistakes happen, work together and focus on what can be changed for next time. Building trust and skills is a better way of encouraging accountability in educators than letting fear do the work. Fearful educators tend to quickly burn out and may leave to find somewhere else they can spread their wings, or worse: stay on but be too frightened to let you know when children are at risk.
Caitlin Mason
Professional Support Consultant, It Takes A Village
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