What Every Teacher Wants Their Principal to Know About Team-Building

In survey after survey, the effectiveness of school administrators is cited as one of the most important factors in a successful school. In assessing these findings, effective administrators seem to share several core attributes. Some of the shared attributes cited are the willingness to support teacher discipline, projecting a positive attitude, showing genuine concern for the student body and staff, and providing staff and students with encouragement and affirmation. The list does not end here. Along with these, the quality of building teamwork is a skill-set that most effective administrators possess. Still, as important as this attribute is, it's fair to say that building teamwork among teachers is not an easy task. With the broad range of personalities, opinions, and educational philosophies represented in most schools, bringing teachers together to work cooperatively and effectively can sometimes feel close to impossible. Some school administrators have simply quit trying to accomplish this after years of frustrating experiences, while other go through the motions hoping to take small steps toward the ultimate goal. Yet, in some cases, you find schools where the staff do work effectively together.

This leads me to believe that building a strong team-based group of teachers is possible! What are these administrators doing to make teamwork possible? As I've looked at the different examples of effective teacher cooperation within schools, a shared pattern of tried and true strategies emerges. These simple principles will greatly assist you in your goal of bringing teachers together. Let's discuss a few.

* Allow Quality Time for Teachers

If teacher teamwork is to be fostered, then ample time within the contracted workday must be provided. In any professional relationship, the amount of quality time that you spend together with co-workers enhances the sense of cooperation. I am not suggesting that teachers are expected to befriend every teammate, but if there is to be a true spirit of "teamwork" within a school, then administrators must schedule focused, uninterrupted opportunities for teachers to share, interact, and plan together.

* Model Teamwork with Teachers

As is the case in most organizations, positive culture must begin at the top. Effective administrators should be approachable and responsive to teacher feedback and suggestions. Research has indicated that true leadership is centered in the ability to influence. In light of this, administrators must not fall into the bad habit f isolating themselves from their staff, inadvertently working in what I refer to as an "administrative bubble". Administrators should have an "open door" policy when it comes to teacher feedback, and they should make every effort to participate in relevant campus activities and meetings.

* Reduce the amount of busy work that is assigned to teams of teachers

This will allow teams to focus on essential school issues. Providing teachers with team assignments that lack substance or consequence can actually undermine team building, as teachers may allow their frustration to spill over into complaints and negative interactions. It can become an exercise in futility and frustration if the perception among staff members is that teachers are simply filling in their allotted work schedule with inconsequential work.

* Be an Encourager of Teachers

Attitude is contagious. When administrators offer positive feedback, provide random acts of kindness, and come to work each day with a positive, friendly attitude, then the likeliness of staff members acting accordingly will dramatically increase. If the staff perception of the environment is that it fosters safe, affirming interactions and relationships, then teachers will be more likely to embrace a cooperative, team-centered approach.

* Develop an Effective Team Structure

This does not happen accidentally, it must be planned intentionally. Some schools utilize drop boxes, staff mailboxes, inter-school email, professional learning communities, lunch time, professional development days, and a host of other formats that bring teachers together and enhance cooperation, but the key is intentionality. Building a team must be a priority, and a core value that administrators embrace if effective team building is going to occur.

So in conclusion, some of the ways that administrators can help to build teamwork among teachers are to provide ample quality time, personally model teamwork, reduce busy work, create a safe environment centered around encouragement, and ensure that there is an intentionality to building a team. In applying these practical strategies, you will find yourself moving much closer to a strong, team-based community of educators in your school.