3 strategies to build relationships with staff

It’s time to learn how to build true, genuine connections with staff at the start of the school year. In this blog post you will find 3 strategies to build relationships with staff.

Does any of this sound familiar — You are starting in a new building or in a new position and looking to make connections with teachers. You want to be able to get to know people, get in classrooms, and start partnering with teachers to help them grow and you just aren’t sure where to start.

Or…

You are returning as an instructional coach or administrator and made it your mission this school year to get to know people on a deeper level and build strong relationships with staff members. You want to be present, helpful, and involved in their classroom community. 

If you are anything like me you want to be as helpful and present as you can for staff but you just aren’t sure where to start. You know that you want to improve from last year and make those special connections with teachers. You also know there are many different personality types no matter where you work and this can be the most challenging of them all. Life can get busy too. You may also be pulled in different directions or are wearing many hats. 

How to build relationships and boost staff morale:

If you relate to any of the situations then this blog post was made for you. We all have the best intentions with our professional goals but sometimes it can be challenging to know where to start or if you are doing the right thing. Last year I was almost anything but an instructional coach and my relationships with teachers suffered. It is my mission this school year to get back to building relationships and partnering with teachers to continue improvement in classrooms. However, I can’t do any of those things without being intentional in my practices. 

If you are truly invested in building relationships with staff, it will take time and effort but I promise you it will pay off in the end. 

Simple, easy ways to make connections with coworkers:

STAFF INTEREST SURVEYS

This step can take a little time for both you and the staff but I promise it will be worth it in the end. At the beginning of the school year, send out a survey. Do it. Don’t think twice. Each year I send out a survey that asks staff their favorite things, love language, type of feedback they like, their goals, their professional development needs, and more. By asking staff these questions you gain a little insight into who they are as a person, how you can treat them if you’d like, how to best work with them, and what you can do as an instructional coach or administrator to be intentional with your planning with professional development and support throughout the year. 

Don’t just send out this survey, read it. No ifs, ands, or buts about this step. You must review every single survey. If you have questions about their answers, reach out and ask them. You will be surprised about how much this can open people up. They will feel valued and heard. Use the information for good. Plan the professional development for them. Partner with them on their goals. Get them a treat to celebrate them. Whatever you do, use the information in the survey. 

BE PRESENT

Be present. Make the time for them. Give your whole self to staff day-in and day-out. It is so important at the start of the year to be in classrooms as much as you can. Set intentional time aside not only to observe instruction but meet with teachers one-on-one. Let them know that you are thinking about them. Share their successes and hardships. If they see you at the beginning of the year, I guarantee they’ll be reaching out the rest of the school year. Do not miss the opportunity to show up for them each and every day. 

It can be a challenging step as it will take away from other responsibilities or tasks that you may have. I promise you it is worth it. You won’t miss out on the important conversations. You will help those staff members who are feeling overwhelmed to feel those big emotions, but they won’t be alone. They will remember that you were there. 

I send out weekly staff check-ins using google forms. These forms are simple surveys to see how staff are starting or ending their week. These check-ins have been my little secret weapon for two years now. I have had so many things shared over these check-ins that have allowed me to build strong connections with teachers. 

COME OUT FROM BEHIND YOURSELF

This strategy has been something that I have vowed to do for over a year now. Be vulnerable, be transparent, share the hard things. If we constantly pretend everything is okay then we are not being honest with ourselves or others. I had the opportunity this year to present on instructional coaching. During this presentation, I stood up in front of the staff and admitted that last school year almost broke me. I was so overwhelmed with all things that Covid-19 has impacted, including my job. I absolutely love being an instructional coach and I lost a lot of that last school year. I shared with staff the steps I was taking to help myself this year and intentionally am focusing on setting boundaries. I could write about this until the end of time but that will just need to be a separate blog! 

There is a time and a place to be vulnerable and share with staff about yourself. When you feel compelled to do so, don’t be afraid. Go for it. They will appreciate you being honest and open with them. 

If you focus on these 3 strategies to build relationships with staff, you will have success. Remember that you can make an impact one conversation at a time.