A Guide to Contracting Conversations
The Transition Trilogy Part 3: Let’s start at the very beginning…
“Imagine a great future. Liberate the people. Build great relationships.”
Steve Radcliffe - Leadership Plain and Simple
Forget January, September is the real start of the new year. It’s time for a new haircut, new shoes, new pencil case, new list book and a fresh attitude full of positive intention. Okay, so maybe that’s just me, but it is certainly a time when staff and students are rejuvenated, restored and ready to bring their best selves to school. People are open to messaging and it is a key time to start things off correctly.
The start of a new school year is a time for realignment, for introducing traditions and routines which build the school culture and create a feeling of belonging. While welcoming new members of the community and preparing them for their roles, we can make the most of opportunities to remind everyone about purpose and procedures and create that sense of community and belonging for all.
In the same way that teachers build class agreements, leaders should also provide space for agreeing how teams will work together and for building the cornerstones of positive relationships as well as clarifying expectations. As either an existing school leader with new colleagues or as someone stepping up into a new role, this is a time when contracting conversations can be had to create the foundations of a strong professional relationship and to set the tone for the whole year. Just as in the old story of the foolish man who built his house upon the sand and the wise man who built his house upon a rock, we need to build working relationships on solid ground in order that they stand strong when times (inevitably) get tough later.
For this to happen, there are some key conversations which need to be had before any students come in the door. Once the purpose, vision and goals for the year have been established, and clearly understood, then the leader’s role is to ask questions and provide support. Here are some examples of the kind of questions it could be useful to ask as a start:
Culture questions for everyone:
What are our values?
Why are they important to us?
What do they look like?
What do they feel like?
What do they not look like?
What is the impact when we all align to these values?
What is the impact when we do not align with these values?
How will we hold ourselves and others accountable?
Formal feedback from existing staff:
What is the best thing about working in this team?
What would you like us to continue doing?
What would you like us to stop doing?
What would you like us to start doing?
What is the best way to support you in completing your role?
Contracting conversations with new staff:
What do you need to know?
Which strengths can you contribute to the team?
What are some of the best lessons you have learned so far that we can all learn from?
What are your hopes for this next year?
What, from your initial introduction, have you seen that we can improve on?
What needs to be in place for you and I to work best together?
What do you need in order to best support and teach your students?
Individual conversations with new staff:
Who is in your support network out of school?
How will I know when you’re struggling?
How can I best support you?
What would you like others to be saying about your work?
What do you want to improve on in your practice?
How would you like me to help you with this?
Conversations to have as a team:
What is working well?
What do we need to improve on?
What do we need to have honest but kind conversations?
How can we communicate better?
How can we make the best use of meeting time?
How should we celebrate successes?
How can we best address mistakes and next steps?
How will we hold ourselves and each other accountable?
“The real job of a leader is not about being IN charge, it’s about taking care of those in our charge.”
Simon Sinek.
The success of any team relies on the leaders setting clear goals, providing support to get there and looking after their staff. It all begins with relationships and asking the right questions. We need to get these right from the outset and build lots of positive interactions - preferably in person - to avoid miscommunication and to strengthen those foundations from the start.
So, instead of setting a new year’s resolution, perhaps this could be a time to set a new school year intention. I certainly know what I am looking for in the cover of my new list book: it will simply say “Listen.”
