NZ Catholic Primary Principal's Association (NZCPPA) Conference: Principal Health and Wellbeing 22.06.17 - Prof Philip Riley

(NZEI funded study) 20% return rate - primary principals only - good cross section of community
http://www.nzei.org.nz/documents/Principals%20Health%20and%20Well-Being%20Report_20170120SM.pdf

Anxiety levels in schols rising - world a very dangerous place at the moment

Wellbeing not a 'bolt-on' - integral


Mental Health the biggest risk - 1:2 teachers will experience burnout during their career - need to be proactive

Environment - ergonical design, open and inclusive
Good line management - effective people management, traoning, sickness absence anagemet

work demands - job design
autonomy
change management
pay and reward

Vaalues and Principals
Collective a/ social
Personal growth -

High stakes testing = corrupt what you seek to measure

Centrally imposed expectations + local accountability

Constraining of our working life = biggest causes of exit

If you do something about it, you save a lot of money (see pic)

Gender inequity

Hours of work (see pic)

48 hours of work seen as maximum healthy amount - in NZ and Aus = 53hour average
Little productive work happens beyond 50 hours

Authorities know that you will back-fill if necessary (work more than one job)
Self-efficacy high = Coping, Coping, Coping...dead

Dualistic Model of Passion (pic)

'Trust Matters' second edition book Leadership for Successful Schools. Megan Tschannen-Moran

Job demands very high -
Job Resources - job satisfaction, influence, etc (Pic)

Admit to ourselves and others that there are good things and bad things.

Don't accept what you can change: (see pic)


Will to change? (pic) - I have to change something when I go back to school on Monday.
Prioritize! 2-3 maximum (pic)
Common clusters of Factors (pic)
  • low influence, high ...
  • high emotional demands, low role clarity, high roles con
  • high work-family conflicts,
  • (see pic)
Need to make ONE change - now. What will it be?

Supportive Leadership - the perception of people, rather than the reality. Maybe protecting teachers, butif they don't think you are, you are not a supportive leader. Principals often do lots things invisibly. Need to show what you are doing to support them - get a healthier workplace.
  • Recognise 'above and beyond' - but balance with need not to micromanage, 'Social Intelligence' - empathy is the key. Understanding self at the same time as working in someone else's shoes. Role modelling / delegation. Dealing with the difficult staff member, while holding up their dignity. (cartoon)

Employee Engagement - how much control do you have and they have? How much say you have back to the ADW / MOE / Board? How much can you give to others - otherwise people think "What's the point?". Problem of exodus of good teachers - at the top of their game, plenty of experience - leaving because the job isn't what it used to be. Alignment between personal and organisational view. (cartoon)

Role Clarity - Understand work objectives. understand link between individual and orgnisational objectes.

Learning, development and Growth Opportunities - continuous growth. "One year's experience twenty times". Access to appropriate professional learning. expand skills, kowledge and abilities.

Appraisal and Recognition - appropriate rewards. Recognition for achievement and personal milestones. Quality of performance assessment and feedback (we always want to give people another chance - don't tell whether doing really well or really badly - do nothing). Formative, and ongoing performance assessment - has to be real. I noticed what you did...that went really well

Work-Life Balance - acknowledge life outside of school. Recognising can give huge paybacks.

Stress vs Burnout diagram
left hand side = brand new teacher who doesn't know how to manage themselves - left to itself can change to the right.

(Causes of Burnout visual)
Combatting Burnout
Develop realistic attitudes and expectations
acceopt that burnout is normal

Recognise - watch for signs
Reverse - undo damage by managing stress and seeking support
Resilience - take care of phsyical and emotional health

Strategies:


Sleep (8 hours ideal) - physical and mental repair (deep sleep). Brain not able to learn / cope with complex tasks if tired. Emiotional functioning far worse when tired (the words you wish you hadn't said in the staffroom). NZ - second most sleep deprived country in the world for children, after the US (50 countries)


  • Manage the light
  • get up at the same time every day
  • exercise for at least 20 mins every day (lunch time walk is good)
  • don't have caffeine after midday
  • no alcohol
  • no sleep during the day (20 min nap OK)
For the brain:
Step 1: Deal with the issues of the day
Step 2: Set an alarm one hour before bedtime - night time ritual, warm milk, post temperature lull, etc
Step 3: Ensure bedroom is conducive to sleep

Develop a Growth Mindset

Mindfulness
  • watch carefully, be fully present, observe everything https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubNF9QNEQLA
  • just noticing - not thinking about anything
  • monotasking
  • opposite to flight / flight response = the relaxation response
  • rasises pain threshold
  • Formal:
    • Expanding awareness
    • body scan
    • mindful movement
  • Informal:
    • any task done with full attention
    • one thing at a time
    • leads to a greater pleasure and less worrying
    • 1 minute mindfulness - do one thing at a time, stop between activities and take a breath, use email pings, texts as mindfulness bell - can do throughout the day
  • Improve with age
    • increase gratitude
    • forgivenss & humour
    • becoming a lifelong learner
    • do things you love and love the things you do
    • get excited about something
    • cultivate healthy relationships (find the right person and marry them)
    • forgiveness
      • boosts immune system
      • blood pressure lowered
      • less anxiety / less depression
    • humour
      • laughter has an analgesic effect (esp chronic pain)
      • release endorphines
      • relives muscle tension
      • suppresses cortesol
      • breath more deeply

  • GFH - Gratitude, forgiveness, humour








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