As leaders, we know the importance of establishing consistent collaboration time for our teachers. But what about us? In the whirlwind of daily tasks, it's easy for administrative teams to fall into a reactive mode, solving problems on the fly without ever taking the time to proactively plan and reflect.
There's a big difference between "updating" and true collaboration. We might chat in the hallway or debrief after school, but that’s not the same as setting aside dedicated time with a clear purpose. We have to model the behavior we expect from our staff. If we want our teams to collaborate, we must do the same.
Why It's Worth Your Time
The "why" behind administrative collaboration is simple: it moves your leadership from reactive to proactive.
- Proactive Planning: Dedicated collaboration time allows you to look ahead, anticipate challenges, and plan for them. You can discuss the week ahead, align your efforts, and ensure you're on the same page.
- Focused Reflection: This time provides a space to reflect on successes. Don’t just celebrate what happened—dig deeper and ask, "What did we do as leaders to contribute to that success?" This builds self-awareness and intentionality.
- A Consistent Feedback Loop: Your administrative team needs a place to review feedback from staff, whether it’s formal survey data or informal conversations. This allows you to respond to that feedback, build trust, and ensure staff feels heard.
One of the most powerful reasons for this dedicated time is to keep your school development plan at the forefront. Without an intentional, recurring meeting, your big-picture goals can easily get lost in the day-to-day chaos.
What Effective Admin Collaboration Looks Like
Once you’re convinced of the "why," the "what" becomes crucial. Simply carving out an hour isn't enough; the time needs to be structured.
- Set a Consistent, Protected Time: Make it predictable and hold it sacred. We’ve seen admin teams jokingly call it "blood or fire" time—meaning only a true emergency will pull them away. It's a commitment you make to yourselves and your school.
- Use a Consistent Agenda: A predictable agenda keeps you focused and efficient. Start with celebrations to build a positive tone, then move into what’s ahead. A key component should always be a check-in on your school improvement goals. Below is an Admin Team Meeting Agenda template that you might find useful. Feel free to make a copy and adjust the template to best fit your needs.
- Review Data: Schedule specific meetings throughout the year to review key data points, such as screening results or attendance rates. This keeps you in tune with your school’s progress and helps you plan your next steps.
- Go Public (When Appropriate): While some topics require confidentiality, you can make your collaboration public to build trust. Recording a quick video message at the end of your meeting to summarize key decisions or announce upcoming plans is a great way to show that you're working together and staying aligned.
Establishing administrative collaboration isn't just about making your own lives easier; it's about modeling effective leadership and ensuring your school moves forward with purpose.
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Overview visual from Pigeon Lake, sharing how the various team meetings within the school connect and support each other including the administrative team.