Building a strong school culture is not just beneficial for students and teachers, but it can also benefit a company. A positive and supportive school culture can create a community that fosters collaboration, innovation, and accountability among its members. Leaders of companies can apply principles from school culture to their own workplaces and gain many benefits, such as higher employee satisfaction, increased productivity, and improved retention rates.
The question remains: How can a leader get started in building a strong school culture? Ebony Bridwell-Mitchell, an expert in education leadership and management, has identified six areas of focus for principals that can support leaders as they try to sustain or change the culture in their organization.
The first step in shaping a culture is to look in the mirror. Leaders should be role models for their employees and set an example of the values and behaviors that they want to see in the workplace. Leaders should ask colleagues for advice early and often and reaffirm their belief in their staff to create a collaborative work environment.
The second step is to select staff wisely. Hiring and mentoring teachers and administrators that align with the organization’s values can help create a tight-knit community that shares a common vision and culture.
The third step is to teach what you’d like to see. Creating formal training and space for honest conversations about the attitudes, norms, and practices that are core to being a member of the workplace community can help employees understand the expectations and the behaviors that are expected of them.
The fourth step is to broadcast your vision. Every communication with the team should reflect and reinforce the culture. Highlighting the future and what the company has the potential to achieve, using data and facts to reduce ambiguity, and using collective statements to increase the feeling of belonging and collective identity are all ways to reinforce the company culture.
The fifth step is to make your vision tangible. Tangible artifacts such as mottos, symbolic objects, and special traditions can all help reinforce the cultural vision when consistently communicated. Regular celebrations of success can remind employees of what is important and inspire continued commitment to shared values.
Finally, restructuring social networks can help spread the positive message of the culture. Leaders should figure out which people or groups are isolated from the community and figure out how to encourage greater interaction with others who are committed to the company culture.
Takeaway
In conclusion, building a strong school culture can benefit a company in many ways. By looking in the mirror, selecting staff wisely, teaching what you’d like to see, broadcasting your vision, making your vision tangible, and restructuring social networks, leaders can create a positive and supportive work environment that fosters collaboration, innovation, and accountability. The result is a team that is more engaged, motivated, and productive.