TIME MANAGEMENT FOR SCHOOL HEADS
DAVID D. CUNANAN
Time management is about making the most of your time- meaning, the more you value it, the better you’ll use it. This skill is particularly beneficial for school heads, as the complexity of managing things proves to be one of the most overwhelming responsibilities of the profession. Here are some effective suggestions on how to manage your time better than ever before:
Learn to determine on what is truly important rather than what is simply urgent. Steven Covey (1996) coined a phrase for priorities school leaders should focus on, the “big rocks,” which includes the following: 1.) Culture: creating a safe environment where the focus is on the academic and personal growth of students. 2.) Mission: uniting faculty, students, and parents with a common sense of purpose and vision. 3.) Instruction: coaching and supporting excellent teaching in every classroom 4.) Collaboration: promoting and nurturing constant sharing of ideas and resources. 5.) Hiring: using every vacancy to bring in quality teachers 6.) Alignment: connecting curriculum and assessments to relevant standards. 7.) Resources: working to get teachers the tools they need to be successful; and lastly 9.)Parents: building strong connections with families to support student learning. As Covey (1996) writes, it’s essential to “not prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”
Delegate. Keep in mind that you cannot run a school alone, you’ll need help and that’s where delegation comes in. You don’t have to do everything. Many system processes such as finance, property, and support staff management can be delegated. But to do this, you must be able to trust your teachers and even the nonteaching personnel. Know and trust their capabilities. Give genuine responsibility and delegate tasks, even if they are not done exactly the way you would have done them. Empower your staff to keep routines moving by making decisions within their responsibilities. Treat these close supporters with the utmost respect and consideration, and trust them to do their best for the school.
Control distractions. The very root of procrastination, delay of schedule and issues in productivity is not being able to minimize external and even internal distractions. This is something you can easily address by decluttering your work area or responding to messages and calls at a scheduled time of the day. If you’re feeling burn out, learn take a pause and refresh your mind. Individuals are more highly-productive and produce better outputs in their best selves.
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The author is ASP-II at Caduang Tete National High School