Written by Jennifer Scully, visiting professor, Marymount University, jscully@marymount.edu
School administrators are challenged in a multitude of ways, and it is easy for these challenges to become obstacles to success. School leaders are stewards for their school communities and at times that realization can seem overwhelming, but it does not have to define who they are as leaders. Leading a school today encompasses safety plans, emergency protocols, and other issues that may take attention away from program development and pedagogy. As a school leader, sometimes sacrifices have to be made as weighty decisions are looming, attention is paid to the needs of those in the school community, and problems seek solutions. School leaders need resilience not to deviate from the mission and spiritual goals for our schools. A resilient school leader builds a strong team and is humble enough to learn along with that team to strengthen the school community and guide it successfully into the future.
School communities are integrated environments where every person’s contribution affects others as well as the culture of the school. Administrators influence teachers who, in turn, influence student growth, spirituality, and achievement. With today’s schools facing crises in multiple forms, building a resilient school community is as crucial as ever. School leaders need to focus on building their own resilience skills to cope with various adverse situations, be positive, and intentional pastoral caregivers. How resilient a school leader is can have a positive or negative direct impact not only on the staff, but on the whole culture of a school (Maulding et. al, 2012).
Understanding Resilience
One critical component in understanding resilience for school leaders is to first outline what resilience is and is not. Resilience is maintaining equilibrium in the face of unfavorable circumstances. It is equally as critical to understand that resilience is not just powering through with toughness, rather it is leaning into the discomfort, assessing the situation, and deciding how to proceed while maintaining intergrity and care. Once resilience is understood and embraced, we can lead schools where no problem is insurmountable, no adversity is so much so that it cannot be worked through while maintaining the integrity of the school’s mission. When those in charge of students’ educational experiences subscribe to this mindset, they can help the staff and students face their challenges more confidently. In looking at the interpersonal side of leadership, strong resilience skills can help us face our fears and we can use that emotion as motivation to take necessary risks more confidently. Resilience can help with managing egos enough to accept that leaders are not expected to have all the answers. Successful resilient leaders maintain a growth mindset that allows them to explore alternative solutions that may be unconventional but can be highly effective. Having emotional resilience is a critical factor in school leaders’ success. It means managing stress levels, supporting the needs of the staff, and learning to use resources wisely to combat the enormity that comes with the responsibilities of leadership.
Building Personal and Professional Resilience
School leaders have all failed at one time or another, whether it was giving the wrong advice to a new teacher, making a hasty decision, avoiding a problem that seemed too overwhelming, or not being present in an important meeting. Failures can be invaluable teaching tools and learning from failure supports resilience. Showing strength as a leader involves making mistakes, acknowledging them, and truly reflecting on what went wrong. When we make decisions that may be unpopular or result in failure, it is imperative that the reflective process takes place. The courage to make adjustments and move forward takes strength and that comes from prayer and continuous learning. By examining the why and how of each situation, leaders can make changes that positively affect the whole school community. By emphasizing such skills as being empathic, developing others, encouraging teamwork, and being authentic, school leaders are creating healthy school cultures that encourage collaboration and growth as well as resilience. Leaders who can positively develop into their best selves are role models and set the tone of the school climate. There are seven specific actions that help people build their personal efficacy and grit:
- claiming small wins;
- recovering quickly from setbacks;
- managing ourselves;
- developing strong connections with others;
- building an administrative team with a balance of strengths and then believe in the power of the team;
- staying connected to mentors and role models who helped along the way; and
- maintaining strong relationships with colleagues so that struggles, triumphs, and strategic plans can be shared. (Patterson & Kelleher, 2005).
School leaders should strive to strengthen their emotional intelligence by being self-aware, regulating emotions, having good communication skills, being adaptable, developing diplomatic conflict resolution skills, and focusing on the well-being of all in their schools.
Resilient Leadership in Action
How leaders feel about their ability to execute duties can have an effect on job performance. One of the keys to this is a clear understanding of limitations and learning how to manage emotional responses in each situation we face. For example, having the ability to leave our egos at the door and ask for help when problems become overwhelming can lead to building teamwork and collaboration. Magness (2023) emphasizes that being tough and resilient is not about bulldozing through situations. It is about properly navigating situations, reading people, embracing reality, and acknowledging when things are difficult.
Critical to building resilience is the concept that resilience is not innate (Doney, 2013) or a standard set of traits that leaders exhibit, rather it is a process of personal and professional growth. Based on the skills that are necessary to be a resilient school leader, we have an obligation to our school communities. After all, our faculty, staff, and students deserve the best leadership available and our future in education depends on it.
