So many teachers share with me that they have some goals or dreams they’d like to make real but they feel surrounded by a people or situations (at school or in life) that they feel is a barrier for them.
Oftentimes the reason they feel like that is because of culture: the culture of our workplace, the culture of our home, the culture of society. And culture is something that can get us into habits and mindsets and behaviours that take us towards what we want, or away from what we want.
What is culture?
Two definitions I like are: ‘people like us do things like this’ and ‘ideas, customs, and social behaviours of a particular people or society.’
Many teachers tell me they feel at odds with the culture in their workplace. Or worse than at odds, completely undermined by it.
Well, if that’s you, I hear you. I know how challenging it can be.
I also want you to know that you don’t have to let it be a foregone conclusion. If your school culture is one of Depleted Teachers and you want to be a Resilient Teacher, then you can shift your own personal culture to move towards that instead.
Here’s 4 steps to help you:
– Decide what culture you want (and don’t want!)
– Identify what thoughts, beliefs and actions enhance and promote, or inhibit and undermine that culture
– Surround yourself with people who get it, support you and will hold you accountable
– Take action, tweak, follow up
Remember, if you’re interested in having proactive wellbeing conversations in your staffroom, follow along with the prompts by @flourishingfebruary on Instagram or Facebook, and sign up for the posters at www.flourishingfebruary.com.au
Have questions, comments, episode ideas or want to volunteer to be a guest on the show?
Get in touch with the Self-Care for Teachers team at hello [at] selfcareforteachers [dot] com [dot] au