Supporting Schools with Business Operations

As you know, I'm a big fan of business theory and its application to the "business" of education. Someone (I can't keep up with the source of every nugget that swims round my head!) said "Leaders are readers", and this is one thing I know I need to improve. There is so much information out there and so many amazing people to meet and learn from.  The quote from Simon Sinek (above) reminds me that as a SBL mentor, it's part of my role to introduce mentees to my network.

Since becoming a SBL mentor, I've met some incredibly talented SBLs. They are all amazing at what they do and how they adapt to the frequently changing needs of their school or trust. In my experience, SBLs are incredibly agile, and accepting of the inevitable change that happens in education. There are so many 'fingers in the pie' and so many people who think they know best, they so often forget to ask the one person is does actually know!

There is an African proverb which says - A wise man never knows all, only fools know everything. This is, in my experience, so true of the SBL approach. We're eager to learn, adapt, network, try new ideas, and accept that with that is going to come an element of failure - we learn from it and move on.

So, if you are thinking that you could use a mentor, reach out to your network and just ask. If you are looking for a more formal, and measurable approach, you can request one through the DfE, or just get your school or trust pay for one, even in times of challenging budgets it is extremely valuable CPD. Get in touch and let me know what you're looking for, maybe I can introduce you. 

Or, if you think you would like to take on the role of SBL mentor, drop me an email, maybe we can start a list... which reminds me, when I was in year 7 I played Shprintze in the school production of 'Fiddler on the Roof'.

Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, catch me a...mentor...

Have a great week, Emma

emma.gray@1stpillar.co.uk

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