Have you ever felt that your personal values are being compromised?
Have you ever struggled or felt conflicted due to having to compromise on something you hold dear?
As a leader in education, there are a myriad of ways in which our values can be tested and potentially compromised. Some of these are everyday occurrences that test our boundaries, such as disagreeing with a colleague’s decision about how to respond to poor behaviour. Whilst other value compromises are significantly more challenging and may have a negative impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
In our system where budgets and services for children are really stretched, or arguably broken, you are even more likely to face compromising on your values. You may have to take decisions that you don’t like, due to the circumstances that you find yourself in. Or you may not be able to take action, despite your strong feeling that something needs to change.
So how do you manage these moments of inner-turmoil?
I use a few strategies to manage these more significant values-compromised situations. Firstly, I try not to react emotionally, but give myself time to plan a considered response. Secondly, I may discuss the situation with a trusted colleague. If the matter is confidential or it’s impossible to discuss with colleagues as the situation relates to them, I will discuss the situation with my trusted coach or supervisor, to try to seek new perspectives and solutions.
(This is why I believe that external coaching and mentoring is essential for leaders in education. Leaders are then able to discuss their challenges in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental session with a qualified coach. This can enable leaders to identify new or improved solutions and actions.)
After taking time to consider I will then usually decide how, or if, I am going to communicate my inner conflict. I will need to decide if I can tolerate this situation, or whether something has to change to protect my wellbeing. If I decide a difficult conversation is needed, I will carefully consider how best to phrase my concerns, and try hard depersonalise the problem.
What’s your strategy for choosing the right path when all options are far from ideal?
If you would benefit from some external coaching or mentoring to help you to navigate the challenges of leadership, please DM me to arrange a free call to discuss your requirements.
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