Try these 5 tips and smart ideas to make your school council life easier
We all know that COVID-19 has brought all our stress levels up to an all time high. Sometimes we tend to do things the hard way which doesn’t contribute to lowering our stress levels at all. As a leader of a school council, I have learned that you could be trapped into this pattern because you always feel the need to lead by example. Sometimes working harder doesn’t mean working smarter.
Here is a list of tips, ideas and strategies that are aimed at trying to make your life a little easier. Some are simple, others take more time. Try and use the tips that best fit your current situation.
Tips
It doesn’t always need to be perfect. You may see all the flaws and might-have-beens when you organize an event or program. But others aren’t aware of that—they see the big picture, not the imperfections. If you’re something of a perfectionist, ease up a bit and enjoy your success. You deserve it.
Do what you and your resources allow you to do. Plan with what you have, if you are short on volunteers, think about reducing the events scale. A bunch of small events are more effective than trying to complete a large one and not being able to pull it off. Remember over-ambitious events could lead to burnout.
Learn to say no. For many of us this is easier said than done. As leaders it can be hard to say no, but sometimes it’s better to say you can’t organize that last-minute event, take on that big task for the school principal, or make a meeting that would require you to cancel a personal appointment. It’s OK—nobody can do everything.
Delegate-It is the most important leadership skill, but it can also be one of the hardest to master. Many hands make light work. Sharing the workload is important in so many ways. It not only takes the pressure off you; it also allows others to develop skills and know-how that will pay off big in the long run. Delegating doesn’t mean you are passing the buck, it means you are valuing and trusting the contributions of others.
Create a plan and a budget. Planning for an entire year can seem daunting, but remember it is a good way to setup a framework for the year ahead. You will be surprised how quickly your plans come together once you get started. Remember that your plan should be flexible, especially considering the current situation. Create a routine of revisiting your plan at least once a month to see if you are on course or if you will need to make adjustments.
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