Director's Corner: Focusing on Micro-Actions to Support Leadership Resilience

Written by Amanda Dudley.

It is a great privilege and joy to work with each of our principals.  Amidst deep complexity and unprecedented crises, school principals are making critical decisions on behalf of their school communities. I am continually inspired by their determination to always do what is best for their students. 
 
To sustain this leadership challenge, it has been even more important for principals to think deeply about their own self-care and the wellbeing of their staff, families, and kids.  PIC principals engage in a wellbeing curriculum that leads them to set micro-action goals that empowers them thrive.  I thought it would be helpful to share some examples of micro-actions you could consider to more broadly support your own wellbeing:

• Focus on the small wins to add positivity to your life and share that positivity with others
• Write down one thing you’ve learned from someone else that day that shows a positive impact on them at work
• Workout 3-4 days a week
• Use exercise bursts for brainpower
• Meal plan to ensure you’re making healthy eating decisions
• Energizer walk around your campus for 10 minutes
• Hard tie limits to cut off work, delegate and teach others so I’m not doing it all
• Focus on breathing intentionally for at least 30 seconds before I start your work each day
• Add a standing desk adapter to your workspace
• Stretch for energy at least 3 times a day
• Read your WHY daily.  Post it in your office and at home.
• Breathe in between each Zoom meeting for 3-5 minutes to be present for the next audience
• Start each meeting with gratitude sharing where people connect with others in the room
• Be sure to make time to eat lunch every day

 
I hope you find some inspiration in this list and you will try out a wellbeing micro-action of your own.  Now more than ever, it’s vital for us to take care of our physical and mental health so that we can move from surviving to thriving.  Personally, I am going to start my day with breathing exercises and end my day writing down one positive or uplifting thing that has happened.  What will you do?