“How can I better support you?” When is the last time an admin walked into your room and actually uttered those words with nothing more than their “listening ears” on?

I mean really, how dysfunctional are our teacher/admin relationships these days?

I don’t even think most admins view themselves as “supporters”. I think they mostly view themselves as “bosses”.

• Bosses tell people what to do.
• Supporters empower people with the things they need in order to better do that which they have been asked to do.
• Bosses know answers and delegate tasks.
• Supporters identify areas where the tasks that need to be done have gaps and work diligently to help smartly fill those missing pieces.
• Bosses think that they are allowed to be dour, grumpy, and irritable with their underlings.
• Supporters know that one key to supporting anyone well is to be encouraging, approachable and dependable.

How would you characterize your admins? Do they…

• tell people what to do.
• know answers and delegate tasks.
• think that they are allowed to be dour, grumpy, and irritable with their underlings.

Or do they…

• empower people with the things they need in order to better do that which they have been asked to do.
• identify areas where the tasks that need to be done have gaps and work diligently to help smartly fill those missing pieces.
• know that one key to supporting anyone well is to be encouraging, approachable and dependable.

I know this. The best admins I’ve ever had clearly fall into one category over the other.