Teachers and the Covid Tango!
It’s been a tough year for our teachers right around the globe. As essential workers, they have had to juggle online learning, partial online learning, full face to face learning at the same time as providing online learning, preparing for all possibilities and often at a moment’s notice. All this they have done with a smile on their face, with amazing professionalism, exceptional resourcefulness and with restricted support. Our teaching profession are driven by an innate passion to see our young people achieve and thrive.
This year their goodwill and capacity to sustain their level of professionalism has been tested and stretched to breaking. If you are teacher or a parent, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It has been incredibly challenging to those who have other aspects of their lives that are stable. Those of us who have had external challenges, eg lost love ones, health issues, children or relationship issues, financial concerns or simply Covid related problems, have struggled to keep our heads above water. I know – I lost my mum in the middle of Covid and without being able to have a funeral or even grieve with family (I still haven’t seen my family and she passed in April!), I have struggled to turn up with a ‘full cup’!
In a recent study of teachers in schools, it was found that 77.4% of teachers reported that their levels of struggle had increased significantly, with dealing with colleagues/parents (34.1%) and caring for their mental (33%) and physical health (30.8%) their biggest sources of struggle. Alarmingly, 84.9% of teachers felt it safest to keep these struggles to themselves at work! (The Education Lab @ michellemcquaid.com.au)
Those teachers who recognise that they are doing it tough and are brave enough to seek support external to school structures, are doing best. I have teacher clients who have sought help to get direction, help with goals and general support in refilling their near empty cups! They are seeking help in various areas, but all acknowledge that Covid has added a new complexity to their already busy teaching lives, only made more difficult when life throws up a personal curve ball! Some clients are trying to balance relationship issues, financial concerns and emotional upheavals whilst ‘dancing’ the Covid Tango at their schools.
The Covid Tango often includes behaviour management challenges, juggling pedagogy online and face to face, keeping up with content, managing assessments and reporting, plus learning all the new IT platforms and software that we are required to use, appearing like an expert! This at the same time as doing the normal job of developing and maintaining excellent relationships with students and parents, who are also struggling with the Covid Tango at home! Even as we return to full-time face to face teaching, the Covid Tango continues, just at a slightly different beat. Wash hands, sanitise, physical distance, sneezing? Go home! Deep cleaning twice a day! No assemblies, excursions or gatherings. Eeeek!
What I’m finding with my teacher clients, is that they are seeking to find ways to acknowledge the struggle and yet find, implement and evaluate ways to best manage their professional requirements alongside their home and leisure lives. Some are relishing the opportunity to focus on aspects of their work, putting perspectives in place and developing means to achieve their goals. Using a positive psychology approach, for some it has helped to improve their wellbeing, to enable them to turn up to school with a ‘full cup’.
The research showed that there are three key ingredients to building the capacity to be able to thrive during challenging times: Ability, Motivation and Psychological Safety. Teachers are looking for the ability and confidence to care for their wellbeing and function at their best whilst at school. However, having the ability isn’t enough. They need motivation and drive to improve their wellbeing. The research highlighted that psychological safety, that is feeling safe to share their struggles and seek support, has a huge impact on teachers’ wellbeing and their capacity to flourish at school. Teachers need to find ways to share their struggles, in order to improve their wellbeing and therefore, function well at work. If they can’t do this at work, they need to look to structures external to school.
My advice, based on my experience as a teacher and also as Growth Coach supporting teacher clients, is to recognise the struggle. See it as part the deal right now. Embrace the Covid Tango and go with it but seek support in order to develop all the right dance moves to allow you to glide over the dance floor easily, successfully and allow you to flourish in all aspects of your life!
Whatever the need is, my teacher clients are finding a Growth Coaching approach is providing them with the skills and space to thrive at school and at home. You can too!
I am offering a discount to all teachers at the moment. Normally $120, I am discounting that amount to $87 for all current teachers. Coaching can be via phone or Zoom. I have clients from across the country, so geography is not a problem – something we have learned whilst dancing the Covid Tango! See – there are some silver linings! But be quick, I only have limited spaces left - I too manage my wellbeing to flourish at home!
Contact me at jo@josephineopie.com.au for an appointment. FREE 20 minute chat to see if what I offer is what you are looking for. But whatever you do, don’t try to do this on your own. Help is out there. Be brave, reach out – and flourish!
“In the past I found it difficult to make decisions and to see my strengths. This changed thanks to Jo's coaching! I have found Jo's coaching to be very professional and personal, she listened to me, offered direction and helped me develop a plan of action. As a result of Jo's coaching I am more confident and directed in my personal and work life. Thanks a million!!!” Melinda
