Welcome to ElevateED

Welcome to the first issue of ElevateED, a biweekly newsletter designed to inspire and support educators and leaders in your pursuit of personal and professional growth. My mission is to provide you with valuable insights, resources, and strategies that help you excel in your educational career and make a positive impact on the lives of your students.

What's in this first issue -

• Welcome to ElevateED
• Job creep - has it hit you?
• 7 ways to use the things you do best to support your wellbeing
• What's new at A Coaching Culture
• Book zone - a great recommendation every issue

As this is the first issue I thought I'd spend a little time on what the newsletter is all about. I decided to start it to gather together resources from both in and outside the LinkedIN space. At the heart of ElevateED is a commitment to a strengths-based approach to personal and professional development. By focusing on your unique strengths and talents, you can unlock your full potential and achieve greater success in your career. Research shows that when individuals understand and leverage their strengths, they are more engaged, more productive, and experience higher levels of satisfaction in their work.

In each issue of ElevateED, I'll bring you various aspects of the strengths-based approach, from discovering talent themes to practical strategies for applying your strengths in your daily work. We will also cover crucial topics such as combating burnout, promoting wellbeing, and staying up-to-date with industry trends and educational policies.

My vision for ElevateED is to create a supportive and engaging community of educators who are committed to personal growth and professional excellence. As a subscriber, you can expect to find:

• A "Know Your Strengths" feature, highlighting different talent themes
• Strategies for fostering personal growth and wellbeing in the demanding field of education
• Insights on leveraging LinkedIn for networking, personal branding, and professional development opportunities
• Book and resource recommendations to help you dive deeper into your personal and professional growth
• And much more!

Together, we can elevate the field of education and create a brighter future for ourselves and our students.

Welcome to ElevateED!

Or why we need to confront job creep in education for the wellbeing of our teachers and students.

Job creep is a growing (and has been for a long time) problem in education that can lead to burnout and increased stress for teachers. With the increasing demands placed on educators, it's time to address this issue and fight for the future of our education system.

The reality is that teachers are often expected to be everything to everyone. Whether it's promoting healthy eating habits or educating students on data security, teachers are expected to take on additional responsibilities without additional pay, resources, or time.

Job creep happens when someone's job responsibilities expand beyond the original description without any increase in pay or recognition. And it's been creeping up on teachers for far too long. The result is often an increase in stress and burnout, which can lead to a negative impact on the students in their care.

This issue is not just important for teachers but for everyone in society. The education system supports our society, and we need teachers to be healthy, engaged, and motivated to provide the very best for children and young people.

Here are some actionable steps that we can take to combat job creep:

• Set clear expectations and boundaries for teachers' roles.
• Push for better distribution of resources and support staff.
• Offer professional development and training (and the time to do it) for new responsibilities.
• Encourage a collaborative and supportive school culture and the wider community.
• Question the impact of any additional initiatives on our educators' workload.

By confronting job creep head-on, we can reclaim the system for everyone. Let's fight for the wellbeing of our teachers and students, and ensure that the education system is sustainable and effective for all.

One of the key principles of positive psychology is that focusing on our strengths and talents can enhance our wellbeing. When we know what we're good at and we have opportunities to use those strengths in our daily lives, we tend to feel more engaged, energised, and fulfilled. So here are 7 tips to help you on your way.

1. Identify your strengths: The first step in using your strengths to support your wellbeing is to identify what those strengths are. You can do this by taking a strengths assessment like the Gallup StrengthsFinder, or by reflecting on your own experiences to identify the activities or tasks that come easily to you and that you enjoy doing.
2. Incorporate your strengths into your work: If you're able to use your strengths in your day to day work, you're more likely to feel engaged and fulfilled in your work. Perhaps seek out opportunities that allow you to use your strengths more fully.
3. Use your strengths in your personal life: It's not just work where you can use your strengths to support your wellbeing. Think about how you can use your strengths in your personal life as well. Our natural ways of thinking, feeling and behaving (talents) are just as noticeable in your personal life as in your professional life.
4. Leverage your strengths to overcome challenges: When you're facing a difficult situation, your strengths can be a valuable resource for helping you to cope and problem-solve. If you have strengths in the area of relationship building, for example, you might find comfort in being around others when you feel faced with a difficult situation. Use this to your advantage and "lean in".
5. Share your strengths with others: Using your strengths to help others can be a powerful way to enhance your own wellbeing. Think about how you can use your strengths to support and encourage others, but also how others can support you developing your talents into strengths.
6. Build on your strengths: We grow and learn when we are pushing just outside our comfort zone. It might feel uncomfortable at first to really stretch yourself, but it will lead to a greater feeling of accomplishment as your strengths develop.
7. Recognise and celebrate your strengths: Finally, it's important to recognise and celebrate your strengths, both for your own sake and for the benefit of those around you. Acknowledge your own accomplishments and successes, and those of others too.

By focusing on your talents, developing them into strengths and incorporating them into your daily life, you can enhance your overall wellbeing and sense of fulfillment. Your strengths are a valuable piece in supporting your happiness in life.

This week sees the launch of my new coaching programme. This unique, 4 month, coaching programme, aimed at ambitious educators who may be going through a period of feeling stuck and unsure of direction, combines the power of the Gallup Strengthsfinder Assessment, with in-depth personalised reports, individual coaching, an online video course to build key skills and practice using your strengths, and a biweekly LIVE group coaching session.

For more information go to my dedicated PRIME Strengths©️ page or book a FREE discovery call

There's a 15% discount for all newsletter subscribers by mentioning the discount code ElevateED15

I love the work of Martin Seligman so I couldn't wait to read this.

It offers a radical, future-proofed approach to work thriving. Gabriella Kellerma and Martin Seligman's 'Tomorrowmind' give out actionable advice for facing the uncertain future of work, providing key skills such as resilience, innovation, social connection, and foresight. With evidence-based insights and practical strategies, this book is a timely and crucial guide for anyone looking to cultivate a workplace that fosters connection and meaning in the face of industry volatility and technological change.

We should just be surviving.

We should be thriving!

I'm Alison, a high-impact leadership and career coach using a strengths-based approach to make a positive difference. With a 30-years in International and UK school leadership and teaching, I understand the needs of ambitious educators and believe in the transformative power of coaching to seek clarity and achieve goals.

Any feedback on the newsletter? I'd be happy to hear at hello@acoachingculture.com

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