It’s all part of the job, isn’t it?

This could be a rant and rave about a few different things. I could use my energy to discuss several things that have been on my mind regarding a number of negative factors that have been eating away at my time and my energy. However, as an administrator, I’ve come to realize that no matter how much energy I expend trying to bring about positive growth and help the students and teachers and become more positive, I cannot counter-act the negativity of those who refuse to do anything but look for the negative. To them, I will always be insensitive, uncaring, a bully, a control freak and all the other things which can’t be written in a space such as this. They will see only what they want to see and interpret what I do in only one way – negative.

So, to save my sanity and continue to focus on the positive and remember that it’s the students who need to be the center of my focus, I’ve had to come up with ways to counteract this negativity and keep it from growing within the school. Here are a few strategies I’ve been using to help myself so that I can continue to be the educational leader that the school, students and teachers need.

1. Get into the classrooms and observe and interact. This has been one of the best ways I’ve found of overcoming the negativity from these people. By going into the classrooms, observing what is happening and interacting with the students, I see how much positive is really going on. Because I have the privilege of being able to do this, I can see  how positive students are about what they are doing. Yes, some of them will complain but, for the most part, the majority of them are positive, despite what they might say to the contrary.

2. Review the areas of growth that have occurred in the past year. Each year we set goals as a staff in areas we would like to see growth besides just academic areas. For the most part, we improve each month in these areas, exploring ways to help each other to be better at what we do.

3. Objectively examine the complaints. This I find really helps me to focus on how small the group that is negative really is. In fact, by doing this, I realize that the number of people who are negative is very small compared to those parents who are very positive about what is happening at the school. Of course the latter don’t call the Superintendent or write the Ministry but they do tell me or someone on staff how great they think our school is and the improvements that they are seeing in what we are doing.

4. Go to my PLN and talk. I don’t give any details but I do express my frustration at how events unfold. It never fails that someone will say something to help me focus on the positive and remind me that, ultimately, we can’t make everyone happy.

5. Do something which I know will help someone in the school. Whether it’s a teacher or a student, this helps me to not become embroiled in the negative thinking. Rationally, I know that these people who are negative are in fact negative about many different things. However, it is easy to allow one’s emotions to take charge so, to counter that, I focus on doing something positive, to help someone. It breaks the cycle of negativity that definitely could start.

6. Read about something positive that is happening. There are many good things happening in education. Heck, there are many great things happening right in my school and in many schools in my division and elsewhere. By not buying into the negativity of others, I am able to move onward and see that there is much that is positive. And, realize that there are probably negative people who are part of these communities too!

7. Document the problem and then move on. Each day I document the activities in the school and the conversations and interactions that I have with students, parents and other people. After something negative, I try to document what took place, focusing on the topic and not the emotions that were involved. This helps me to separate how I may feel with what happened and to reflect on what I did. I will use this later on to reflect on what I might have done differently or what might be going on that is bringing about the negative reaction. Of course, you can’t always make others happy but you don’t have to be dragged into their negativity.

8. Interact with the staff. Like getting out into the classrooms, I take time to talk with staff and focus on the positive that is taking place in the classrooms throughout the school. It really helps to share a laugh and discuss how wonderful and great this or that has been going.

9. Go for a drive before I go home. I find this really helps me to not take the negative things home. If I go stratight home, sometimes I haven’t had time to debrief myself. So, when I get home, there is still residual negativity floating around me. I also will go workout or go for a run. Lately, with all that has been going on, I’ve been missing those things but I make sure that I take time to not allow the negative to be carried home.

I can’t stop people from being negative and doing some of the things they do or saying the things they say. Working in a small community, it doesn’t take long for one or two negative people to find others who will gladly join them in their misery. I use to allow myself to be dragged down by them. Now, I realize that no matter what I do, these type of people will always find the negative – they will not like how I do just about everything but that would be true no matter who sat in the principal chair. That doesn’t make what they say any easier to take but when someone has a complaint, I hear what it is and do reflect to see if their criticism is legitimate and if I’ve indeed been in the wrong. If that is the case, I will seek out to offer an apology and correct what I can. Even with people who are chronically negative, I will wait to see if they have a legitimate complaint but, if after reviewing what they have to say, I may just have to accept that there is nothing I can do and allow it to go, no matter what it is. As educators, we don’t have the luxury of rebuttle but we do have the opportunity to rise above what is happening. The road little traveled is often more difficult to navigate but the rewards are far greater than following along with the crowd. Students, more than ever, need an example of someone who is willing to do what is right, seek out to do the best despite the opposition and stand firm on their decisions. It isn’t easy but, by trying to be this way, one avoids going down the easy path and, hopefully in the end, there will be those who see what you are doing and support you because of it.