Relieving to Permanent

Stepping into a relieving or acting leadership position is a significant achievement for any educator. It's a chance to showcase your skills, make a positive impact, and potentially secure a permanent leadership role. However, many talented leaders find themselves struggling to convey their accomplishments effectively when it comes time to write an application for permanency. This is because you've been so busy doing the work the role requires you, you can't see the forest for the trees.

In this guide, I'll share with you actionable strategies and questions to explore so you can write a compelling application and nail the interview for your permanent leadership position.

1. Categorize and Clarify Your Relieving Leadership Activities

Start off with by categorizing your responsibilities into distinct buckets, each one a part of the job you are doing. Within each of these buckets, there will be two groups of tasks, management tasks that keep the team moving forward and tasks aimed at improving or initiating change. By conducting a thorough leadership audit, you can differentiate between your management and leadership activities. Management tasks can then go into your CV/resume and the improvement tasks can then become part of your selection criteria responses.

This clarity will empower you to craft engaging narratives during your time in the role which you'll be able to use in your application and interview.

2. Elevate Capacity Building

An effective leader not only manages operations but also empowers their team's growth. Highlight instances where you've nurtured your team's capacity. Describe how you facilitated learning, introduced new ways of working, or guided staff through transformative changes. Also consider staff who you have delegated work to and if this has then aided in their growth as an aspiring leader. Demonstrating your ability to develop both teachers and aspiring leaders within your team showcases your leadership skills and enhances your candidacy for a permanent role. Who wouldn't want someone that could support teaches at all stages of their teaching career.

3. Embrace Unfinished Initiatives Whilst Relieving

Relieving roles often involve initiating projects that may not be fully completed during your time in the role. Embrace these situations as opportunities to showcase your strategic thinking and initiative. Discuss the solutions you've set in motion, even if concrete data is lacking.

Consider the following questions:

• What's the intended outcome of this initiative?
• How do you know that you're heading in the right direction?
• What are the small wins that have happened as a result of the actions you and your team have taken so far?

Share the intended outcomes, highlight the progress made, and articulate the journey's direction. This approach demonstrates your proactive approach to leadership and your vision for ongoing improvement.

4. Quantify and Qualify Your Impact

While hard data may not always be available, it's essential to emphasize the impact you've had on your team and student outcomes.

Consider:

• What didn't exist before you started? Compare that to where you are now.
• What was an issue when you started? How have you solved it or how you are working towards a solution

Compare the present state to the circumstances when you assumed the role. Describe the issues you identified and the solutions you implemented. Additionally, delve into intangible changes you've observed, such as shifts in team morale or innovative teaching approaches. When quantitative data is scarce, consider collecting feedback through short surveys to gather valuable insights.

5. Leverage Your Insider Knowledge

Being in an acting leadership role grants you unique insights into your team's dynamics and the school's strategic direction. This is the leg up need when competing against others who are applying for the role, either internally or externally. Utilize this insider knowledge to confidently discuss your team's future trajectory and your role in driving the school's improvement agenda. Address how your established relationships because that is also something that someone else outside the school will not have. Demonstrate that you understand the upcoming initiatives and how you are positioned as the ideal candidate for permanent leadership because there will be no down time in driving improvement in students and staff.

6. Don't assume anything at interview

When preparing for your interview, approach it as if the panel consists of strangers who have never met you or heard about anything you've done. As part of the panel process, they can only use the infomation from your CV, selection criteria response, words spoken in the interview and referee checks. While panel members may have worked with you, remember that they rely solely on the information presented during the interview process. Walk them through your leadership stories as if they were unfamiliar with your experiences. Thoroughly detail each action you took to address challenges and the outcomes you achieved. Treat the interview as if you were vying for a role at a different school, ensuring you leave nothing on the table.

Conclusion

Transitioning from a relieving or acting leadership position to a permanent role requires careful navigation and effective communication of your leadership experiences. By:

• categorizing your responsibilities,
• focusing on capacity building,
• embracing unfinished initiatives,
• quantifying and qualifying your impact,
• leveraging insider knowledge, and
• approaching interviews with a fresh perspective,

you can create a compelling case for your permanent leadership candidacy. You can do it!

If you'd like my help, head to the contact page and book in a free 30 minute call to discuss how we can work together.