General Guidance – Relationships

Think about the ways in which you promote and strengthen good working relationships with staff . . .

• Celebrate success with staff. Look for opportunities to acknowledge and commend individual and group effort, as well as results. Encourage others to do the same and establish an ethos of positive reinforcement for staff as well as pupils.
• Encourage clear communication and respect among individuals and groups. Provide training to help develop relevant skills e.g. effective listening, coaching conversations.
• Create a range of formal and informal opportunities for staff to meet and talk – meetings, workshops, and social events.
• Create teams and working groups by combining individuals who will work well together. Balance expertise with experience and enthusiasm when assigning tasks to groups. Enhance teamwork with training which focuses on different styles and ways of working e.g. personality/ behaviour profiling, Myers Briggs.
• Make sure staff are aware of relevant policies and procedures. Apply these promptly and consistently, as required in specific circumstances.

• Managing and resolving conflict at work, including arrangements for reporting unacceptable behaviour.
• Grievance and discipline procedures.
• Dignity at work/ Harassment policies.