Forming Strong, Lasting Relationships With Colleagues
Forming strong, authentic relationships with your colleagues takes effort, care, and thoughtfulness. With a few intentional, positive steps, you will be well on your way to making meaningful connections with your colleagues. The tips below apply not only to forming connections to other faculty members, but also administrative staff, custodial staff, and anyone else involved in the upkeep and functioning of your school.
Be generous. Help with activities and events, and volunteer to assist with projects spearheaded by other teachers. You will both benefit, since it feels so good to help others, even in small ways!
Be ‘around.’ This is especially true with new teachers who are coming into schools with long-established norms and relationships. Show that you care by sticking around for extracurriculars when you can, even if you can only be there for a few moments. You can learn a lot about a school by observing events and lessons hosted by other teachers.
Say Hello. This seems so simple, but saying hello or smiling in the hallway can brighten someone’s day and make you feel more connected to people in your building. You don’t always have to stop and talk. Sometimes a smile or a wave is enough.
Be presentable. Dress as best as you can with your budget. It shows respect for yourself, your students, and your colleagues. Of course, make sure you are dressed appropriately for your job. If you teach art or young children, you might wear more casual clothes, paired with good personal hygiene and some grooming to give you a polished look that shows you care.
Be appreciative. Did a Student Teacher help your distraught kindergartener find his lanyard in the schoolyard? Did the professor in the room next door leave some extra drawing pencils on your desk for you before class? Follow up with a thank you note or email! These kind gestures should be acknowledged and appreciated.
Share your snacks. Many times I have bonded with fellow teachers over a bag of Trader Joe’s peanut butter filled pretzels or chocolate hummus. Do the right thing and share your snacks. Teaching can be exhausting, and snacks are always appreciated! If you are having a lighter day, you might even offer to pick up lunch for a teacher who is swamped.
Stay away from gossip. A good tip for any area of your life, and especially at work, is to steer clear of drama! Eventually, other people who also wish to avoid gossip will realize that you’re not someone who participates in that kind of talk, and you will be more credible in their eyes! It’s easier said than done, since there is often a lot happening at a school and sometimes you need to vent to a teacher friend. That is fine, as long as you keep it respectful to others and don’t say anything that would hurt others if they heard. If you need to vent, remember to focus on how whatever happened is making you feel, rather than attacking anyone’s character. Ask yourself: is it within the realm of possibility that the person who wronged you was doing their best given the circumstances, and is having their own difficulties? That does not give them the right to treat you poorly, but it might give you some perspective and help you cool down and avoid making the situation worse through gossip.
These are some of my top tips from teaching journals over the years, so I hope you have found them helpful! Remember that as a member of a school’s faculty, you are part of a community, and need to make an effort to contribute to that community in a positive way. Thank you for reading!