This week I attended our Year 13 prom – my last as Deputy Headteacher at my school of five years. It was a wonderful occasion. At 17-18 years old, the students are (mainly!) mature and interested in engaging with staff, and we spent the evening having meaningful conversations, reminiscing, talking about what’s next, and indulging in a couple of drinks!
I find Year 13 prom poignant every year, for a variety of reasons. But this time, knowing it would be my last one as a deputy head, I realised that I’d probably never be on the ground, walking with and talking with students for many years of their journey through secondary school and then celebrating at the end with them. I felt proud of their journey and my part in it.
During the evening, one group I talked with said thank you. They said that me talking to them every day for five years had made a difference to their time at school. One of them remembered an occasion when, in Year 9, they had dropped their meal in the canteen and I grabbed them a replacement (I don’t recall this, but am glad I did it!). They recalled the story to tell me that they knew I’d be someone who they could ask for help in the future after that encounter. I mention this anecdote not to pat myself on the back, but to remind everyone reading this that you make a difference. Each of you have hundreds of those moments that build trust between you and young people, who then have another person in their life who they can feel safe with. A person who models kind, respectful behaviour; the kind of behaviours that ripple throughout communities.
I asked other students that night what made a difference for them during their time at our school. Common answers: relationships with staff, a sense of belonging, and feeling like they would always be supported. That’s what they remembered. That’s what they appreciated after 7 years at school.
Of course, I did the responsible thing and tried to recruit as many of them into teaching as possible – fingers crossed!
When I became a teacher, this is what I dreamed of, I suppose. After leaving a job in which I felt little purpose – that what I did lacked impact – I needed to feel a sense that what I did mattered. I’m sure we all came into teaching with a particular purpose in mind. Something that engages us, and then continues to rejuvenate us on the tricky days.
When we talk about purpose, we often conjure the why. Simon Sinek is awesome, etc. But the who is vital, too.
Prosocial purpose is a motivation or intention to engage in actions that primarily benefit other people, groups, or society as a whole. This is a pretty prominent motivation for teachers and many other front-line workers.
But engaging with this regularly is important. We often forget or neglect our core sense of purpose when we are working hard and ploughing on with our roles in schools. How often do you reconnect with your purpose? How often do you think about the prosocial impact of your work?
There are some great studies that support this. Leaving someone a thank you note that expresses gratitude for your help with something, and discusses the impact of your support, makes you more likely to repeat that behaviour. When radiographers in the US were given a photograph of their patient on each X-Ray they analysed, their diagnosis accuracy improved drastically. And, when a group of call centre workers who cold-called for charity donations met with someone who benefited from the charity’s work for just a few minutes, they improved at their job more than those who received telesales training.
Consider how you engage with your sense of purpose and prosocial impact on others. Try some of these things out with your teams:
- Thank you cards from students
- Interviews, videos, or in-person talks with families or others who have benefited from your work before
- Reflect on purpose with your team – discuss what you are all working for and bond around some of these ideas.
- Discuss what impact you are having on your community, and which particular parts of your work are having most impact on others.
- Keep discussing what makes you all feel a renewed sense of purpose in busy times, and work out how you can help each other feel this in the future.
In September, I take on an interim headship at a primary school, and my hope is that I will make a difference to those young lives, at a different stage of their journey.
It’s a busy time and not without stresses at this time of year. The prom this week helped to remind me that everything we do has an impact on others. I needed that reminder.
If you haven’t had a moment of inspiration or rejuvenation like that this week, then let me assure you: you have made a difference.
Thank you
Sam
Sam Crome 