It Takes 30 Seconds to Change School Culture

Oohhhh sounds a bit click-baity don't it?!

Having worked in schools for close to thirty years, I have seen some things when it comes to culture. I have been in schools that make me question my profession and ones that make me feel lucky to be part of the community. There are schools where the culture is competitive that it feels like The Hunger Games every Monday morning at the photocopier. There are schools where the culture is so focused on looking after each other and keeping the peace that you feel like a teacher version of a Stepford wife and are terrified to say anything out of line for fear people's brains will short-circuit.

So what actually makes school culture?

I believe it's the thirty second interactions that change a school from a building where you go every day to a place you grow every day. From a place of work to a hub of learning and from a state of matter to a place where you matter.

I challenge you to put 30 seconds on your timer just to see what it feels like.

When testing 30 seconds you might notice that it's a longer time that a quick interaction of ‘Hi, how you doing?’ and it's longer than just a ‘nice weather hey?’.

30 seconds is enough time to say hi, listen to the response and to engage in a second interaction. It's time to hold a door open, pay a compliment and exchange a moment of banter. It's the difference between asking ‘how are you?’ and ‘how are you? How about the kids? I remember you saying one was trying out for state netball, how’d they go?’

Last week I was in a great professional learning session with educator, speaker and incredible coach Brendan Spillane. Brendan has worked with educators across the globe. Brendan spoke about this exact experience and he called it the ‘second sentence’. In order to have a second sentence with someone, you have to have a first. In order to have a second sentence with someone you need to know them well enough to engage in meaningful conversation. In order to have a second sentence, you need to get to know someone.

30 seconds is enough time for a second sentence. If you find yourself avoiding a second sentence with people, that is feedback to you that you might not know someone well or you might need to spend more time with them. It's natural that the second sentence comes easier with some than others but that doesn't mean you should turn away from the opportunity.

It's in a 30 seconds interaction that we make connection. It's in a series of 30 seconds interactions that we develop friendships, build trust and create psychological safety. Every journey starts with a single step and every culture grows through the small interactions you have.

So, spoiler alert, you can't change culture in 30 seconds but it can get you headed in the right direction. It's in the 30 lots of 30 second interactions that you build connection, grow confidence, trust and community.

Who do you need to interact with this week?

Anne-Marie