Nursery Owners and Managers all share one thing in common, they are often time poor. Time is not infinite and we can make it much harder to manage our workloads when we expect to be the one that solves all of the problems that might need solving.
Don’t get me wrong there is a time and a place for the Nursery Manager to be exactly the right person to make a decision to solve a problem, but there is also a place for embracing the rise in team problem solving.
There are many good reasons to adopt a team approach to solve certain problems. Often the team will find much better solutions than the manager will, and often the execution of the solution is more bought in to as they came up with the idea!
The Approach
The approach is one of encouraging the team to come together and agree how something will be rather than leaving this all to one Manager. The advantages of this approach will be that a) the Manager is not a dictator. Automony has been parked for the benefit of the team being invited to have input and that all voices are valued. A further advantage is that the manager is not always the best person to solve the problem. The team’s perspective adds so much value.
Here’s some examples of questions you might ask you team in your Day Nursery to solve:
- How do we manage lunch?
- What can we do to enhance our rolling snack?
- What can we do to improve our children’s access to maths?
- How can we manage holidays so we have cover?
- How can we ensure we are free flow?
- How can we approach on the job training?
- How can we manage transitions between rooms?
- How can we maintain our knowledge and understanding of safeguarding?
The impact of a team approach to problem solving includes:
- The Manager isn’t seen as an autocratic style of leader
- It stops the Manager being a bottle neck
- There is a culture of democracy
- Voices are encouraged and heard
- People are respected for their insight
- Ideas are pooled and what is best for the business identified.
- People are empowered.
- Decision making is owned by the team.
- People’s contributions are valued.
- You get buy in.
- Staff morale will increase.
- Contribution is part of the culture.
- It builds teams.
If you’d like assistance with any aspect of managing people in your setting do give us a call on 01527 909436.