ELT Management

  What am I like as a manager? What are my strengths and weaknesses? How am I perceived by staff/customers? What do I think makes a good manager? What action I need to take next to become an even better manager?

Identify goals In an earlier module we looked at the importance of carrying out a SWOT analysis and then setting SMART objectives for your LTO. The same is true for your development. Set aside time to do a SWOT analysis of yourself as a professional. Be honest and critical (though not too hard on yourself). Then start to define your next objectives.   Reflection End the day or the week by looking back and considering how you dealt with different aspects of the job. What worked well? What would do differently next time? It’s too easy to end the day and think nothing was achieved when in fact, if you take time to reflect properly, you will find out that it was.   A critical friend or mentor It’s useful to find someone you trust at a similar level of management to share in your development. Find someone who asks questions and listens. If there’s no one within the actual LTO, approach an ex-boss, a former trainer or a peer (not necessarily someone in the ELT industry).   Mana...

 Some examples of PD activities.  CPD at my LTO (x intended to mean "we've never tried it, and I don't think we will): Organising CPD sessions TIME: Decide when is the best day and time in the week so all or most people can attend. Also, try to schedule after lessons, so teachers can focus on the session and not think about their next class. CONTENT: The manager may have areas she or he wishes the staff to develop. Ask Ts if something else is more important. RUNNING THE SESSION: An outside expert? (can be motivating) One of your teachers (recognizing their special expertise). REMEMBER: Regular PD sessions are more effective than one-off events. Return to topics and allow time for reflection. You should keep a record of the session content and who participated. Encourage Ts to keep their own record and build up a CPD journal.

 

 Plan: Managers study part of the process that needs improving by collecting relevant data and documents. Then they make a plan to address any problems and make improvements. Do: Next they put their plan into action and collect data or evidence of the effect of their actions. Check: As data and evidence comes in, managers need to check whether they are achieving the objectives set out in the planning stage, Act: take action as a result of plan, do, and check.  Plan-Do-Check-Act is a continuous cycle in which you are always aiming to improve quality and go above and beyond customer expectations .