Zone KP Retreat @ Marina Bay Sands (Part 1)

Building Quality Relationship

During the Zone KP Retreat @ Marina Bay Sands, I was basically very inspired by the speech by DDS(N) Mrs Yu. One important point brought up by her was “building quality relationships” which was also what our Supt, Mrs Ong, has been stressing to us during her meeting with the SMC last year. According to Mrs Yu, building quality relationships include providing good service to others. In our context, I would translate it to giving the support to our teachers and pupils, understanding them and development them. Of course, no matter what position or designation we are in, we should build quality relationships with those who are under our care and supervision. Mrs Yu also mentioned that “people don’t care what your big ideas and plans are until they know that you care for them”. I interpret this as when you have built quality relationship with your staff, you will then have buy in when you want to sell them your new ideas and plans. I would like to add on that the care we give to them needs to be sincere and true.

Reflecting on my own relationships with my teachers, I think I have managed to build good relationships with majority of them, if not all, and I believe that they know that I am sincere and true in helping and developing them. I dare to say this as I have many of the teachers in my department and some from other departments (though not all of them are under me as their PD), coming to me seeking for advice on teaching pedagogies or some other personal issues. This year, especially, I was able to find some time to walk around in the staff room to talk to some of the teachers. Sigh … I was able to do this more often this year because I am on part time scheme. Mrs Ong has been stressing to us, the Management team, the importance of this work, but most of us are always bogged down with doing as much work as we can while we are in school so that when we go back home, we have time for our family. It really is hard to really balance work and family well. However, I think we still have to try our best as it is part of our role as PDs to find enough time to talk to our teachers so as to understand better. I do see some of our SMC members mingling among the staff very often which the rest of us can learn from, for example, the Head PE always has lunch with all his PE teachers and the Head Humanities will always sit in the Staff work room reading newspaper and having breakfast or lunch with his teachers =)

Believe in ourselves; Believe in our teachers; Believe in our children -- By Mrs Yu