In the coming months, independent school leaders will grapple with a host of changes, including ongoing struggles involving affordability, parent expectations and technological disruptions to how our students receive and process information. In the business office alone, we are looking at the FASB's new rules for financial reporting, the Affordable Care Act's impact on healthcare benefits and the FLSA's proposed changes to employee classifications and overtime eligibility.
With so many changes facing NBOA members, I find a Harvard Business Review article titled "How to Embrace Complex Change" highly relevant to business officers and school leadership teams. Author Linda Brimm suggests "seven C's" as a framework for helping professionals navigate change.
By now, most business officers have seen the unfortunate upending of even the most well-intentioned change initiatives if they do not align with their schools' cultures. Consider the arrival of a new head of school. This is a key example of a major change that affects every aspect of school operations. Here's my take on how the business office might apply Brimm's seven C's to facilitate a successful transition of a new head.
- Complexity: Consider all the issues at play with the new head of school. These might include frequency of communication, financial stewardship and the business officer's relationship with the board of trustees, for starters.
- Clarity: Understand and prioritize these issues. Know what you must get right from the start. On day one, I suggest you even say this to the new head of school: "Here is how I think I can help you be successful." Followed by, "What else will you need from me?" (Even if your head of school isn't new, wouldn't that be a great way to start every school year?)
- Confidence: Believe that the change can be made successfully, and assure others that the outcomes will be positive for the school, faculty, staff and students. Sure, the new head of school will do things differently, but she/he will also bring new energy and fresh perspectives.
- Creativity: Brainstorm innovative solutions. What can you do to prepare various stakeholders in the school community to support and engage your new school leader?
- Commitment: Implement the change. Move forward with the best and most important first steps. Pretending that "everything will be the same" is probably the biggest mistake schools can make when a new head comes on board.
- Consolidation: Let go of the previous norm and embrace the new one. This may be the hardest step, especially if the previous head of school had a long tenure. Everyone will do this at their own pace, and that's okay. The key is that they all move in the same direction and let go of a past that no longer exists.
- Change: Finally, "live into the change" and all of its consequences—positive or not. Your new head of school will bring many changes that you can anticipate and respond to effectively. Accepting surprises as well is all part of adapting to change.
Without question, a number of changes await you in the school year ahead. Use Brimm's seven C's as a guide for your leadership of the business office and, dare I say, your entire school community.
At the same time, rest assured that NBOA will be here with the tools, connections, events and resources you need to manage every step of the school year and the change process. Welcome back to the next nine months. Please visit us often at www.nboa.org.
