Ladies to the front!

In every sector of the Australian workforce, women are underrepresented at the uppermost levels, despite their educational engagement and achievement being statistically higher than that of men. It’s only natural to think that schools—where young minds are nurtured to develop a rounded world view—should be the exception to this rule. But unfortunately, this isn’t the case. The most recent report on the nation’s teacher workforce by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) revealed that a whopping 80% of our primary school teachers are female, yet only 57.5% of primary school principals are. In secondary schools, the split between male and female teachers is slightly more balanced, with 58.4% of secondary school teachers being female. However, female secondary school principals number even less than their primary school counterparts, at only 41.7%. And interestingly, these figures represent an increase in female education leaders compared to previous years.

So progress is being made, albeit slowly. But what exactly can be done to correct the imbalance? Actually, plenty!

Embrace the sisterhood

Behind every amazing woman is another amazing woman who has coached, mentored, sponsored, supported and smoothed out the road ahead for others to follow. Women need to give other women a hand up. For those at the top, consider being more proactive and vocal in your support of other women for more senior roles. If you have the power to influence decisions when it comes to hiring or promoting, wield it. And for those trying to make their way up the ladder, nurture relationships with women further along in the chain who can be beneficial to your advancement. Don’t be afraid to ask for help of those who have capacity to give it.

Recognise the value of allies

For real progress to occur, men need to be champions of change. Particularly if you’re a man in a leadership position, it’s important to both acknowledge and systematically address the many obstacles faced by women in their pursuit of a leadership role. Do all you can to even out the playing field. The fact that only 1 in 20 dads take primary parental leave shows that attitudes around the equitable sharing of care work needs to change if women are to one day have career paths that are as uninterrupted as those currently enjoyed by men. Diane Robertson, 2018 Australian Principal of the Year, believes that “men can invest in women in their organisations, just as women can invest in men. They can walk alongside them, value them, listen to them, mentor them and be mentored by them.” For Robertson, building an incredible team is key. “The critical component is respect for each other, respect for difference and respect for what each person brings to the team,” she adds.

If you’re in charge, be in charge

Women are natural nurturers and peacekeepers, adept at attending to the emotional needs of those around them. This often means that they put others before themselves, an important trait to have as an emotionally intelligent leader, but one that might be inhibiting at times when it’s important to speak up about the value you bring. A 2016 study on women in the workplace found that female participants were canny and exacting negotiators when negotiating on behalf of someone they care about^*, proving that selflessness can, and does, translate to strong persuasive skills.

If you want to rise through the ranks, then you need to demonstrate an attitude that shows others how prepared and capable you are to lead. You deserve your place at the table, so own it. Seek out opportunities that will help you feel more confident with your level of responsibility, and to grow into the leader that you want to be. “Many of these opportunities will lead you to mentors and inspirational leaders that will shape leadership thinking,” says Robertson.

There’s more than one way to be a leader

The great Russian theatre practitioner Konstantin Stanislavski once said that “there are no small parts, only small actors.” The same is true of leadership. Within a school context, everyone has a significant role to play that contributes meaningfully to the bigger picture. And it’s important to remember that not everyone aspires to a position that is part of the school executive or middle management, which is perfectly fine. Opportunities to lead can be seized at any moment by anyone at all. You don’t need permission from anyone else to step up.

Ultimately, being a leader requires strength and tenacity. If you’re sure that this is the direction you’d like to take, start building your leadership capabilities. Ask yourself who and what is within your circle of influence, and be strategic about how these connections can help you to get to where you want to go. Then, once you arrive at your desired destination, don’t forget to pay it forward so others can follow your path to the top.

Angelica Hannan is a secondary English teacher of more than twelve years who specialises in gifted education. She loves nothing more than helping students find exactly what it is that sparks their curiosity. Angelica is also a writer and researcher with a strong interest in sustainability, zero waste living, behavioural economics, and progressive education systems.