Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash
Leaders, consistently use a holistic approach with staff. Why?
(1) Because using a holistic approach helps staff flourish. Keep in mind that “[w]here there are few flourishing educators, there will be few flourishing students” (Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools, loc 3318).
(2) Because using a holistic approach with staff increases the likelihood that they will experience resilient well-being, will experience a deep sense of belonging, and will experientially understand the importance of using a holistic approach with students.
(3) Because not using a holistic approach with staff increases the likelihood that they will experience fragile ill-being, will experience not being sufficiently known by you and others, and will less effectively use a holistic approach with students because they aren’t experiencing that approach from you, the leader.
(4) Because using a holistic approach is a best practice (see ACSI’s holistic teaching construct, p. 14).
What elements make up a holistic approach? For me, a holistic approach is made up of the 5 Elements of Flourishing (based on ACSI’s Flourishing Model):
- Passionate purpose
- Resilient well-being
- Healthy relationships
- Transformative learning
- Helpful resources
What does consistently using a holistic approach with staff look like? For me, it looks like each leader and staff member actively using a Personalized Flourishing Plan (a 3-year plan has 3 action steps for each of the 5 Elements of Flourishing). Actively using the plans includes, for example, leaders and staff talking about their plans regularly—in monthly staff meetings, weekly team meetings, and weekly 1-on-1s.
Here are some related resources:
- We can flourish without a plan, right?
- Why should you stop using a professional development plan?
- Holistic vision scripts for students, staff, and leaders
- Get Flourishing Framework
- What frameworks do you want to use to get flourishing and help others get flourishing?
What about you? To what extent do you consistently use a holistic approach with staff? What elements make up a holistic approach? What does consistently using a holistic approach with staff look like?
Get flourishing!
Michael
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the template for the Personalized Flourishing Plan!
Get Flourishing 
