Author: Jenny Bowers

Purplemoon Monthly Musings – August-Collaboration-What is in it for me?

By Jenny Bowers on

Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Posted 27th August 2025

Collaboration, what's in it for me? - a Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Welcome to Purplemoon Monthly Musings.

On the final Wednesday of every month Jenny will be posting out about a theme that has been appearing in her work, or her life, across all sectors. It could be a topic that particularly resonates with you, or it might be a new concept or idea to you. Either way the aim is to give voice to some thoughts, ponder some questions and explore what this might mean to us as individuals and as a community. Jenny will always aim to credit original sources as she explores the musings title and will welcome your comments and contributions to keep the musing going! This blog is also published on LinkedIn. Follow Jenny here.

Definition: ‘the action of working with someone to produce something’

This month the musing is considering collaboration. Something that I have always considered a good thing. As someone naturally relational, the idea of collaborating with others has always been something I am drawn to. Good old fashioned ‘group work’. 

However, sometimes collaboration doesn’t quite feel right, it may be that you thought the aim was collaboration, but in fact it was someone ‘telling you’ what to do or how to do it, or the other end of that spectrum, it felt like you were doing all the input and sharing all your knowledge and ideas, which the other then took. Or the key factor that you thought was at the heart of your collaboration is not what it seemed to be for others.

Collaboration can also fall down when you are collaborating with someone who is a mirror of you, that has the same strengths, experiences or knowledge base. Here you might have a really nice conversation, but the output is not quite as creative or boundary pushing as you had hoped, or the discipline of the meeting disappeared as you both conversed and went of on tangents as you are having a ‘catch up’.

So what does powerful and effective collaboration need? How can you discern it from a jolly old catch up, from information sharing or from a networking meeting? I believe it needs these five factors below:

  1. People with different knowledge, experience and/or opinions
  2. An aim for an end product/service/item
  3. A willingness to give and take (all your ideas might be good ideas, but not all can be utilised)
  4. A structure (or agreement) for moving forward, with each person willing to be responsible for something
  5. Time frames

What is not listed here is an agenda, as collaboration does not have to be planned and structured; spontaneous collaboration can be unexpected, productive and fun! However, for the collaboration to have a final product/service/agreement then subsequent meetings would benefit from an agenda.

For collaboration to truly succeed, it’s essential to establish a shared understanding of what success looks like. How will you, as a group or pair, know when you’ve achieved your goal? Clear, agreed-upon success criteria provide direction and help measure progress.

But success isn’t just collective, it’s also personal. Each individual brings their own internal criteria, shaped by personal motivations and needs. These may include a desire for recognition, a sense of fulfilment, or tangible rewards. Acknowledging these personal drivers isn’t selfish, it’s human. When these needs go unnamed or unmet, frustration and misalignment can arise.

That’s why effective collaboration must include space for individual success. Make it a priority to understand and validate what each person hopes to gain. By doing so, you will have an inclusive, motivated, and harmonious team dynamic.

As those of us in education move into a new academic year, may you have many happy collaborations, and for those of you entering the last third of the year, may it be a productive and collaborative third.

Purplemoon Monthly Musings -July- The Power of Micro Conversations

By Jenny Bowers on

Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Posted 30th July 2025

The Power of Micro-Conversations - a Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Welcome to Purplemoon Monthly Musings.

On the final Wednesday of every month Jenny will be posting out about a theme that has been appearing in her work, or her life, across all sectors. It could be a topic that particularly resonates with you, or it might be a new concept or idea to you. Either way the aim is to give voice to some thoughts, ponder some questions and explore what this might mean to us as individuals and as a community. Jenny will always aim to credit original sources as she explores the musings title and will welcome your comments and contributions to keep the musing going! This blog is also published on LinkedIn. Follow Jenny here.

Hello! (wave and smile) Recently I have been considering the number of conversations that I might have in one day, and also, what constitutes a conversation? This has led me to write this months musing on the power of what I am choosing to call the micro conversation.
 

We all know that validation matters, that acknowledgement matters and that belonging matters. We also know that the giving of appreciation and thanks is positive for the recipient and of the giver, so how does that all translate into powerful micro-conversations?

James and I were walking on Sunday and we found ourselves exploring the site of an old lead mine just above Grassington. We were not the only ones there, indeed our walk had been punctuated by ‘good mornings’ and smiles that happen frequently when you are in the wonderful Yorkshire outdoors. We had already had a joyful micro-conversation with a North York Moors volunteer who kindly held a gate open for us with a bit of showmanship.

But at this lead mine a mum and son were exploring the shale looking for ‘gems’ – which I only know because I asked! I could have walked past, but in a microsecond I chose not to, instead engaging them both in a conversation that they both willingly joined in. I think his mum appreciated that someone had shown an interest, and validated what her son and her were doing (and didn’t dismiss his ideas when he told me what he thought they had found). I also wasn’t offended when he didn’t want to show me what he had found (they were in his bag and it would be too much faff!). As the lad wandered off I suggested a place to his mum where I knew they could search for and get some info about stones and gems. in those few moments I had validated an activity, sated my curiosity and engaged in knowledge sharing. will I ever see those people again? I doubt it. Was it good for me? Absolutely.

I am not going to get into the north/south debate (divide) over who are the most spontaneously friendly or welcoming. Wherever I am in the world I will smile and engage (for the vast majority of time). And most often I will get a level of engagement back.

If anyone ever attempts to engage me, I will give a genuine and spontaneous response. Yes I do love it when someone comments on my hair, no I will never get bored of it. Yes, the phrase ‘nearly there’ when climbing up a steep hill spoken by someone either going down or overtaking me does irritate me somewhat-do I show it? Not to the person giving me encouragement! To them I will smile graciously, and attempt to receive it in the manner it is given. If my attempt at connection is ignored I take it as a reflection on where they are at that moment in time, not as a reflection on me!

Sometimes, when out walking and having a brief interaction with a fellow walker I might wonder if that is the only positive face to face interaction they have had in that day. I always hope not, but i also recognise that it might be the case, and so I do believe they matter. I believe that the connection and interaction with someone that I might only meet once in my lifetime is important, and the collection of these interactions add bright moments into my memory and knowledge of society and humanity. We do all remember those fellow humans who were kind, thoughtful, welcoming even if the interaction and conversation only lasted a few moments. Walking away with a smile is deeply powerful.

 

So, my last thought for you is this? how many meaningful micro-conversations are you going to have this summer? As throughout any given day there are so many opportunities to engage in a conversation. Whether it be the walker you pass, the person waiting at a bus stop, someone in a shop, that person who is in the same holiday location as you, a neighbour, or that person in a staff communal area or doorway that isn’t in your team. However long (or short) or deep (or superficial) your conversation is, you both will get something from it, and just like a smile, the benifits can longer than those few seconds (or minutes). Notice and accept them for or the bright spark they are. That is the power of a micro-conversation.

Purplemoon Monthly Musings -June-Playfulness Matters

By Jenny Bowers on

Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Posted 26th June 2025

Reflecting on Reflective Practise- a Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Welcome to Purplemoon Monthly Musings.

On the final Wednesday of every month Jenny will be posting out about a theme that has been appearing in her work, or her life, across all sectors. It could be a topic that particularly resonates with you, or it might be a new concept or idea to you. Either way the aim is to give voice to some thoughts, ponder some questions and explore what this might mean to us as individuals and as a community. Jenny will always aim to credit original sources as she explores the musings title and will welcome your comments and contributions to keep the musing going! This blog is also published on LinkedIn. Follow Jenny here.

Playfulness Matters! As done Connection and Collaboration

This month, the musing is published whilst Jenny is on annual leave. (The power of scheduling!)

So, this month, the musing directs you to something that was published since the last musing, a podcast and a sub stack created by Dr Kate Renshaw. In it, we discuss how an innovative piece of work we did together in South Yorkshire altered the course of both of our careers, and how playfulness matters both for children, for adults, and in the supervision space. 

To get to the podcast please click on the image, and for the substack, please click here!

Enjoy

Purplemoon Monthly Musings – May -Reflecting on reflection

By Jenny Bowers on

Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Posted 30th April 2025

Reflecting on Reflective Practise- a Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Welcome to Purplemoon Monthly Musings.

On the final Wednesday of every month Jenny will be posting out about a theme that has been appearing in her work, or her life, across all sectors. It could be a topic that particularly resonates with you, or it might be a new concept or idea to you. Either way the aim is to give voice to some thoughts, ponder some questions and explore what this might mean to us as individuals and as a community. Jenny will always aim to credit original sources as she explores the musings title and will welcome your comments and contributions to keep the musing going! This blog is also published on LinkedIn. Follow Jenny here.

I’m diving into a topic close to my heart—reflection.
But is reflection always a good thing?

You might assume that, as a supervisor and coach, I’m automatically pro-reflection. The short answer, as my short answers often go, is: it depends.

So, what does it depend on?

  • When reflection is happening
  • Where it’s taking place
  • How it’s being done
  • What the goal of the reflection is
  • Which method or “vehicle” is being used
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The Lens we use matters

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When I am in session with clients, I often notice a tendency to reflect utilising a critical lens. They are analysing what went wrong, what they “should have” done, and how to avoid mistakes in the future. While this can be useful, it often leads to rumination and self-criticism.

Instead, I invite clients to try a self-compassionate lens. What were the positives, even in a difficult situation? Can we accept that the outcome was shaped by context and circumstances? Can we consider what the emotions and energy were in that space, and from that accept how the outcome occurred? From there, we can explore what might be possible next time, and how to bring that about. This shift is often empowering.

Timings matter

Now let’s consider when reflection occurs. I find it interesting that for many people in situations that pose challenge or conflict the desire is to only have a reflection immediately after. For example, in a school where a child has become very dysregulated and the situation has spiralled into someone becoming hurt. Or in a role where a member of the community has become extremely abusive because they feel they are not being treated the way they should be treated.

 A debrief and check in is vital, in the immediacy of the incident, to ensure that everyone knows they are safe and if there is any key learning or follow up (possibly with other agencies or organisations) that needs to be put in place straight away. However, that is one type of reflection and is very narrow in focus. Who is leading that debrief/check in needs to be considered, are they someone with no emotional impact from the situation? Or if they were involved, what lens are they using, and what emotions and thoughts are they bringing into the space?

Productive and beneficial reflection will occur if there is time between this debrief and the reflection. Maybe 3-5 days. This reflection can be held in a group or with individuals and can indeed be done by a lone individual for themselves. For this reflection to be productive it is not a rerun of the debrief, it is considering what came out of the debrief, and has any thinking evolved? Have thoughts and feelings changed? Are there now things that can be explored about what preceded the situation, what followed the situation, as well as the situation itself? As time has given distance from it, there is the potential for greater depth to the reflection. Were there any successful strategies, any helpful help? Were the actions that came out of the debrief followed up? successful? Do different actions need to occur? Reflecting on reflection is deeply powerful when framed well.

Reflection as a regular practise, that takes practice

Reflection doesn’t need to be reserved for difficult moments. At the end of the week, reflecting on what you thought on Monday about Monday may give you something to consider about how you enter the next week, or give you a nudge to check in with someone or about something. It might help you understand why Tuesday and Wednesday went the way they did!. Going back over notes you made at a meeting or an event a month later, or even a year later, can spark a change in thinking for today and tomorrow.

Reflecting isnt something you can just do, for it to be productive and beneficial you need to give it time and energy. You need to learn what methodology is best for you, and you need to understand why it is occurring in the first place.

I am an advocate for the supervision and/or coaching space to enable and empower reflective thinking, but I am also aware this is not the only way to do it. Indeed, it is not the only place I utilise reflective thought. I do love a good walk, allowing  reflective thinking to germinate and grow out of my subconscious as I do so, then putting in under an imaginary microscope and considering what it might mean for me, and for those I work with.

For my journaling advocates out there, let me ask you this, do you go back and reflect on what is written? How many times and when? What do you do with these reflections? For the readers of many non-fiction books, how do you reflect on what you have read, when and how?

Let’s Reflect Together

So, will you now reflect on your way of reflecting?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’d like to explore this further, let’s have a reflective conversation.

Purplemoon Monthly Musings – April – Never Enough Time

By Jenny Bowers on

Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Posted 30th April 2025

There's never enough time!- an Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Welcome to Purplemoon Monthly Musings.

On the final Wednesday of every month Jenny will be posting out about a theme that has been appearing in her work, or her life, across all sectors. It could be a topic that particularly resonates with you, or it might be a new concept or idea to you. Either way the aim is to give voice to some thoughts, ponder some questions and explore what this might mean to us as individuals and as a community. Jenny will always aim to credit original sources as she explores the musings title and will welcome your comments and contributions to keep the musing going! This blog is also published on LinkedIn. Follow Jenny here.

Have you ever said 'there isn't enough time, or that 'there is no time for 'it'?'

these phrases are particularly used when it comes to wellbeing/self care/fun activities.  I know that it is a phrase that I have used myself, and it is still present as a thought that can pop up regularly. When I hear this phrase muttered there are two responses that I usually utilise (the first usually when it is a specific task or activity, the second when it is a generalised response):

  1. Not enough time to complete it? Start it? Or do it to the standard you want to?
  2. Is it really a time issue or a workload, expectation, overwhelmed issue?

The reality that most human beings grapple with is that time is finite. It just is rigid and relentless in its passing. Time is not something we can change. However, what I have come to realise, and what I give space to others to explore is, we can change our relationship with time. So can we utilise it better?

The key to consider is; are we are using time ‘management’ as an excuse to not do things. Or do we see it as a more acceptable reason to give than ”I am overwhelmed” or ”I don’t know where/how to start.”

Queen Mañana

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I am a queen of procrastination, to the point that my parents would often use ‘mañana’ as a nickname for me. What I realised is that I didn’t like starting anything unless I knew I had time to complete it. So not starting the task meant that that I could use my time (today) for something else and that task would be done in the future. Of course it isn’t the best strategy to have, especially when you are working and have deadlines and people counting on you to get things done so they can do their work! So now I consider larger tasks as sequences of mini tasks and experience success of the completion of stages, and plan through what is done today, by the end of the week, and so on. This may mean that different projects, reports, plans are all at different stages, and many are unfinished, but they are being done!

 

Measuring Time

Time is also hard for humans to measure, so although we understand that a minute is 60 seconds, and always will be 60 seconds, we experience time in different ways depending on what we are doing. With the pull of the internet and the ability to go down virtual rabbit holes and explore so many tangents and possibilities we can lose track of time. We have so much ‘research’ and ‘evidence’ and ‘experiences’ at our fingertips it has become so hard to be disciplined in what data or evidence to use as so many tangents can be fascinating time hoovers. So before you know it the afternoon is gone! We also sometime have unrealistic expectation of what we can achieve in 10 minutes, 30 minutes etc. I am sure that everyone has experienced saying ‘give me 5 minutes’ to a family member or colleague. Or ‘Yep, I can do that, it’ll only take me 30 minutes’.

The reality is sometimes it really will take longer! This might be because you want to operate at a very high (perfectionist) standard. sometimes it is because you are being constantly distracted by others (or yourself) or sometimes it is because it is more complicated/time consuming that you thought.

We also can get caught in a loop. Sometimes we think something is done, but we get a query, or a response. Or in completing one activity (say a meeting) more work/actions are created and this then all takes time, so is the task completed or not? This is where overwhelm can really kick in; the thought of ‘there’s just not enough time.’

So What Can You Do?

  • Know which tasks need your undivided attention, and potentially which need high energy levels, and consider first when in the day/week you are going to do them (and plan it in) and also consider where you are going to do them. – where is interesting, as it also might me where in the day – so if you are in a shared office, when will you be there on your own? Or do you need to take yourself elsewhere?
  • Be prepared in busy seasons to spend less time on making reports/articles look pretty! Accept that good enough is good enough- and know what this is! Does what you have done do the minimum requirements? If it does, then it is complete, move on. This is about the wise use of time.
  • Be realistic, use the knowledge you have gained from experience – if you have a meeting and you know there will be actions for you/follow up, then plan these in to your time. Block out time pre and post meeting for prep and follow up. Do this for all meetings. Some will require less- this is where your experience counts. If you have a task to complete that requires research, or talking to people or gathering evidence, block this out too! Task prep into the plan first, and then task doing.
  • Even when we are experienced, we can still be a novice, and so some tasks need learning, so they will take longer! Remember that the first time of doing, more time will be needed. You will get quicker as you get experienced! (I will be returning to novice/expert a few times in the monthly musings, it resonates in so many places).

 

I appreciate this musing may be a rabbit hole that you have scurried down, but hopefully it has been a worthwhile use of your time! I will now conclude the musing, so you can utilise your next unit of time to reflect and muse yourself. Is there anything you will consider, try out or do differently now?

Purplemoon Monthly Musings – an introduction

By Jenny Bowers on

Purplemoon Monthly Musing

Posted 26th March 2025

What is in a name? - an introduction to the monthly musings

What the name is, is two words that are connected to me:

Welcome to Purplemoon Monthly Musings.

On the final Wednesday of every month Jenny will be posting out about a theme that has been appearing in her work, or her life, across all sectors. It could be a topic that particularly resonates with you, or it might be a new concept or idea to you. Either way the aim is to give voice to some thoughts, ponder some questions and explore what this might mean to us as individuals and as a community. I will always aim to credit original sources as I explore the musings title and will welcome your comments and contributions to keep the musing going! This blog is also published on LinkedIn. Follow Jenny here.

As part of this introduction Jenny thought it would be good to answer a question she is frequently asked ‘why purplemoon?’

 

When I made the decision to set up a company to deliver supervision and coaching, and to support wellbeing in individuals and organisations, I knew that I wanted a company who’s name was not my own. As a supervisor and as a coach it is important that you are holding the space for others and operating without your Ego being dominant in the room. It is a space for others, not me, so the company is not my name.

Purple, as it is my favourite colour. It is bold, bright and, to me, joyful, it can also be complimentary and subtle. This is what I want the company to bring to the spaces it works in.

Moon, as the moon holds particular meaning for me. The moon is a constant presence, it moves around the earth and has importance for the earths routine and flow, without being dominant, flashy or demanding. The view we have of it as it moves around changes, reminding us that not everything is seen all at once all the time. And crucially, when I was travelling (before mobile phones enabled instant connectivity) I knew that the moon I saw was the moon that my family and friends saw, no matter where in the world I was, or where they were, so we were always connected. I still look to the moon and smile, thinking of all the people I have known and shared ‘looking at the moon’ with.

Interestingly what causes most confusion is that I made a compound word!

This is because I love language and creativity, and like making words. The two words together is what this company is!

Supervision and Coaching Ltd, was added, after some deliberation around the question posed to me by others. ‘will people know what you do?’ so in full the company is Purplemoon Supervision and Coaching Ltd, but I am delighted that most people do get what Purplemoon is about.

You can follow Purplemoon Supervision and Coaching on LinkedIn too, click here

And why call this series of prose ‘Purplemoon monthly musings?’ Because I love alliteration!
What names matter to you, and how did they come about? Let me know!

Who likes a podcast?

By Jenny Bowers on

Over the last year I have been lucky enough to be interviewed on not one, but two podcasts! I am not generally someone who listens to podcasts, I prefer to listen to music and then watch interviews, but when I was asked by Mike and Arthur from TandTeaching I just couldn’t say no! They are two lovely people and it was so friendly and really just like chatting in a staff room with a cuppa! Despite being interviewed back in October, I am really proud that Mike and Art keep letting me know that my podcast is in their top 5 most listened to. And that makes me very proud, as there are some amazing and fabulous people who they have interviewed! You can find TandTeaching here on Spotify, but they are available pretty much wherever people listen!

Back in March I was then interviewed by Alison from Above and Beyond Education, for her #FlyingHigh podcast, where she talks to people about what brings them #Joy! What a great subject, and so I got to talk about, not only what I love doing, but also what is bringing me so much joy at the moment. (Which is being part of 365SEND).

I am now thinking about other podcasts or video chats I could do, I wonder if this is a new strand for the Purplemoon Website?

Leadership Horizons, the power of being outdoors

By Jenny Bowers on

Leadership Horizons, the power of being outdoors

Posted on July 20, 2021

What do you get when you add a group of open-minded coaches, expert facilitators, the lake district and about 6 hours of time?

The answer is the feeling of being part of a something special, a lifting of soul and clarity of direction!

But first a bit of background:

I may have started my coaching journey many years ago, but in 2017 I met the truly outstanding Dr Paul Simmons as a new head in Oldham. The LA had teamed up with him (www.independentcoaching.org) to produce a program of support for new heads, and I embraced the coaching part of this wholeheartedly, finally a coaching method secure in theory, ethics and with a strong structure to work within. I then moved to the part two, whilst also sending my leadership team on part one, used the structure in my performance management meetings with staff and our senior leadership team meetings and progressed to part three.

When I left my headship in 2020, I was in contact with Paul as I considered the next stage of my journey. With sound advice and his support I ensured I completed part three, joined the executive coaching, added accredited supervision to my portfolio (my absolute passion for wellbeing) and embarked on my current chapter as Purplemoon.

Leadership Horizons Pilot

Paul, and his wife Marian, had been considering a day of coaching for coaches embedded in nature for a while. Nature and being outside as positive wellbeing factors have been a big identified as a feature of the pandemic Lockdowns and so when he approached me to ask if I would be interested in participating in a pilot day about coaching ‘in-situ’ in the lake district I jumped at the chance. As did nine others!

We gathered (socially distanced!) between 9-9:30 in a lovely room that was part of the University of Cumbria. We discussed what had brought us there, the theory and practice behind leadership coaching, and thought about

we then set off into the countryside, four of us opting for a shorter walk and then a sit in pleasant surrounds, and six opting for a longer walk and talk. (yes, I was in the walk and sit group!) we paired up, we coached, we came together for a packed lunch and chat, we changed locations and coached again in our pairs. We then met up as a whole group again to reflect on the day-our individual thoughts and learning, and our thoughts and learning as a group. We then drifted back home around 3pm, after all agreeing that it had been a remarkable day.

Remarkable Day Reflections

Whenever I have attended coaching sessions facilitated by Paul I have felt invigorated, have got clarity of next steps and also learnt more about being a coach. This day was no exception, however this day held something more, something deeper and we all felt it.

One phrase that has stayed with me is the difference between ‘feeling knowledge’ and the ‘knowing knowledge’, I know that being in nature is powerful and positive, but after this day I also truly felt it enhance and deepen the coaching experience. There was synergy between the heart and the head in a different way at the end of the sessions. What brought this about?

  1. Being outside brought different energy, it was more tranquil, less hasty or pressured- I also enjoyed not having to be in constant eye contact as I sat next to my coach rather than opposite across a desk/table. I fiddled with grass and flowers around me (as did she) and did not feel self-conscious about fiddling. Pauses were natural and mindful and invited further thoughts and discussion.
  2. I love working in metaphor and using the vista around me to describe my reality and my ideal, and work out how to get to that horizon, really helped both me and my coaching partner to depersonalise the issue/thoughts, describe them with rich language and give greater weight to our thinking. Whilst also being an aide memoir for the coach so more cognitive space could be given to support rather than remembering or note taking.
  3. Overall it felt very embryonic but also retained the structures and methods we all were so familiar with. Nothing was forced and for me there was less pressure as I felt unconstrained by time and the physical presence of work/workplace. I found the walking part as the nice bit of small talk, the shedding off of my ‘to-do’ list or my anxieties, frustrations or woes as I enjoyed the physicality of walking uphill and the taking in of the sights and sounds. When we sat, we paused and truly let go as we established our anchor for coaching in the surroundings, and then we delved deeper into the near, middle and far horizons.

Would I do it again? Absolutely! Am I looking into how I can incorporate this into my practise as a coach and supervision, oh yes!

Would it have been different if it had rained? Maybe, although we all gelt that some light drizzle wouldn’t have stopped us, a storm would have given us a different vista and energy, but there was always the safety of the building!

A whole week ‘Off’!

By Jenny Bowers on

A whole week ‘Off’!

Posted on June 9, 2021

I managed a whole week ‘off’ work!

This is one of those blogs where it might appear I am showing off, because I managed to have a week where I did no work. This is actually a blog where I am thinking about how I managed to do it, how it felt and musings on how this might help you to do the same!

The week before my week off I spent some time scheduling my social media, ensuring that my ‘out of office’ email was ready to go and forewarning people that I was going to have the half term week off, and that I actually meant it! I stuck to my principle and did not download the app which would enable me to see my emails on my phone and I discussed with my partner how we both really meant it, no work for a week. This prep work I think did help me mentally prepare for the notion of a week off.

Where we were going also helped, it was the far north of Scotland where the 4G signal was spotty or non-existent. The hotel had limited wifi in some areas, so yes, I did pop onto social media a couple of times but not for ‘work’ but to share a couple of photos of the wonderful vista and let friends and family know what we were doing (and to see how they were spending their time!)

 Both laptops of mine and my partner were put into the bottom of the wardrobe and hidden by the spare blankets (from our eyes more than anyone elses). We did decide we wanted to take them ‘just in case’ but this was more so that we had them and could forget about them than to actually use them. Having them out of sight did put them out of mind!

Interestingly when I was a headteacher and in Portugal I still felt the need to constantly connect to wifi and check emails/messages. I wonder what has changed? -One thing I do know is that I was way too accessible (told people I would be regularly checking in) and with work accounts on my phone it was way too easy to do that ‘quick check in’.

Also, one person in our wider family group felt the need to do about an hour of work every day, and would go back into an area where there was signal to check her phone regularly. When I realised that she was doing this, I had a quick internal check in, did this make me anxious, did it make me want to do the same? The answer was categorically no! What I actually felt was sympathy for her that she felt she had to do this, but she felt that this was a compromise for her to have some ‘time off’ balanced into maintaining her workload. For me, I was confident that my prep work the week before and what was in my calendar for the week after was solid. However, when she was ‘off’ she really was off and none of us really talked ‘shop’ about any of our work (very diverse group) as there were so many other interesting things to chat about!

On reflection I know I’m in a much better place in how I prioritise and think about my emotional and mental health. My umbrella is strong and well maintained. This doesn’t mean that I don’t feel stressed or anxious at times, it means that I am better equipped to notice, check in with myself and do something about it. Would this have been possible as a member of SLT? Yes, I do believe so, if I had my umbrella and my boundaries and better self-awareness, (also the support of organisations such as the amazing HeadsUp4HTs).

I will admit that we returned on Friday (this had always been the plan) so that if anything major had happened work wise (for either myself or my partner) we had the weekend to check emails, phones, calendar and plan for this week. However, we spent most of the weekend with family in the sunshine in a garden, watching F1 and continuing our relaxing and recharging as we transitioned back into work mode for Monday.

Having a transitioning back into work time/space also helped, I think coming back later would have meant we had placed way too much pressure on finishing holiday (and doing the boring shopping/washing/prep) and going to work (setting alarm and feeling mental prepared) and I am becoming a fan on the transition in and the transition out. We had 6 solid days of holiday, true time off, much better than 7-10 days of ‘holiday’ but where work is done for an hour or so a day whilst on holiday. You may disagree, but however you plan your holidays, plan to be truly ‘off’, and then follow through and celebrate when you manage it!

 

Effective Supervision Checklist

By Jenny Bowers on

Effective Supervision Checklist

Posted on April 14, 2021

What is highly Effective Supervision? A checklist