Top Tips for Smarter SBMS
Top tips for Smarter SBMs
At GLS, we are on a mission to help schools save time and money by helping SBMs to overcome challenges they may face. We have sourced some helpful top tips for smarter SBMs from school leaders and people in the industry. Covering various topics within the role as well as highlighting thoughts on what can be a challenging and often lonely job. We hope our top tips for smarter SBMs will help and make you feel less alone.
Take time with learning the role
A key message with starting the SBM role is that learning the job takes time. There will be elements within the role that plays to an SBMs strengths as well as areas that show their weaknesses. It’s important to learn the basics and don’t run before you can walk.
It is best if you accept that you will never fully know or understand it all. Get to grips with what you need to know to manage at first and then you can learn the rest as you go along. It can also help to get a mentor through the first stages of becoming an SBM. It can be an invaluable time when you can learn new skills and gather advice that you need. Make sure the mentor is someone who has been through the ups and downs of the job so you can receive the best advice possible to get through.
Network
Networking is one of the most important top tips for smarter SBMs as it contributes to the role. This is because SBMs want to work together, they want to talk experiences through with each other and gain advice. Doing this benefits every SBM as they don’t feel alone. There’s a wide community that SBMs can network with which you can find through Twitter. Get involved and look at the #SBLTwitter as well as joining the local and national networks. You can learn so much in return and the willingness to share that’s out there for you to access.
Save yourself time
The role is always so busy and demanding so the need to make savings is very important for SBMs. Many SBMs that we had contacted had stated that to use your time effectively, planning and preparation is key. Get straight to the problem and don’t waste time on any meetings that don’t end with a decision or action that needs to be put in place.
SBMs can encounter constant interruptions as well but it’s important to remember that you don’t have to deal with them straight away. You can always say no or tell them to come back another time if you struggle with telling them no. Another way to save yourself time is by seeking suppliers that integrate with finance systems which our smart ordering system does that for you.
Say no
A lot of people will think that you are the Google of the school and there’s an expectation that you are an expert in everything that’s non-curricular. A way to manage this is to know when you need to say no as this is sometimes the smart thing to do. To ensure you don’t get stressed about the workload, work on small chunks at a time and don’t work to other people’s deadlines. Apart from major tasks, everything else can wait.
Build resilience
There’s lots of pressure from different places as an SBM. Parents, governors and staff are the main areas where the pressure comes from. More often than not, you want to keep everyone happy, but the reality is that isn’t possible all the time. You can be pulled in many different directions and have to make tough decisions that people won’t like, learning to bounce back from this is essential. You must remember to not take things personally and that it is just the job, not you. It may be hard not to be popular, but you are there for the job and not to make friends.
Think strategically
Thinking strategically is pivotal to your success and a great tip for SBMs. Leadership is the most important part of the role and SBMs need to have a strategic overview. Set time to strategically plan as this is essential to carry out the various work you need to do.
Invest in all the tools needed
Whether it’s dividers or coloured-coded notebooks, online or offline resources and investing in tools for SBMs that help you to do your job. Offline tools from plastic wallets to post-it notes help to stay organised which is key to the job. Online tools can also help you to stay on top of work and deadlines such as online diaries and management systems like Trello. Invest in these tools to assist you with managing your workload.
Remember it’s about the children
Remember the impact your role has on the children as you contribute to making a difference in their lives. This is the most rewarding part of the job is watching kids grow as you are still a massive part of that. When you have a bad day, just think about the times when things have come together, and the happiness that you have seen on students’ faces because of something you have done. Think about the changes that you have made and every bit of money that has gone into investing in the school to ensure the best possible outcomes for the children.
We hope that these top tips for smarter SBMs help you to manage your role and make it that little easier for you. Remember that you aren’t alone, and you can reach out to other SBMs for advice and help when it all gets a bit much.
