This week, many of us continue to lead while we may not be feeling our absolute best.
Across the province, Principals, Vice-Principals, and district leaders are showing up to schools, meetings, and classrooms, perhaps with a lingering cough, shortened hours of sleep, and all the while carrying the weight of winter fatigue, staffing pressures, and the steady hum of competing demands. The work does not pause, and neither do you. And yet, these moments ask something a little different of us as leaders.
The term resilience is often bandied about, and our job is to ensure we know what that means and looks like. Resilience does not mean pushing endlessly or powering through at all costs. True resilience is about pacing oneself, taking care, and knowing when to pause, both for ourselves, and for one another. It is about understanding when to lean in and when to pull back, when to step forward and when to rest. If you find yourself feeling unsure or stretched thin, this is the time to reach out to a trusted colleague or critical friend and check in. Leadership is not meant to be carried alone.
This understanding aligns closely with the Ministry of Education and Child Care’s Compassionate Systems Leadership work, which reminds us that strong systems are not built through pressure and urgency alone, but through relationships, trust, and human-centered decision-making.
At this time of year, leadership may feel quieter, but it is also very intentional. It may mean choosing the most important conversations rather than all of them. It may look like shortening a meeting, delegating with trust, or giving yourself permission to leave a little earlier than planned. These are not signs of weakness; they are acts of wisdom and care and are clear examples of compassionate leadership in action.
Importantly, how we lead when we are not at 100% matters. Our teams are watching not only what we do, but how we do it. When we model self-care, boundaries, and humanity, we give others permission to do the same. In doing so, we help create schools and districts where sustainability is valued alongside excellence, and where people feel seen and supported within the system.
As the thousand days of January finally wind to a close and February begins to pave the road toward longer, lighter days, greener grass and crocuses beginning to push through the soil, I encourage you to be gentle with yourselves and with one another. Focus on what truly requires your energy and attention, celebrate the small wins, and stay connected to colleagues who ground and support you. Compassionate systems are sustained not by one leader doing everything, but by leaders working alongside each other with care and intention.
As I sit here on this dark and rainy morning, I am thinking of you, starting your day in the quiet moments before the whirlwind begins in your offices, preparing your schools to welcome students and families on these cold winter mornings. Thank you for the steadiness, grace, and professionalism you continue to bring to your communities, even on days when the tank feels low. You matter. Your well-being matters.
Please take good care of yourselves and one another as we move through this season together.
Dr. Shannon Behan
sbehan@bcpvpa.bc.ca