Do you work in the education sector? Have you been in the same job for a while now and you’re starting to question if the time is right to move up the career ladder? For the vast majority of people, their first career job isn’t usually a lifelong path. Chances are you will hit the point where you’re ready for change. But what are the signs you’re ready for a leadership role in the education sector? Is it based on time alone, or are there other signs to watch for?
Here are some of the tell-tale signs that it’s time for a change and you’re ready for a more advanced challenge in the education sector.
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You Feel Bored and Lack Challenge
When you first start a new job it’s normal to feel challenged and even inspired by the new role. Everything is new, there is lots to learn, and you’ll be pushing your limits. Over time, things become smoother and easier, and eventually, you can reach the point where you feel bored. Each day can start to feel just like the previous, i.e., mundane and without anything new or challenging to look forward to. For many people, this can be the first sign that it’s time to move up to a leadership role in the education sector. Your passion for the industry hasn’t changed; you’ve just reached the limits of what your current job can offer you.
Plenty of Positive Feedback from Your Employer
Another sign is getting lots of positive feedback from your employer. Feedback is great in that it can offer you learning experiences, helping you to improve upon your skills and knowledge and allowing you to be better at your job. As you perfect your skills, that feedback will start to shift and no longer be constructive (helping you to improve); instead, it will be all positive. That can feel great, obviously, but then the question remains – what can you possibly learn and improve upon?
You Can Take on Additional Tasks with Ease
Multi-tasking is something that pretty much every job requires you to do. When you first start, multi-tasking can be enough to send you into a panic, especially in a fast-paced environment. If you’ve now reached the point where you are offering to take on extra work because you feel bored and have extra time, this is another huge sign it’s time for a leadership role. Think back to when you first started your job and imagine being able to juggle all the tasks and projects you do now. There’s a good chance it would have overwhelmed you back then.
You Don’t Require the Same Supervision
Often when new projects or assignments are given, there is a certain level of supervision that is required. Over time, as you build your skills, you’ll probably start to see that level of supervision drop. Eventually, it can get to the point where there is little to no supervision at all, as you are just trusted with the task at hand and can handle it with ease.
Your Skills and Experience No Longer Match with Your Job
If you’ve reached the point where your skills and experience no longer match your current job requirements, this is another red flag. It means you’ve outgrown your position and you are now underutilised. This is also a natural progression, as you should be learning on the job, and you should be expanding your skillset.
You Want to Make More Money
Money isn’t always the determining factor when it comes to your job, but let’s face it, money plays a role. You want to be compensated fairly and you want to make enough money to enjoy the lifestyle you envisioned. Getting a leadership role in the education sector will no doubt result in a pay increase, which can be a huge motivator. This is especially true if you’ve reached the ceiling in terms of salary for your current job.
You Feel Like You Can Inspire People
Good leaders can inspire a team and lead them with confidence. This is something that not everyone possesses, but if it sounds like you then you are likely destined for a more senior-level position.
Your Communication Skills Are Superb
Speaking of good leaders, you’ll also need excellent communication skills – reading, writing and speaking – to move into a senior role. The good thing about communication skills is that this is something that can be learned and improved upon. So even if they aren’t excellent yet, you can work on getting to that point.
What’s Your Plan to Move Up the Career Ladder?
So, what happens if you’ve recognised all the above-mentioned signs and you’re convinced you’re ready for a leadership role in the education sector? How do you turn that goal into a reality? There are a few steps you’re going to need to take, but most experts would agree you start with furthering your education.
An online masters degree in education can be achieved through a school such as the University of Exeter and will give you the foundation you need to succeed. This kind of programme is meant for those who already have a background in education and are now interested in a management or leadership position. Depending on your current job and employer, you may also need to find a new employer as you may not have opportunities in your current setting.
It can also be very helpful to speak to your employer, let them know you want a leadership role and ask them how you can make it happen. It may be that you need to learn additional skills, gain more experience in a particular area, or work in another job first. At the very least, it will offer insight that you can put to good use.
If any of these signs sound familiar and describe how you’re feeling and what you’re experiencing in your job, then there’s a good chance you’re ready for a leadership role in the education sector. It’s all about living up to your full potential.
