October Matters

Why the Slump Hits Hard and How Principals Can Lead Through It

We all know October is a hard month in education. The energy from the start of the year is gone, the work has piled up, and the first major school break is weeks away. For principals, surviving the month means understanding the pressures and making small, intentional shifts to reinforce our collective purpose. Let's examine why October can feel discouraging and explore ways to address it.

1. The End of the Honeymoon 

The strict school rules set in August start to wear thin. Kids feel comfortable enough to test limits, leading to more discipline issues. This means teachers spend less time teaching and more time managing behavior. Your schedule fills up with behavior support, taking you away from other priorities.

Try Purposeful Praise

In a month where everyone's focused on what's wrong, focus on what's right. Spend ten minutes a day finding a teacher or staff member who is simply doing the quiet, good work—like using a significant transition or maintaining a calm routine. Tell them: "What you just did is a perfect example of our school's core value of consistency. Thank you for making our purpose visible." This validates the immense energy they spend on the everyday, shifting the focus from crisis management to competence.

2. The Workload Plateau 

October brings a pile-up of mandatory tasks: first report cards, testing deadlines, and parent-teacher conference schedules. The sheer volume of paperwork and planning eats up everyone's time, creating a feeling of endless, exhausting work.

Try Visible, Silent Presence

Your staff needs mental quiet, but they also need to see you in control. Designate two-minute periods each day where you are highly visible in a common area, but commit to quiet engagement during this time: no phone calls, no urgent questions, no critiques. Just stand, observe, and offer a nod or a simple smile. Your stillness becomes an emotional anchor, signaling, "I've got the perimeter, you just focus on your next step." This models calm leadership without demanding any verbal or emotional energy from an exhausted staff. 

3. The Morale Drain 

Reality hits hard for teachers in October. When they see routines fail or students struggle, they often start blaming themselves. This drop in confidence, paired with fatigue, makes them question their career choice and fuels burnout.

Try A Shared Struggle Check-In

When morale is low, people often feel isolated and disconnected. Your genuine honesty is a powerful tool. In a quick staff message or morning announcement, acknowledge the difficulty of the season out loud: "I'll be honest, this is a heavy month. I felt the slump myself walking in this morning, and I know you're all carrying a lot of weight right now." By acknowledging the struggle, you validate their exhaustion. Then, immediately connect it back to the mission: "But we're here for the kids, and that shared purpose sustains us. Let's commit to helping each other this week." This model of real, purpose-driven leadership permits them to be human.

4. The Absence of a Break 

October is often a long, unbroken stretch of full weeks. There's no major school-wide day off for anyone to rest and reset before Thanksgiving.

Try A Weekend Rest Mandate

Dedicated staff often feel too guilty to take the rest they desperately need. They need permission from you. Institute a "Digital Sabbath." Send a clear message that from a specific time, Friday afternoon until Monday morning, there is no expectation of a reply to any work email or message. If you must send an email over the weekend, use the "Schedule Send" function so it arrives Monday morning. This mandates the rest and sends a powerful, purpose-driven message that their long-term health is essential for the school's success.

October is a profound test of leadership. Making small, intentional shifts in your focus and schedule can help. Actively demonstrating to your staff that their well-being is directly tied to the school's success allows them to feel valued and appreciated during a challenging month. Your commitment to these purpose-driven shifts is what will sustain your team, ensuring that when the excitement of the new year fades, the strength of your leadership endures. Go lead with purpose.