Five years ago it seemed to me that I had the worse childcare team ever! In fact, there was gossiping, a lack of teamwork, poor morale and some of the teachers could not stand to work in the same room together.
Moreover, I was getting tired of putting out fires amongst the staff and quite frankly, I was getting tired of all the drama on my team. That’s when I decided to read the following books written by Leadership Guru John Maxwell:
- The Laws of Teamwork
- Winning with People
After reading both of those books, I was empowered to build the unity on my team, I developed a zero tolerance for gossip and the Status Quo change to—> Teamwork, Unity and Positive attitudes or work somewhere else!
Also, I decided to hold monthly staff potlucks and this really helped to create more unity amongst the staff. In fact, I noticed that the team appeared to care for one another and they began to work well together as a team.
If you are not already holding a staff potluck for your team, here is a great way to get started:
- Set a date for your potluck
- Hold the pot-luck when all staff are able to attend
- Create a sign-up sheet to invite all the staff members to bring their favorite dish
- Develop a staff code of: “Whatever we discuss at our potluck…stays at the pot-luck.”
- As you all enjoy food together, encourage the staff members to share something about themselves or their families. Most importantly, get them to laugh together!
Potlucks are also a great way to informally welcome a new staff member to your team. Be sure to only hold the pot-luck for a minimum of one hour and bring a sign-up sheet for the next pot-luck.
If you are not able to hold a monthly pot-luck, consider holding a potluck at least 4-6 times a years to give the staff a chance to fellowship and get to know one another. Bringing your staff together is a great way to re-build or maintain the unity on your team!
After all….for your peace of mind, it is very important that you promote unity and teamwork. If you are having difficulties managing staff, I have the perfect solution for you: Download my ebook, The Art of Owning a Center or a copy of The Director’s Handbook.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to
dwell together in unity.
Psalm 133:1
With Your Child Care Business in Mind,
Shiketa
The Child Care Business Owner Institute 
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