C1. Hold High Standards – Coach and Practice
This behaviour develops a leader’s ability to make high expectations visible, consistent, and non-negotiable in daily practice.
Behaviour focus
Helping leaders ensure that everyone understands and upholds shared standards of behaviour, work, and conduct.
Purpose
To create clarity and consistency across teams by ensuring expectations are explicit, modelled, and reinforced every day.
| Action Steps | Key Questions | Practice |
| Define what high standards look like. | What does excellent look like for this routine, behaviour, or piece of work? | Ask the leader to identify one area (e.g. uniform, punctuality, or presentation) and write a clear description of what meeting the standard looks like. Rehearse explaining it to staff or students in one sentence. |
| Make standards visible. | How can you make these expectations impossible to miss? | Practise scripting a short briefing or corridor conversation that reinforces standards using consistent, precise language. |
| Model and reinforce consistently. | What does your behaviour teach others about what matters? | Practise a scenario where expectations have slipped slightly. Practise calmly resetting them without frustration. |
| Recognise and celebrate adherence. | How will you highlight when standards are met? | Ask the leader to plan one visible recognition this week, such as praising a class or colleague who consistently meets expectations. |