Welcome to The Flourishing Teacher's Field Guide.

This week, we're exploring how tiny achievements can transform your confidence and revolutionise your wellbeing. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by standing in from of a class and doubted your classroom confidence, this one's for you!

Let's jump in...

Why Do Teachers Struggle To Feel Confident?

You know that feeling when a lesson goes perfectly? When every student is engaged, learning flows naturally, and you feel like you're absolutely nailing it?

Those moments are magical. It makes you feel like you’re making a real difference. But they can also feel few and far between.

More often, we're caught up in the daily whirlwind of teaching, focusing on what went wrong rather than celebrating what went right.

I used to think my confidence (and, if I’m being honest, my self-worth) came from big achievements - outstanding observations, excellent exam results, and glowing parent feedback. 

But it took something close to a major breakdown to realise I was wrong. Chasing these major wins left me feeling constantly inadequate, exhausted and, frankly, like a bit of a stranger to myself.

Things changed when I discovered the concept of micromastery, developed by Robert Twigger.

There’s a link to his in-depth article on the subject here.

It didn’t cure my lack of confidence overnight, but it gave me a framework to build on, and that’s when change really started.

As we outlined in our "From Crisis to Confidence" issue, building self-belief is crucial for teacher wellbeing. 

Micromastery offers a practical approach by focusing on small, achievable wins. Here’s how to make those wins happen…

3 Evidence-Based Strategies For Building Self-Belief Through Quick Wins

1. The "15-Minute Skill Sprint"

Choose a different non-teaching skill to master each week. The key is that it must be completely unrelated to your professional life - this is about personal growth and teacher wellbeing, not professional development.

How it works:

• Dedicate just 15 minutes daily to practising your chosen skill

• Focus on something concrete and achievable

• Celebrate visible progress

You might learn to juggle three balls, master a perfect French press coffee, or fold origami cranes. The thing itself isn’t as important as the achievement when it comes to boosting your confidence.

Research shows that experiencing regular achievement, even in small areas, boosts overall confidence and resilience (Bandura, 2010). These small wins create a positive feedback loop that helps reduce stress and prevent teacher burnout. 

2. The "Competence Journal"

This isn't another time-consuming task - it's a 2-minute daily practice that can transform your self-perception and improve your confidence and work-life balance.

Daily process:

• Note one small thing you did well

• Record one tiny skill improvement

• Acknowledge one moment of progress

The key is specificity. Instead of "Good lesson today," write "Successfully explained fractions using pizza slices." As we discussed in "Turbo-Charge Your Teaching Mindset", this kind of positive self-talk is crucial for maintaining emotional wellbeing.

Studies indicate that documenting small achievements significantly improves self-efficacy and work satisfaction (Seligman, 2018).

3. "Skill Stacking" For Confidence

Alright, this is the big one. 

Take your small mastered skills and deliberately combine them to build larger competencies. This approach makes daunting challenges feel manageable and builds sustainable confidence without contributing to teacher burnout.

Example stack:

• Basic juggling → classroom movement

• Voice projection → storytelling

• Time management → lesson pacing

Research by Scott Adams suggests that every skill you acquire doubles your chances of success. By consciously stacking small competencies, you create unique combinations that enhance both your teaching and personal growth.

Remember: confidence isn't about being perfect. As we explored in "Stop Giving Your Wellbeing Away", it's about recognizing your progress and trusting in your ability to keep growing, one small win at a time.

What Are You Waiting For?

We believe that teachers achieve extraordinary things under challenging circumstances and that we all deserve to be valued, supported and celebrated.

That's what this newsletter is all about.

If you haven't subscribed yet, why not join the Marigold community? You'll get weekly strategies for sustaining your wellbeing, avoiding burnout and flourishing as a person, not just a teacher.

And best of all?

It's free and always will be.

You can find out more about what to expect in this weekly newsletter here, or just go straight to our sign-up form.

Thank You For All You Do

You’re an awesome teacher - and if you don’t always feel confident in the classroom, that’s totally normal. 

Just know that you can feel more confident if you take the time to make it happen.

Your journey to confidence doesn't need to be overwhelming. Every small skill you master, every tiny win you acknowledge, contributes to your growth as both a teacher and a person.

You're doing incredible work, even when you can't see it. Start celebrating those micro-achievements - they're the building blocks of lasting confidence and sustainable teacher wellbeing.

Here's a quick reminder of our micromastery strategies:

Remember, you're more than your marking, your lesson observations and your planning.

You're you. And that's all you need to be.