Your budget's been slashed, three teachers have resigned, parents are complaining about the new timetable, and someone's asking about your five-year strategic plan. Sound familiar? This episode tackles the leadership trap that stops brilliant school leaders from making real progress: abandoning long-term thinking the moment a crisis hits. Shane explores why waiting for things to calm down before thinking strategically means you'll be waiting forever, and why firefighting mode becomes a dangerous default that creates more problems than it solves. You'll learn the three anchors that keep strategic leaders grounded during chaos: identifying your non-negotiables (three to five things that don't change no matter what), asking one weekly question that maintains forward momentum, and conducting a monthly review that prevents short-term decisions from creating long-term disasters. Shane shares research showing that 75% of change initiatives fail not because ideas were poor, but because organisations revert to short-term thinking under pressure. If you're exhausted from constant crisis management but frustrated that nothing's actually changing in your school, this episode will show you how to lead strategically even when everything feels urgent. Resources & Links Mentioned:FCLT Global and Harvard Law School Corporate Governance Forum researchMcKinsey 2017 study on long-term thinkingBoston Consulting Group research on organisational change Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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LIVE | November Reflections
This month's Education Leaders LIVE brings together the big themes from November's episodes. Chris and Shane dig into what trust actually looks like in schools, why the shift from scrutiny to development matters so much, and whether leaders at trust level can genuinely connect with classroom teachers. The conversation around Sam Gibbs' episode sparks a proper debate about loss aversion and what happens when teachers stop putting themselves out there because they're tired of being judged. There's also honest reflection on Jo Robinson's coaching insights and what it means to be proactive rather than reactive as a leader.The discussion gets particularly real when they tackle the "have you got a moment" problem. Is it selfish to protect your focus time? How do you balance being available with actually getting strategic work done? Chris and Shane explore the tension between open-door policies and the reality that leaders need thinking space too. Plus, they revisit Maureen and James' work on student leadership and why we shouldn't treat leadership as something kids either have or don't.Episodes discussed:Teaching Leadership Through Curriculum with James Simons and Maureen ChapmanHave You Got A Moment?Coaching For School Leaders with Jo RobinsonHow to Trust Your Teachers with Sam GibbsJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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How to Trust Your Teachers | A Conversation with Sam Gibbs
When Sam Gibbs asked, "Are we any further forward in honestly trusting the teaching profession?", she hit on something uncomfortable. In too many schools, we've slipped into what Sam calls toxic accountability. Sam, Director of Education at Greater Manchester Education Trust and co-author of The Trouble With English, argues that school leaders need to start from one simple assumption: teachers are professionals who want to do right by children. This conversation gets into why we've become unhealthily dependent on external products, how to use evidence without ignoring what teachers know works in their classrooms, and why that matters for actually changing practice. You'll hear why buying a programme before identifying your real problem creates dependency, how Sam's trust builds internal expertise through "mindful practice", and what it means to create a culture where teachers actually think, reflect, collaborate, learn, and develop. Shane and Sam discuss how narrow definitions of excellence hinder schools, why a chat over the kettle can be more effective than another external training session, and how to work with consultants without relying on them indefinitely. If you're trying to build professional development that doesn't just disappear after the initial excitement, this conversation provides a starting point. Resources & Links Mentioned:Sam Gibbs on LinkedInTrust Wide CPD Leaders NetworkThe Trouble With English and How to Address It (Routledge, 2022) Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Coaching For School Leaders | A Conversation with Joanne Robinson
When Jo Robinson joins Shane, they focus on a simple, urgent problem: too much of what passes for professional development in schools is one-off, inspirational, and then forgotten. Jo — Chief Programmes Officer at the International Centre for Coaching in Education — gives school leaders practical steps to move from occasional workshops to coaching-led development that actually improves teaching and retention. You’ll learn concrete moves you can make straight away: how to replace single observation feedback with short coaching conversations, how to set small monitored goals that staff will actually keep, and how to gather a fuller picture of practice by triangulating evidence rather than relying on one visit. Shane and Jo discuss examples from international schools, the role of accredited coaching programmes for leaders, and simple templates you can adopt this term to protect staff time while growing expertise. Press play if you want a practical plan for making leadership development stick. Resources & Links Mentioned: International Centre for Coaching in Education (ICCE)Joanne Robinson on LinkedInEEF Guidance: Effective Professional Development (practical evidence for PD design) Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Have You Got a Moment?
When someone says “have you got a moment?” your instinct might be to say yes — and then lose 20 minutes, your focus and whatever calm you had left. This solo episode shows you a practical, repeatable way to handle those knocks so you protect your attention and still serve your team. Shane introduces the five-second “doorway decision”, explains how essentialist thinking underpins the approach, and shows how to set a clear 15-minute container for short conversations so they’re focused and useful. You’ll learn a three-step routine you can use the next time someone appears at your door: pause and assess (can you really give them what they need?), set the container (time, outcome, exit strategy) and stay curious rather than rushing to solve. Shane gives exact phrases (for example, “I’ve got 15 minutes now — let’s work out the next step; if we need more time we’ll book it”) and shows how to close with a clear summary, next action and follow-up — so impromptu chats become actionable. This episode uses real school examples (Rachel, a head of year) and short coaching tools you can practise this week. Resources & Links Mentioned:Previous episode: “How To Lead Without Being Needed” (Brett Griffin conversation)Greg McKeown — Essentialism (book / author referenced)Michael Bungay Stanier — The Coaching Habit (book / author referenced) Episode PartnersInternational Centre for Coaching in Education (Use discount code SHANE5 for 5% off)International Curriculum AssociationJoin Shane's Intensive Leadership Programme at educationleaders.co/intensiveShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports school leaders globally. Passionate about empowment, he is the author of the best-selling 'Change Starts Here.' Shane is a leading educational voice in the UK, Asia and around the world.You can find Shane on LinkedIn and Bluesky. or shaneleaning.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership
Strategic school leadership insights for education leaders who want to drive meaningful change and build thriving school communities.What if the most powerful leadership strategies were hiding in plain sight? Education Leaders uncovers the evidence-based approaches that separate truly effective school leaders from the rest. Through compelling interviews and strategic deep-dives, organisational coach Shane Leaning reveals the real challenges facing today's education leaders, and the practical solutions that actually work.Every other Tuesday, discover how renowned educators and thought leaders tackle school improvement, staff development, and cultural transformation. You'll learn actionable strategies you can implement immediately to build confidence in your leadership and create lasting impact in your school community.On alternate weeks, Shane delivers focused episodes that address the leadership challenges you face daily: managing diverse teams, driving innovation, building organisational identity, and implementing sustainable change. Each episode offers clear, research-backed frameworks for developing your leadership capacity.Whether you're a department head questioning your next move, an assistant principal navigating complexities of a big team, or a superintendent driving district-wide change, Education Leaders provides the strategic insights you need to lead with confidence.Consistently ranked #1 schools podcast in Education category across multiple regions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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