Education Leaders | Strategic School Leadership

When Dr. Tamara Yuill Proctor began researching curriculum integration at secondary level, she quickly discovered that successful change wasn't really about curriculum at all. It was about understanding the character and culture of the school first: the people, their capacity, the school's history, and what the community actually needs. In this conversation, Tam shares findings from her doctoral research into how schools create meaningful change, focusing on a New Zealand school that hadn't changed its timetable in 25 years yet managed to transform its approach to learning. You'll learn why every change initiative Tam has led takes exactly six months for teachers to build the relational trust needed to collaborate effectively, how to balance being adaptable with staying mission-focused, and why "pockets of change" work better than whole-school transformation. Tam explains the critical role of middle leaders as conduits between vision and classroom practice, shares practical advice on giving teachers space to be frustrated during change, and reveals why clear learning outcomes matter more than rigid plans. If you're leading any kind of school change - whether curriculum redesign, new systems, or pedagogical shifts - this episode will help you understand why the human elements matter most. Resources & Links Mentioned:Tam on LinkedInUWC Changshu China 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.

Welcome to our December edition of Education Leaders LIVE, where Chris Scorer and Shane Leaning reflect on the month's episodes. This time we reviewed three conversations that sparked some genuine debate between us. From firefighting versus long-term thinking, to whether HR should serve leadership or staff (we still don't agree), to the fundamentals of building trust quickly. We also had a surprisingly heated discussion about whether bookshelves should be organised by colour or subject matter. Chris's Christmas wish for all educators? Switch off your computers and actually rest.This monthly live show is meant to be more than just Shane and Chris chatting. It's a conversation with you, our community. Join us on the last Thursday of every month at 6pm Shanghai time (10am UK) on LinkedIn Live, YouTube Live, or at educationleaders.live.Episodes DiscussedHow to Think Long Term When Everything's On Fire https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/137Ethical School Leadership | A Conversation with Dr. Yael Cass https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/138How to Build Leadership Trust https://shaneleaning.com/podcast/139Join 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.

Which breaks faster: trust in someone's competence or trust in their character? Shane explores Stephen Covey's framework that trust operates on two separate dimensions. Competence trust builds quickly through credentials, positions, and demonstrated capability, but character trust takes time to develop through consistent honesty and integrity. The crucial insight? While competence breaks slowly with each mistake being somewhat forgivable, character trust can shatter in a single moment. Shane shares a vulnerable story from his own leadership journey about a time he broke someone's trust and the lasting impact it had on that professional relationship. You'll learn a practical three-part transparency framework that builds character trust quickly whilst you're still establishing competence. Shane explains how to share your thinking process when uncertain, admit what you don't know whilst committing to find out, and explain your decisions even when they're unpopular. This approach doesn't just build trust faster, it protects you from appearing incompetent, reduces your cognitive load as a leader, and models the honest behaviour you want from your team. If you've ever worried about looking weak by admitting uncertainty, this episode will change how you approach leadership communication. Resources & Links Mentioned: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen CoveyEducation Leaders Intensive - 10-week leadership programme 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.

Compliance feels safer than ethics. You can tick the boxes, point to the policies, and stay in your head without engaging the emotional discomfort. But what if that's exactly the problem? In this episode, Dr Yael Cass introduces the concept of "compliance plus," a thoughtful, human-centred approach that brings intention and reflection into the systems schools rely on. Yael explains why international schools often have confusing organisational structures that look like "a bowl of spaghetti," why we still call operational professionals "support staff," and how the lack of clear systems triggers what she calls organisational sensemaking, where people start thinking about threats to themselves rather than collective goals. You'll learn why job descriptions in most schools haven't been reviewed in years even though roles have completely evolved, how professional development decisions are often made based on visibility or personal rapport with leadership rather than clear criteria, and why giving HR real strategic authority could reduce the overwhelming administrative load on principals and heads of school. Yael shares practical steps: look for gaps between what's written and what's actually happening, audit one area like recruitment for alignment with your values, and send an anonymous survey asking whether your appraisal system actually supports people or just ticks boxes. This conversation challenges how you think about structure, fairness, and what it means to build a workplace where the people who serve your students can actually flourish. Resources & Links Mentioned:Dr Yael Cass and NexGen Talent GroupDr Yael Cass on LinkedInEpisode 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.

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.