Leadership

Our advice is not nearly as good as we think it is. Take a moment and reflect on that statement. These words come from the fabulous book, The Advice Trap by Michael Bungay Stanier and in his opnion, that is the trouble with giving advice and offering solutions to other people’s problems.

But we all do it, we hear half a problem and in no time we are jumping in with advice. Good, well meaning advice no doubt, but advice unlikely to have the impact we think that it should. Instead, he suggests th…

Leadership, like life, is simply a series of moments, and every moment gives you the opportunity to leave a positive legacy for those around you.

What is the legacy you will leave when you leave your current position?

What will you be remembered for, or better still, what do you want to be remembered for?

What are the values, customs, traditions or ways of working that will exist beyond you because they have become the fabric of the organisation?

I think if I had my leadership time again I…

When I was a very young teacher working in a tiny school, it became obvious that there was something dodgy about my principal and his use of school money. Put simply, he was in personal financial strife - robbing Peter to pay Paul and he was using the school’s checkbook to pay personal accounts in the town. As I was the 2nd signatory to the account, more than once I was asked to sign a blank cheque. I may have only been in my early 20s but I knew that that wasn't right and I sought some advice f…

Where culture and strategy go to die

Do you plan to create real change in your school? Maybe you have a cracking strategy based on research that you just know will turn your data around. Or maybe you are striving to build a culture that promotes collaboration, deprivitisation and growth mindset.

Good on you!

How’s that working for you?

Change not happening as fast as you want it to? Alignment with the vision actually looks like exhausted teachers nodding at staff meetings and then doing what…

What is your motive for leadership?

1. You want the responsibility for serving others. Do hard things to benefit others.
2. You want the rewards that leadership brings. It’s good for me and I deserve it.

Patrick Lencioni says, Servant Leadership – is the only reason you should lead.

Not subservient leadership.

Not wobbly boundaries where everyone’s needs are served except yours.

But servant leadership. Being of service and in service to benefit the aims of the organisation.

If you are not a…

Recently I was asked to facilitate a panel for Catholic Women in Education and the topic was How to Be a Person of Influence. Below is my presentation.

When we talk about the ability to influence people or what it takes to be a person of influence it often feels a little coercive as if you're trying to persuade people to do something that they are not necessarily comfortable with. The curious thing about influence though is that it cannot be achieved through intimidation and coercion you get co…

Upon reflecting recently, I felt that my coaching had become a bit stale of late. My own coach had given me feedback, modelled some awesome strategies and reignited a spark.

I went back to some of my valued texts (both on leadership and coaching) and reminded myself of things I had forgotten.

And then, quite by accident on a podcast, I heard the quote:

"Coach the person, not the problem"

I had become lazy and slipped into problem-solving instead of coaching!!!

I often talk about not…

Hey there - how are you doing? What is bringing you joy at the moment?

I listened to Tarana Burke - author and founder of the #metoo movement, and she reminded me that you could feel great joy and great sorrow or pain simultaneously.  (Ever laughed at a funeral??)

Whilst I embed wellbeing and positivity in my teaching, it's not because I want you to run around pumping sunshine and engaging in toxic positivity. My biz is called Positively Beaming, for all sorts of subtle reasons, but NONE of th…