10 things I wish you knew about school leadership

The profession of teaching is an incredibly hard gig. The hours can be long and tough, the increased administrative burden takes us away from instruction time and the emotional labour and compassionate fatigue we experience from supporting the unique needs of every student takes its toll. Yet, despite these challenges, society often undervalues the profound impact we make.

So why do we do it? Because every day is an opportunity to create a meaningful impact for those in our stead. This has me wondering why people choose to lead in schools when the complexity of teaching alone is challenging enough. The answer is quite simple, really. In fact, it's the same: We want to create a meaningful impact for those in our stead. 

Leading a school, regardless of its size, sector, or state, can be a challenge. Each setting offers unique obstacles and opportunities. I can remember the first team I ever led. It was a small team of around 10 staff members. I had an assistant principal on the team for extra guidance and a strong culture already well established. How could I possibly undo the great work that had been done? Well, I somehow found a way. I was young, ambitious and probably a little overconfident. I missed (and overlooked) great advice that had been passed my way. I was the epitome of the Dunning-Kruger Effect. And this was my catalyst moment that made me realise I had so much to learn. 

Now, with over a decade of educational leadership experience and three master's degrees, I can confidently report that I still have so much left to learn. Thankfully, in the years that have passed since that moment, I have become much more receptive to feedback and open to new perspectives, and my curiosity for understanding how to lead effectively is stronger than ever. I’ve also been fortunate enough to facilitate leadership workshops with over five hundred school leaders in the last three years. This blog post is an accumulation of shared knowledge and wisdom I have gained that best supports effective leadership in schools. With that said, here are 10 things I wish you knew about school leadership…

1. Relationships Over Rules

   Building strong, trust-based relationships with your team is more impactful than simply enforcing rules; people thrive when they feel valued and understood.

2. Sow Seeds, Don’t Expect Flowers Overnight

   Leadership takes time; cultivate growth and development in your team without expecting immediate results or recognition. 

3. Bring the Energy, Bring the Change

   Leadership requires energy—whether it’s enthusiasm, passion, or positivity. Your energy sets the tone for the entire team.

4. The Power of ‘We’ Over ‘Me’
   Collaboration and collective effort drive success. Leadership isn’t about being the hero, but empowering the whole team to succeed together.

5. Wellbeing Isn’t Optional

   Supporting the physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing of your staff is essential for creating a sustainable school environment.

6. Get curious, not furious

   Empathy allows leaders to better understand their team's needs, leading to more effective support and fostering a culture of care and mutual respect.

7. Play to Your Team’s Superpowers 

   Rather than always trying to fix weaknesses, invest in developing strengths; with the intention to build confidence and empower your team.

8. Pivot, Don’t Panic

   Flexibility in leadership is a superpower. Being able to adapt to shifting circumstances without losing momentum keeps the team resilient.

9. Simplify to Amplify

   The best leaders know how to simplify complex ideas, making them easier to understand and more impactful for their team.

10. Invest in the ‘Why,’ Not Just the ‘How’
    Understanding the purpose behind tasks and goals ignites passion and motivation, transforming routine work into meaningful action.

Leadership is a journey, it's not about perfection, just progress. No leader has all the answers, and there is no box we can check to say that we’ve mastered leadership. If you see growth for yourself in these areas, that’s brilliant. Leadership is about having the willingness to reflect and adapt as much as it is about guiding others. Great leaders are able to model this. This list represents the shared wisdom of so many incredible leaders yet it will also evolve. What other nuggets of wisdom would you add to the list?

Cheers,

Kerrin