Shane Leaning
@shaneleaning.com
I help leaders build confident, high-impact schools - Best-selling author & chart-topping podcaster
Join my leadership intensive:
educationleaders.co/intensive
My book:
https://amzn.eu/d/e4z6Y2T
My podcast:
https://podfollow.com/educationleaders
Join my leadership intensive:
educationleaders.co/intensive
My book:
https://amzn.eu/d/e4z6Y2T
My podcast:
https://podfollow.com/educationleaders
Pinned
Leading as a Coach: A Two-Day Shanghai Workshop for School Leaders
Stop telling, start coaching. Two intensive days of hands-on practice to transform how you lead. 12 spots only. Shanghai, Feb 2026.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
School leaders in China: when did you last get proper face-to-face PD?
Running a two-day coaching workshop in Shanghai. Feb 27-28. 12 spots. Actual practice, not just theory.
If you keep giving answers instead of asking questions, this is for you.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
Running a two-day coaching workshop in Shanghai. Feb 27-28. 12 spots. Actual practice, not just theory.
If you keep giving answers instead of asking questions, this is for you.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
The loudest year of my life happened in my head.
December 31, 2025 at 9:38 AM
The loudest year of my life happened in my head.
The urge to find a fancy new planning app is strong right now. But I keep coming back to yellow paper and mind maps.
Sometimes the boring answer is the right one.
What works for you?
Sometimes the boring answer is the right one.
What works for you?
December 30, 2025 at 7:38 AM
The urge to find a fancy new planning app is strong right now. But I keep coming back to yellow paper and mind maps.
Sometimes the boring answer is the right one.
What works for you?
Sometimes the boring answer is the right one.
What works for you?
"Start with relationships, create pilots, stay anchored to purpose."
Tam's three things for leading school change are simple but not easy.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
Tam's three things for leading school change are simple but not easy.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
December 29, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"Start with relationships, create pilots, stay anchored to purpose."
Tam's three things for leading school change are simple but not easy.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
Tam's three things for leading school change are simple but not easy.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
Forbes list out today from Dan Fitzpatrick on AI podcasts in education. Education Leaders is #3 which surprised me.
I talk leadership, not tech. But maybe that's the point.
The human questions are often harder than the technical ones.
Cheers Dan.
www.forbes.com/sites/danfit...
I talk leadership, not tech. But maybe that's the point.
The human questions are often harder than the technical ones.
Cheers Dan.
www.forbes.com/sites/danfit...
www.forbes.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Forbes list out today from Dan Fitzpatrick on AI podcasts in education. Education Leaders is #3 which surprised me.
I talk leadership, not tech. But maybe that's the point.
The human questions are often harder than the technical ones.
Cheers Dan.
www.forbes.com/sites/danfit...
I talk leadership, not tech. But maybe that's the point.
The human questions are often harder than the technical ones.
Cheers Dan.
www.forbes.com/sites/danfit...
Can you copy a curriculum change from another school and expect it to work at yours?
Tam says no. Context matters. Character and culture come first.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
Tam says no. Context matters. Character and culture come first.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
December 28, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Can you copy a curriculum change from another school and expect it to work at yours?
Tam says no. Context matters. Character and culture come first.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
Tam says no. Context matters. Character and culture come first.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
Christmas holidays are for ‘What cupboard spice are you?’ quizzes.
December 28, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Christmas holidays are for ‘What cupboard spice are you?’ quizzes.
Dr. Tamara Yuill Proctor found that teachers need six months to build the relational trust for real collaboration.
Six months. Not weeks. That changed how I think about leading change.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
#SchoolLeadership
Six months. Not weeks. That changed how I think about leading change.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
#SchoolLeadership
School Character and Culture First — ShaneLeaning.com
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…
buff.ly
December 27, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Dr. Tamara Yuill Proctor found that teachers need six months to build the relational trust for real collaboration.
Six months. Not weeks. That changed how I think about leading change.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
#SchoolLeadership
Six months. Not weeks. That changed how I think about leading change.
buff.ly/ocDX1p0
#SchoolLeadership
Thank you.
That’s it. That’s the post.
To everyone who’s read something I’ve written, listened to the podcast, shown up to a workshop, or just said hello this year, I’m grateful for you.
Merry Christmas 🎄
That’s it. That’s the post.
To everyone who’s read something I’ve written, listened to the podcast, shown up to a workshop, or just said hello this year, I’m grateful for you.
Merry Christmas 🎄
December 25, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Thank you.
That’s it. That’s the post.
To everyone who’s read something I’ve written, listened to the podcast, shown up to a workshop, or just said hello this year, I’m grateful for you.
Merry Christmas 🎄
That’s it. That’s the post.
To everyone who’s read something I’ve written, listened to the podcast, shown up to a workshop, or just said hello this year, I’m grateful for you.
Merry Christmas 🎄
What a way to round off 2025...
Check out our final Coaching Done Well podcast of the year will the talented @mattteachcoach.bsky.social, author of Coaching Walkthrus (Teaching WalkThrus)
This conversation is a FEAST for anyone involved with coaching in schools!
Check out our final Coaching Done Well podcast of the year will the talented @mattteachcoach.bsky.social, author of Coaching Walkthrus (Teaching WalkThrus)
This conversation is a FEAST for anyone involved with coaching in schools!
The 98% Problem | A Conversation with Matt Stone
In this engaging conversation, Shane Leaning and Jim Thompson welcome Matt Stone, lead-author of Teaching Walkthrus to discuss the challenges and opportunities in coaching and education. They explore…
buff.ly
December 24, 2025 at 9:38 AM
What a way to round off 2025...
Check out our final Coaching Done Well podcast of the year will the talented @mattteachcoach.bsky.social, author of Coaching Walkthrus (Teaching WalkThrus)
This conversation is a FEAST for anyone involved with coaching in schools!
Check out our final Coaching Done Well podcast of the year will the talented @mattteachcoach.bsky.social, author of Coaching Walkthrus (Teaching WalkThrus)
This conversation is a FEAST for anyone involved with coaching in schools!
Recording this episode meant sharing a pretty vulnerable moment from my early leadership days.
Sometimes the best teaching comes from our mistakes.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Sometimes the best teaching comes from our mistakes.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
December 23, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Recording this episode meant sharing a pretty vulnerable moment from my early leadership days.
Sometimes the best teaching comes from our mistakes.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Sometimes the best teaching comes from our mistakes.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Your two weeks at Christmas won't fix your year.
Vacation wellbeing returns to baseline within 7 days of going back to work. The length of your break doesn't change the fade-out.
Regular recovery > rare recovery.
Vacation wellbeing returns to baseline within 7 days of going back to work. The length of your break doesn't change the fade-out.
Regular recovery > rare recovery.
December 22, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Your two weeks at Christmas won't fix your year.
Vacation wellbeing returns to baseline within 7 days of going back to work. The length of your break doesn't change the fade-out.
Regular recovery > rare recovery.
Vacation wellbeing returns to baseline within 7 days of going back to work. The length of your break doesn't change the fade-out.
Regular recovery > rare recovery.
"I don't know. Here's how I'll find out. Here's when I'll get back to you."
Three sentences that build more trust than pretending you have all the answers.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Three sentences that build more trust than pretending you have all the answers.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
December 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
"I don't know. Here's how I'll find out. Here's when I'll get back to you."
Three sentences that build more trust than pretending you have all the answers.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Three sentences that build more trust than pretending you have all the answers.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
To have someone who believes in you no matter what is a privilege. The last 2 years working independently have had highs (meaningful work) and lows (finances 😳) but through it all, Emma has been right there beside me.
Grateful for you. Happy Anniversary Emma, my world.
Grateful for you. Happy Anniversary Emma, my world.
December 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
To have someone who believes in you no matter what is a privilege. The last 2 years working independently have had highs (meaningful work) and lows (finances 😳) but through it all, Emma has been right there beside me.
Grateful for you. Happy Anniversary Emma, my world.
Grateful for you. Happy Anniversary Emma, my world.
Can you guess what the most used word on the podcast was this year?
No surprises here 😅
No surprises here 😅
December 20, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Can you guess what the most used word on the podcast was this year?
No surprises here 😅
No surprises here 😅
I broke a colleague's trust in one conversation and never repaired it.
Took years to build. Gone in minutes.
Here's the framework I use now to build character trust fast (even when I don't have all the answers):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9TA...
Took years to build. Gone in minutes.
Here's the framework I use now to build character trust fast (even when I don't have all the answers):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9TA...
How to Build Trust Fast When You Don't Have All the Answers
YouTube video by Shane Leaning
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:14 AM
I broke a colleague's trust in one conversation and never repaired it.
Took years to build. Gone in minutes.
Here's the framework I use now to build character trust fast (even when I don't have all the answers):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9TA...
Took years to build. Gone in minutes.
Here's the framework I use now to build character trust fast (even when I don't have all the answers):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9TA...
Stop saying "I'll think about it and get back to you."
Instead: walk people through your thinking, what you're weighing up, when you'll decide. Transparency builds character trust fast.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Instead: walk people through your thinking, what you're weighing up, when you'll decide. Transparency builds character trust fast.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
December 19, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Stop saying "I'll think about it and get back to you."
Instead: walk people through your thinking, what you're weighing up, when you'll decide. Transparency builds character trust fast.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Instead: walk people through your thinking, what you're weighing up, when you'll decide. Transparency builds character trust fast.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Emma organised my bookshelves by colour last month.
Chris Scorer disagreed. Publicly. While Emma was watching the LIVE show.
Her response: "If you don't know the colour of your book, you haven't looked at it closely enough"
The dinner invitation is officially in jeopardy.
youtu.be/IZjESZDqNv4
Chris Scorer disagreed. Publicly. While Emma was watching the LIVE show.
Her response: "If you don't know the colour of your book, you haven't looked at it closely enough"
The dinner invitation is officially in jeopardy.
youtu.be/IZjESZDqNv4
Books by COLOUR or Subject? School Leaders Debate
YouTube video by Shane Leaning
youtu.be
December 19, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Emma organised my bookshelves by colour last month.
Chris Scorer disagreed. Publicly. While Emma was watching the LIVE show.
Her response: "If you don't know the colour of your book, you haven't looked at it closely enough"
The dinner invitation is officially in jeopardy.
youtu.be/IZjESZDqNv4
Chris Scorer disagreed. Publicly. While Emma was watching the LIVE show.
Her response: "If you don't know the colour of your book, you haven't looked at it closely enough"
The dinner invitation is officially in jeopardy.
youtu.be/IZjESZDqNv4
Which breaks faster: trust in your competence or trust in your character?
Competence breaks slowly. Character shatters instantly. Once you understand this, you know exactly where to focus.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Competence breaks slowly. Character shatters instantly. Once you understand this, you know exactly where to focus.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
December 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Which breaks faster: trust in your competence or trust in your character?
Competence breaks slowly. Character shatters instantly. Once you understand this, you know exactly where to focus.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Competence breaks slowly. Character shatters instantly. Once you understand this, you know exactly where to focus.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
I broke someone's trust in an instant by sharing concerns with my line manager who then repeated them. Years of relationship building, gone.
Taught me everything about character vs competence trust.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Taught me everything about character vs competence trust.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
December 17, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I broke someone's trust in an instant by sharing concerns with my line manager who then repeated them. Years of relationship building, gone.
Taught me everything about character vs competence trust.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Taught me everything about character vs competence trust.
buff.ly/GM9Qiku
Thanks Jessica Wise and Jim Knight for including featuring our interview as one of your 2025 favourites. What an honour!
#ChangeStartsHere
buff.ly/vqThaqm
#ChangeStartsHere
buff.ly/vqThaqm
December 16, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Thanks Jessica Wise and Jim Knight for including featuring our interview as one of your 2025 favourites. What an honour!
#ChangeStartsHere
buff.ly/vqThaqm
#ChangeStartsHere
buff.ly/vqThaqm
School leaders in China: when did you last get proper face-to-face PD?
Running a two-day coaching workshop in Shanghai. Feb 27-28. 12 spots. Actual practice, not just theory.
If you keep giving answers instead of asking questions, this is for you.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
Running a two-day coaching workshop in Shanghai. Feb 27-28. 12 spots. Actual practice, not just theory.
If you keep giving answers instead of asking questions, this is for you.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
Leading as a Coach: A Two-Day Shanghai Workshop for School Leaders
Stop telling, start coaching. Two intensive days of hands-on practice to transform how you lead. 12 spots only. Shanghai, Feb 2026.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 9:38 AM
School leaders in China: when did you last get proper face-to-face PD?
Running a two-day coaching workshop in Shanghai. Feb 27-28. 12 spots. Actual practice, not just theory.
If you keep giving answers instead of asking questions, this is for you.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
Running a two-day coaching workshop in Shanghai. Feb 27-28. 12 spots. Actual practice, not just theory.
If you keep giving answers instead of asking questions, this is for you.
leadingasacoach.eventbrite.co.uk
Question for school leaders: when your staff resist your new initiative, are they being difficult?
Or are they just remembering the last three that failed? We're wired to resist change anyway. Add trauma from broken promises and resistance looks pretty rational.
#Leadership #EduSky
Or are they just remembering the last three that failed? We're wired to resist change anyway. Add trauma from broken promises and resistance looks pretty rational.
#Leadership #EduSky
December 14, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Question for school leaders: when your staff resist your new initiative, are they being difficult?
Or are they just remembering the last three that failed? We're wired to resist change anyway. Add trauma from broken promises and resistance looks pretty rational.
#Leadership #EduSky
Or are they just remembering the last three that failed? We're wired to resist change anyway. Add trauma from broken promises and resistance looks pretty rational.
#Leadership #EduSky