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
AI is getting weird. Just got sent this…
November 29, 2025 at 4:37 PM
AI is getting weird. Just got sent this…
How do you know if you've moved from healthy accountability into toxic control?
Sam and I unpacked this and it got me thinking about my own practice.
buff.ly/AmNrpoo
Sam and I unpacked this and it got me thinking about my own practice.
buff.ly/AmNrpoo
November 29, 2025 at 9:38 AM
How do you know if you've moved from healthy accountability into toxic control?
Sam and I unpacked this and it got me thinking about my own practice.
buff.ly/AmNrpoo
Sam and I unpacked this and it got me thinking about my own practice.
buff.ly/AmNrpoo
Quick fixes in schools are like payday loans. Immediate relief, but the interest compounds.
Each initiative spends trust. Parents notice. Teachers notice.
Before long, your crisis response becomes the crisis.
Each initiative spends trust. Parents notice. Teachers notice.
Before long, your crisis response becomes the crisis.
November 28, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Quick fixes in schools are like payday loans. Immediate relief, but the interest compounds.
Each initiative spends trust. Parents notice. Teachers notice.
Before long, your crisis response becomes the crisis.
Each initiative spends trust. Parents notice. Teachers notice.
Before long, your crisis response becomes the crisis.
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Most leadership programmes have the same problem.
They teach you to think strategically. To be transformational. To lead with vision.
All brilliant stuff. In theory.
And yet this is what actually happens after the courses: 🧵
They teach you to think strategically. To be transformational. To lead with vision.
All brilliant stuff. In theory.
And yet this is what actually happens after the courses: 🧵
November 27, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Most leadership programmes have the same problem.
They teach you to think strategically. To be transformational. To lead with vision.
All brilliant stuff. In theory.
And yet this is what actually happens after the courses: 🧵
They teach you to think strategically. To be transformational. To lead with vision.
All brilliant stuff. In theory.
And yet this is what actually happens after the courses: 🧵
2 days at NESSIC Leadership conference. Talked crisis leadership, signed books, had honest conversations about the gap between looking calm and feeling overwhelmed.
Bilingual schools in China are changing faster than anywhere I’ve seen.
Bilingual schools in China are changing faster than anywhere I’ve seen.
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 AM
2 days at NESSIC Leadership conference. Talked crisis leadership, signed books, had honest conversations about the gap between looking calm and feeling overwhelmed.
Bilingual schools in China are changing faster than anywhere I’ve seen.
Bilingual schools in China are changing faster than anywhere I’ve seen.
Every change starts with someone's perception of a problem. Problem is, we often treat perceptions like facts and leap straight to solutions before we've even agreed what we're fixing.
November 25, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Every change starts with someone's perception of a problem. Problem is, we often treat perceptions like facts and leap straight to solutions before we've even agreed what we're fixing.
One clear insight from Jo: coaching builds your “curiosity muscles” — leaders who coach get richer evidence than a single lesson observation. We talk about practical tools you can use tomorrow. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
#CoachingCulture
#CoachingCulture
November 24, 2025 at 9:38 AM
One clear insight from Jo: coaching builds your “curiosity muscles” — leaders who coach get richer evidence than a single lesson observation. We talk about practical tools you can use tomorrow. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
#CoachingCulture
#CoachingCulture
Jo said: “Coaching is an ongoing, careful professional reflection.” That line reframed how I think about retention, leadership pipelines and small changes that actually stick. We unpack what that looks like in school. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
#TeacherDevelopment
#TeacherDevelopment
November 23, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Jo said: “Coaching is an ongoing, careful professional reflection.” That line reframed how I think about retention, leadership pipelines and small changes that actually stick. We unpack what that looks like in school. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
#TeacherDevelopment
#TeacherDevelopment
Behind the mic: Jo’s work on postgraduate programmes and ILM coaching informed the whole convo — we talked about designing school-specific coaching, protecting time for conversations, and practical next steps. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
November 22, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Behind the mic: Jo’s work on postgraduate programmes and ILM coaching informed the whole convo — we talked about designing school-specific coaching, protecting time for conversations, and practical next steps. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
I hoard conference stuff because once I own it, it feels valuable even when it's not.
Schools do this with initiatives.
Old programme clearly broken? "We've put time into it."
New idea? "Current way's fine."
You can't see what you own clearly anymore.
Recognise this? What are you defending?
Schools do this with initiatives.
Old programme clearly broken? "We've put time into it."
New idea? "Current way's fine."
You can't see what you own clearly anymore.
Recognise this? What are you defending?
November 21, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I hoard conference stuff because once I own it, it feels valuable even when it's not.
Schools do this with initiatives.
Old programme clearly broken? "We've put time into it."
New idea? "Current way's fine."
You can't see what you own clearly anymore.
Recognise this? What are you defending?
Schools do this with initiatives.
Old programme clearly broken? "We've put time into it."
New idea? "Current way's fine."
You can't see what you own clearly anymore.
Recognise this? What are you defending?
What if PD fails because we stop at the workshop? Jo shares real examples of schools that rebuilt practice by adding short coaching cycles and simple reflection prompts. We unpack where follow-through actually lives. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
November 20, 2025 at 8:38 AM
What if PD fails because we stop at the workshop? Jo shares real examples of schools that rebuilt practice by adding short coaching cycles and simple reflection prompts. We unpack where follow-through actually lives. buff.ly/O6zSYXd
You can't persuade someone with authority alone. Especially not teachers.
Cialdini's persuasion principles remind us: people respond to reciprocity, not rank.
Have you genuinely helped someone before asking them to change? That's where influence actually lives.
Cialdini's persuasion principles remind us: people respond to reciprocity, not rank.
Have you genuinely helped someone before asking them to change? That's where influence actually lives.
November 17, 2025 at 9:38 AM
You can't persuade someone with authority alone. Especially not teachers.
Cialdini's persuasion principles remind us: people respond to reciprocity, not rank.
Have you genuinely helped someone before asking them to change? That's where influence actually lives.
Cialdini's persuasion principles remind us: people respond to reciprocity, not rank.
Have you genuinely helped someone before asking them to change? That's where influence actually lives.
I recorded this episode from an airport, which felt right — constant noise, constant requests. It’s about managing interruptions without guilt (and without losing your head).
buff.ly/MJJfefO
buff.ly/MJJfefO
November 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
I recorded this episode from an airport, which felt right — constant noise, constant requests. It’s about managing interruptions without guilt (and without losing your head).
buff.ly/MJJfefO
buff.ly/MJJfefO
Next Monday: Dr James Mannion joins our forum to talk about slice teams - a better alternative to top-down change that actually gets buy-in.
Different voices at the table. Real decisions together.
Interested? Comment and I'll send you details.
Different voices at the table. Real decisions together.
Interested? Comment and I'll send you details.
November 14, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Next Monday: Dr James Mannion joins our forum to talk about slice teams - a better alternative to top-down change that actually gets buy-in.
Different voices at the table. Real decisions together.
Interested? Comment and I'll send you details.
Different voices at the table. Real decisions together.
Interested? Comment and I'll send you details.
If you ever end a corridor chat wondering what you just agreed to, this one’s for you.
We explore how to set clear “containers” so every quick talk leads somewhere useful.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#LeadershipDevelopment
We explore how to set clear “containers” so every quick talk leads somewhere useful.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#LeadershipDevelopment
November 13, 2025 at 8:38 AM
If you ever end a corridor chat wondering what you just agreed to, this one’s for you.
We explore how to set clear “containers” so every quick talk leads somewhere useful.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#LeadershipDevelopment
We explore how to set clear “containers” so every quick talk leads somewhere useful.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#LeadershipDevelopment
Interruptions aren’t the problem — how we respond is. I talked about the small doorway habit that turns chaos into clarity and protects your thinking time.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#EducationalLeadership
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#EducationalLeadership
November 12, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Interruptions aren’t the problem — how we respond is. I talked about the small doorway habit that turns chaos into clarity and protects your thinking time.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#EducationalLeadership
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#EducationalLeadership
Someone says, “Got a moment?” and suddenly your day’s gone. In this episode, I share the simple 5-second pause that stopped me reacting to every knock and let me lead with intention.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#SchoolLeadership
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#SchoolLeadership
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Someone says, “Got a moment?” and suddenly your day’s gone. In this episode, I share the simple 5-second pause that stopped me reacting to every knock and let me lead with intention.
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#SchoolLeadership
buff.ly/MJJfefO
#SchoolLeadership
Amy Edmondson found that the best hospital teams made MORE mistakes than average teams.
Except they didn't. They just felt safe enough to report them.
If your staff aren't flagging problems, it's not because everything's fine. It's because they don't feel safe speaking up.
#EduSky
Except they didn't. They just felt safe enough to report them.
If your staff aren't flagging problems, it's not because everything's fine. It's because they don't feel safe speaking up.
#EduSky
November 11, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Amy Edmondson found that the best hospital teams made MORE mistakes than average teams.
Except they didn't. They just felt safe enough to report them.
If your staff aren't flagging problems, it's not because everything's fine. It's because they don't feel safe speaking up.
#EduSky
Except they didn't. They just felt safe enough to report them.
If your staff aren't flagging problems, it's not because everything's fine. It's because they don't feel safe speaking up.
#EduSky
Just finished Growth Talk by John Campbell and Chris Munro on my flight back to Shanghai.
If you're a leader who wants better everyday conversations (not formal coaching, just actual useful chats), this is it.
Even has a checklist I'm printing for my desk.
If you're a leader who wants better everyday conversations (not formal coaching, just actual useful chats), this is it.
Even has a checklist I'm printing for my desk.
November 10, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Just finished Growth Talk by John Campbell and Chris Munro on my flight back to Shanghai.
If you're a leader who wants better everyday conversations (not formal coaching, just actual useful chats), this is it.
Even has a checklist I'm printing for my desk.
If you're a leader who wants better everyday conversations (not formal coaching, just actual useful chats), this is it.
Even has a checklist I'm printing for my desk.
In a hotel in Bangkok. Hotel room TV. UK news channels: no BBC, no SKY, just this 😳
I watched for five minutes and got too angry at the nonsense
I watched for five minutes and got too angry at the nonsense
November 9, 2025 at 2:57 AM
In a hotel in Bangkok. Hotel room TV. UK news channels: no BBC, no SKY, just this 😳
I watched for five minutes and got too angry at the nonsense
I watched for five minutes and got too angry at the nonsense
Most school change dies because we rush to solutions.
Yesterday at Festival of Education: introduced the double diamond model. Expand thinking, align on goal, expand solutions, then act.
The "what else?" question changes everything.
Yesterday at Festival of Education: introduced the double diamond model. Expand thinking, align on goal, expand solutions, then act.
The "what else?" question changes everything.
November 9, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Most school change dies because we rush to solutions.
Yesterday at Festival of Education: introduced the double diamond model. Expand thinking, align on goal, expand solutions, then act.
The "what else?" question changes everything.
Yesterday at Festival of Education: introduced the double diamond model. Expand thinking, align on goal, expand solutions, then act.
The "what else?" question changes everything.
We map four classroom leadership roles: motivator, project manager, facilitator, and advocate. Which role would your quieter students try first? buff.ly/1UTmcTi
November 8, 2025 at 9:38 AM
We map four classroom leadership roles: motivator, project manager, facilitator, and advocate. Which role would your quieter students try first? buff.ly/1UTmcTi
Behind the mic: Maureen’s classroom moment stuck with me all week. A tiny story that gives you a ready-made activity. Hear it here: buff.ly/1UTmcTi
November 7, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Behind the mic: Maureen’s classroom moment stuck with me all week. A tiny story that gives you a ready-made activity. Hear it here: buff.ly/1UTmcTi