Shane Leaning
@shaneleaning.com
I help leaders grow 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
You default to telling because it feels faster. But it just makes you the bottleneck.
Two days in Shanghai (27-28 Feb) fixing that. 12 spots. 6 left. 80% practice, not theory. Early bird ends Friday.
buff.ly/LowOLnn
#Leadership #Coaching #EduSky
Two days in Shanghai (27-28 Feb) fixing that. 12 spots. 6 left. 80% practice, not theory. Early bird ends Friday.
buff.ly/LowOLnn
#Leadership #Coaching #EduSky
January 19, 2026 at 9:38 AM
You default to telling because it feels faster. But it just makes you the bottleneck.
Two days in Shanghai (27-28 Feb) fixing that. 12 spots. 6 left. 80% practice, not theory. Early bird ends Friday.
buff.ly/LowOLnn
#Leadership #Coaching #EduSky
Two days in Shanghai (27-28 Feb) fixing that. 12 spots. 6 left. 80% practice, not theory. Early bird ends Friday.
buff.ly/LowOLnn
#Leadership #Coaching #EduSky
The leaders I admire most are fluent in both direct and indirect communication. In both cases, nobody's confused about expectations.
The skill is staying clear, not staying direct.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
The skill is staying clear, not staying direct.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
January 19, 2026 at 3:34 AM
The leaders I admire most are fluent in both direct and indirect communication. In both cases, nobody's confused about expectations.
The skill is staying clear, not staying direct.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
The skill is staying clear, not staying direct.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Outstanding book, @chrispassey.bsky.social @mradamkohlbeck.bsky.social
Outstanding guest host @scottinghatt.bsky.social
#MondayMorningListen
Outstanding guest host @scottinghatt.bsky.social
#MondayMorningListen
January 19, 2026 at 1:02 AM
Outstanding book, @chrispassey.bsky.social @mradamkohlbeck.bsky.social
Outstanding guest host @scottinghatt.bsky.social
#MondayMorningListen
Outstanding guest host @scottinghatt.bsky.social
#MondayMorningListen
"Your classroom management needs some work."
You've been direct. But the teacher has no idea what to change.
Direct doesn't always mean clear.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
You've been direct. But the teacher has no idea what to change.
Direct doesn't always mean clear.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
January 18, 2026 at 9:39 AM
"Your classroom management needs some work."
You've been direct. But the teacher has no idea what to change.
Direct doesn't always mean clear.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
You've been direct. But the teacher has no idea what to change.
Direct doesn't always mean clear.
buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Next time someone tells you to "be more direct," pause and ask: is the problem directness or is the problem clarity?
Those are two different things.
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Those are two different things.
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
January 17, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Next time someone tells you to "be more direct," pause and ask: is the problem directness or is the problem clarity?
Those are two different things.
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Those are two different things.
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
I've seen straightforward UK heads leave their staff confused. And I've seen Chinese leaders who never confront anyone directly, yet everyone knows exactly what's expected.
Directness and clarity aren't the same thing.
#SchoolLeadership
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Directness and clarity aren't the same thing.
#SchoolLeadership
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
January 16, 2026 at 9:38 AM
I've seen straightforward UK heads leave their staff confused. And I've seen Chinese leaders who never confront anyone directly, yet everyone knows exactly what's expected.
Directness and clarity aren't the same thing.
#SchoolLeadership
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Directness and clarity aren't the same thing.
#SchoolLeadership
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Here’s where education leaders is charting this week!
Where are you listening from?
Where are you listening from?
January 15, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Here’s where education leaders is charting this week!
Where are you listening from?
Where are you listening from?
Huge thanks to Eunice Okpotu for the conversation that sparked this episode. We landed on this idea of "indirect clarity" together and it completely changed how I think about communication.
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
January 14, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Huge thanks to Eunice Okpotu for the conversation that sparked this episode. We landed on this idea of "indirect clarity" together and it completely changed how I think about communication.
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
Listen here: buff.ly/6jNmCi3
🎉 @walkthrus.bsky.social are now podcast partners!
Here's what teachers tell me: training days feel great, but by Monday it's faded. Little transfer from training room to classroom.
Teaching WalkThrus fix this. Teachers genuinely love them.
Have a listen to learn more.
buff.ly/Lfwqtcb
Here's what teachers tell me: training days feel great, but by Monday it's faded. Little transfer from training room to classroom.
Teaching WalkThrus fix this. Teachers genuinely love them.
Have a listen to learn more.
buff.ly/Lfwqtcb
January 13, 2026 at 7:38 AM
🎉 @walkthrus.bsky.social are now podcast partners!
Here's what teachers tell me: training days feel great, but by Monday it's faded. Little transfer from training room to classroom.
Teaching WalkThrus fix this. Teachers genuinely love them.
Have a listen to learn more.
buff.ly/Lfwqtcb
Here's what teachers tell me: training days feel great, but by Monday it's faded. Little transfer from training room to classroom.
Teaching WalkThrus fix this. Teachers genuinely love them.
Have a listen to learn more.
buff.ly/Lfwqtcb
17 years to get 14% of doctors using proven treatments.
If healthcare struggles this much with evidence-based practice, no wonder schools do too.
Implementation science matters: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#EducationalLeadership
If healthcare struggles this much with evidence-based practice, no wonder schools do too.
Implementation science matters: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#EducationalLeadership
January 13, 2026 at 1:35 AM
17 years to get 14% of doctors using proven treatments.
If healthcare struggles this much with evidence-based practice, no wonder schools do too.
Implementation science matters: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#EducationalLeadership
If healthcare struggles this much with evidence-based practice, no wonder schools do too.
Implementation science matters: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#EducationalLeadership
18 leaders. 10 weeks. Tomorrow we start. They're going to practice the hell out of 10 core leadership skills until they stick. I'm so excited I can't focus on anything else.
January 12, 2026 at 9:39 AM
18 leaders. 10 weeks. Tomorrow we start. They're going to practice the hell out of 10 core leadership skills until they stick. I'm so excited I can't focus on anything else.
Ground rules sound boring until you realise they're the difference between honest feedback and everyone protecting their job.
Five-minute interviews create safety for disagreement. James Mannion breaks it down: buff.ly/7llOyoW
Five-minute interviews create safety for disagreement. James Mannion breaks it down: buff.ly/7llOyoW
January 11, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Ground rules sound boring until you realise they're the difference between honest feedback and everyone protecting their job.
Five-minute interviews create safety for disagreement. James Mannion breaks it down: buff.ly/7llOyoW
Five-minute interviews create safety for disagreement. James Mannion breaks it down: buff.ly/7llOyoW
People value autonomy more than salary.
So when decisions get made behind closed doors and just announced, it creates that "us and them" dynamic that kills buy-in instantly.
Dr James Mannion on why top-down keeps failing: buff.ly/7llOyoW
So when decisions get made behind closed doors and just announced, it creates that "us and them" dynamic that kills buy-in instantly.
Dr James Mannion on why top-down keeps failing: buff.ly/7llOyoW
January 10, 2026 at 9:38 AM
People value autonomy more than salary.
So when decisions get made behind closed doors and just announced, it creates that "us and them" dynamic that kills buy-in instantly.
Dr James Mannion on why top-down keeps failing: buff.ly/7llOyoW
So when decisions get made behind closed doors and just announced, it creates that "us and them" dynamic that kills buy-in instantly.
Dr James Mannion on why top-down keeps failing: buff.ly/7llOyoW
Moderating a panel tomorrow asking if wellbeing is a luxury in high-expectation schools.
Here in China where results matter A LOT, it's a spicy question. ISS EDU EXPO Shanghai.
Come say hi if you're around.
Here in China where results matter A LOT, it's a spicy question. ISS EDU EXPO Shanghai.
Come say hi if you're around.
January 9, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Moderating a panel tomorrow asking if wellbeing is a luxury in high-expectation schools.
Here in China where results matter A LOT, it's a spicy question. ISS EDU EXPO Shanghai.
Come say hi if you're around.
Here in China where results matter A LOT, it's a spicy question. ISS EDU EXPO Shanghai.
Come say hi if you're around.
Slice teams have three levels. Most schools stop at level one (consultation we'll ignore) or two (steering group that checks in).
Level three is where the team actually owns the change. No veto allowed.
That's the difference: buff.ly/7llOyoW
Level three is where the team actually owns the change. No veto allowed.
That's the difference: buff.ly/7llOyoW
January 8, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Slice teams have three levels. Most schools stop at level one (consultation we'll ignore) or two (steering group that checks in).
Level three is where the team actually owns the change. No veto allowed.
That's the difference: buff.ly/7llOyoW
Level three is where the team actually owns the change. No veto allowed.
That's the difference: buff.ly/7llOyoW
Asked school leaders what proportion of change initiatives actually worked. They laughed before answering.
Then most said 10-20%. When I pressed for sustainable change with real evidence? Nearly zero.
Dr James Mannion explains why: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#SchoolLeadership
Then most said 10-20%. When I pressed for sustainable change with real evidence? Nearly zero.
Dr James Mannion explains why: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#SchoolLeadership
January 7, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Asked school leaders what proportion of change initiatives actually worked. They laughed before answering.
Then most said 10-20%. When I pressed for sustainable change with real evidence? Nearly zero.
Dr James Mannion explains why: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#SchoolLeadership
Then most said 10-20%. When I pressed for sustainable change with real evidence? Nearly zero.
Dr James Mannion explains why: buff.ly/7llOyoW
#SchoolLeadership
Next week at ISS EDU EXPO Shanghai: Is wellbeing a luxury in high-expectation schools? Moderating what should be a good conversation.
Say hello if you’re there.
Say hello if you’re there.
January 6, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Next week at ISS EDU EXPO Shanghai: Is wellbeing a luxury in high-expectation schools? Moderating what should be a good conversation.
Say hello if you’re there.
Say hello if you’re there.
The gap between knowing best practice and making it happen? That's what the top episodes were really about.
Year in review: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
Year in review: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
January 5, 2026 at 9:38 AM
The gap between knowing best practice and making it happen? That's what the top episodes were really about.
Year in review: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
Year in review: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
Just went through the year's listening stats. You lot doubled the podcast in six months. Absolutely wild.
Here are the five episodes that resonated most: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
#SchoolLeadership
Here are the five episodes that resonated most: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
#SchoolLeadership
January 4, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Just went through the year's listening stats. You lot doubled the podcast in six months. Absolutely wild.
Here are the five episodes that resonated most: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
#SchoolLeadership
Here are the five episodes that resonated most: buff.ly/y8X9XLA
#SchoolLeadership
Katharine Birbalsingh's episode got thousands of listens. Some people told me they refused to listen because of strong opinions about her.
But we didn't talk politics. We talked about leadership. Worth it.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
But we didn't talk politics. We talked about leadership. Worth it.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
January 3, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Katharine Birbalsingh's episode got thousands of listens. Some people told me they refused to listen because of strong opinions about her.
But we didn't talk politics. We talked about leadership. Worth it.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
But we didn't talk politics. We talked about leadership. Worth it.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
Why does a published author struggle to implement his own ideas in his own school?
Chris Youles was brilliant on this. Number 3 most listened episode of the year.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
Chris Youles was brilliant on this. Number 3 most listened episode of the year.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
January 2, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Why does a published author struggle to implement his own ideas in his own school?
Chris Youles was brilliant on this. Number 3 most listened episode of the year.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
Chris Youles was brilliant on this. Number 3 most listened episode of the year.
buff.ly/y8X9XLA
The Education Leaders podcast is charting in 3 countries this week 🎙️
🇻🇨 St. Vincent & The Grenadines
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇹🇭 Thailand
Where are you listening from?
🇻🇨 St. Vincent & The Grenadines
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇹🇭 Thailand
Where are you listening from?
January 1, 2026 at 10:07 AM
The Education Leaders podcast is charting in 3 countries this week 🎙️
🇻🇨 St. Vincent & The Grenadines
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇹🇭 Thailand
Where are you listening from?
🇻🇨 St. Vincent & The Grenadines
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇹🇭 Thailand
Where are you listening from?
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