Global Ed Leaders | International School Leadership Development

In this episode of the organisational change series, Shane Leaning explores why alignment is crucial for successful change implementation in schools. Through practical examples and actionable strategies, he demonstrates how misalignment can derail even the most well-researched initiatives.Key InsightsMany school initiatives fail not because of the change itself, but due to lack of alignment among stakeholdersTrue alignment goes beyond surface-level agreement to create shared understandingDifferent stakeholder groups may interpret the same concept (e.g., "wellbeing") in vastly different waysEpisode PartnersThe University of Warwick's International Programmes | Learn more at warwick.ac.ukThe International Curriculum Association | Learn more at internationalcurriculum.com.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

In this conversation, Claire Peet discusses the challenges women leaders face in international education. We explore how common leadership terms like 'imposter syndrome' and 'perfectionism' have become problematic labels that can be used against women leaders. Claire shares powerful insights about the double bind women face - being criticised both for adopting and rejecting traditional leadership traits.We discuss the different ways men and women process feedback, illustrated through her compelling 'A-game' story about how a simple comment can trigger very different responses based on gender. Claire reminds us of the importance of creating conditions where women leaders can bring their authentic selves to work, and the need for both male and female leaders to play active roles in changing leadership culture.LinksClaire on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-peet/Women In Leadership Newsletter: https://www.pdacademia.com/women-in-leadership/This episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association.Learn more at internationalcurriculum.com.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on 𝕏, and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

I normally sit down for deep one-on-ones with education leaders, but this episode takes a different approach. At NESSIC's inaugural leadership conference, I captured something special - the birth of China's newest school network.Moving through the conference rooms with my microphone, I spoke with 20 school leaders about what drives them to build community beyond their campus walls. From heads of isolated regional schools to leaders of China's biggest international bilingual schools, these conversations reveal a sector ready to shift from competition to collaboration.If you're curious about how post-COVID China's international education community is evolving, this episode is for you.Linkshttps://nessic.org/This episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association.Learn more at internationalcurriculum.com.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on 𝕏, and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

Grainne O'Reilly chats with Shane about the challenges and rewards of leading a startup school. She talks about the importance of embracing the unknowns and being open to asking for help. Grainne highlights the magic of a startup and the sense of ownership and excitement that every team member should feel. She also discusses the pattern of a post-Christmas dip in energy and offers advice on how leaders can support their teams during this time.Grainne encourages leaders to take care of themselves and find activities or hobbies that bring them joy. She also emphasises the importance of finding trusted mentors and confidants to lean on for support.Sound Bites"The best leaders are always open to other people's ideas and asking for help.""Harnessing the magic and giving everyone permission to take ownership is key to success.""Under promise and over deliver every single time."LinksFind Grainne on LinkedInGrainne's latest book, Starting Your International SchoolThis episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association.Learn more at internationalcurriculum.com.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on 𝕏, and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

In this episode, Shane Leaning discusses the complexities of addressing challenges in educational settings. He talks through the importance of defining challenges clearly, reframing problems as opportunities, and balancing emotional responses with factual data. Shane shares insights on how to prioritise challenges effectively and encourages leaders to focus on the root causes of issues rather than getting overwhelmed by multiple initiatives. This episode highlights the need for courage in decision-making and the significance of collaboration among staff.TakeawaysWhen trying to solve everything at once, we make our biggest mistake.Defining challenges is crucial for effective change.Reframing problems can lead to new opportunities.Balancing emotions and facts is essential in schools.Choosing the right challenge can create a ripple effect.Understanding the root cause is key to solving issues.Real change requires courage and specificity.Collaboration among staff can transform school culture.Data analysis can reveal deeper issues in schools.Taking time to define challenges can lead to better solutions.LinksThe Work Collaborative Model for Organisational ChangeThis episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association.Learn more at internationalcurriculum.com.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on 𝕏, and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

In this conversation, Paul Ainsworth discusses his book 'No Silver Bullets 2.0: The Heart and Soul of School Improvement'. We explore the concept of silver bullets in education and the need for a more nuanced approach to school improvement. Paul shares his framework for school improvement, which includes evaluating with honesty, planning with empathy, executing with confidence, and reviewing with humility. We discuss the importance of building relationships, developing confidence in teachers, and finding consistency within schools. Paul reminded me of the need for sustainable change and the power of small steps done consistently.LinksPaul's websitePaul's latest book, 'No Silver Bullets 2.0: Heart and Soul of School Improvement'This episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association.Learn more at internationalcurriculum.com.Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on 𝕏, and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

This week, I explore the "Connection" phase of organisational change.Episode HighlightsThe Change Series: Discover why connection is essential before diving into change.Understanding Challenges: Learn how building connections helps validate perceived challenges and explore them deeply.Building Trust and Readiness: Authentic connections foster psychological safety and organisational readiness—key ingredients for successful change.Avoiding Pitfalls: Early connection helps prevent biases and encourages open dialogue, setting a solid foundation.Practical Steps: Engage with your community—teachers, parents, and students—before implementing change.Remember, connection and discovery are intertwined. If you feel connection is lacking, pause and focus on building that foundation first. This ensures sustainable and impactful change.This episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association. Click here to Register for The International Curriculum Conference 2024Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on 𝕏, and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.

Chris Scorer and Shane Leaning explore how schools can create a data landscape that aligns with their diverse objectives, especially in international schools. We discuss the reluctance of data leads to embrace full transparency due to regulatory concerns, the educational journey parents and teachers must undertake to understand data, and practical strategies for integrating data into daily teaching.One striking point of our conversation was the tension between teacher intuition and data-driven decision-making. Chris eloquently argued that data should serve as a supportive tool for teachers rather than a rigid directive. He shared practical strategies for overcoming teacher resistance to data, emphasizing the importance of creating safe spaces for teachers to engage with and explore data without the fear of making mistakes.LinksFryer, R.G., Jr (2017), The Production of Human Capital in Developed Countries: Evidence From 196 Randomized Field ExperimentsMunby, S, (2019), Imperfect Leadershiphttps://teachmiddleeastmag.com/democratise-your-data/This episode is supported by the International Curriculum Association. Click here to Register for The International Curriculum Conference 2024Thank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on 𝕏, and LinkedIn. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.About the hostShane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. He co-founded Work Collaborative and hosts the chat-topping school leadership podcast, Global Ed Leaders. Previously, he worked as Regional Head of Teaching Development for Nord Anglia Education. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' As a CollectivEd Fellow, Teacher Development Trust Associate, and TEDx speaker, Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com.