Small shifts, big impact: how to spot your invisible wins as a school leader

Leadership isn’t all about big, tangible outcomes, some of the most powerful shifts happen quietly, behind the scenes, when no one’s watching. They’re not written into the school development plan and they probably won’t come up in your performance management. But they matter. 

In fact, they’re often the signs that you’re becoming the kind of leader you want to be and who your team needs; grounded, aware, open and learning – these are invisible wins. 

What is an invisible win? 

An invisible win is any moment where you do something small but significant; something that reflects growth, awareness or intention. It’s likely that no one else sees or notices it. 

For example: 

• Choosing to pause instead of rushing to fix a problem 

• Catching your inner judge and softening your self-talk 

• Reflecting before reacting to a situation 

• Saying no to something that you would usually regret saying yes to

• Asking for help (and resisting the urge to apologise for it) 

• Responding with curiosity instead of judgement 

• Letting go of a plan because the things have changed 

This isn’t an exhaustive list and these aren’t dramatic changes, in fact, they might not even feel like progress in the moment. But over time, they’re what strengthen your capacity as a leader. 

Why we tend to overlook them 

As school leaders, we’re surrounded by visible outcomes, it’s easy to believe that if we can’t measure it, it doesn’t count. 

But invisible wins live in a different space, one that’s more reflective, internal and honest. And when we don’t make space to notice them, we miss out on some of the richest indicators of personal and professional growth. 

We also risk reinforcing the idea that progress has to be big and noticeable to be real, which simply isn’t true. 

Noticing invisible wins helps you lead with more intention 

The more aware you become of your internal shifts, the easier it is to choose how you lead, rather than reacting out of the habits formed by your unhelpful self-talk and beliefs. When you name those invisible wins, you make them tangible. You start to trust that real progress is happening, even if it’s quiet. 

That self-trust is what gives you more space to lead with calm, clarity and perspective, which will help leadership to feel lighter, not just for you but also for your team.  

Three ways to spot your invisible wins 

Here’s how you can make these small but mighty moments more visible: 

1. Look for the pause 

Any time you pause before reacting, replying, or rushing in there’s usually something worth noticing. What did you not do that you might’ve done last week/term/year? 

2. Reflect on micro-shifts 

Think back over your week/term. Did you show up differently in a tricky conversation? Did you ask a more effective question? Did you catch yourself and make a different choice? 

3. Track the internal voice 

Your self-talk matters. Did you offer yourself kindness or perspective when things went wrong? Did you reframe an unhelpful thought into something more helpful and keep going? 

Sustainable leadership isn’t built on perfection 

You invisible wins don’t have to be big, deep or profound, just true. You might be surprised at what shows up when you make time and headspace to notice them. Sustainable leadership isn’t built on perfection, it’s built on the tiny choices you make every day to pause, reflect, stay open and to keep growing. 

Give yourself the credit and kindness you’d offer a colleague or friend. Keep noticing the quiet progress, however small and trust that every time you lead with a little more intention, awareness or care, you’re moving in the right direction. 

So… that invisible win you just had? Give yourself a high five, because it counts, more than you think.